A question for the people on my friends list (especially those of you living on the west coast): If you could choose from the following cities to live and work in, which one would you pick, and why
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I don't think LA sucks at all. I lived there for the previous year and only moved out to "The Valley" (the suburb just north of LA) b/c I found a great deal on an apartment there.
You need a car in LA. Public transportation is terrible and not worth attempting. Plus, it won't go as far as you like b/c people consider LA to be not the "city of" but the "county of". I actually lived in the city of LA, but drove 4.5 miles through Beverly Hills (also LA) into Century City (also "LA") everyday. At rush hour, the 4.5 miles took 45 minutes driving. 1 hour bus time (if the bus went as far as it claimed).
The "LA" that people typically dislike is downtown/E.LA because of the dirtiness. There's also a bit of distaste among the literati for Hollywood with its lack of academic-style intelligence.
However, Santa Monica is far from all that. It's on the West Side (actually on the ocean!). It's very, very close to UCLA, so there's a huge population of smart people. But it's the bohemian side of West LA . . . not including Venice (but it's, generally, nicer than Venice).
Lots of people: The most Seoul-like is going to be NYC, because LA County spreads out it's dense population over more space.
Recommendation: If you've never left the East Coast and all of your family lives there, I very much recommend getting out and seeing places. [My parents had a rule that I had to go far enough away for college that I couldn't come home on weekends. I have always been happy about that rule.]
The East Coast and the West Coast are so . . . indefinably different that it's great to live both places and see which works for you. Plus, NY is really a state unto itself (with commonality in OH, but that's it).
If you're looking to throw yourself into a complete opposite: Santa Monica is the way to go. Plus, gorgeous weather and views, and a million things to go do all within 15 miles of wherever you live.
For ultimate comfort: People who settle into the Silicon Valley side of the Bay Area adore it. It's comfy like a suburb, with more to do than a general one. Plus, you're near three major cities -- San Jose (the "local"), Oakland (the "edgy"), and San Francisco (the "City").
Kirkland is probably the least exciting, but also the most laid-back. It may ease you into the West Coast thing better than anywhere else.
I'd say "move to S.M. so we can hang out" but heavens know when I'm moving again.
You need a car in LA. Public transportation is terrible and not worth attempting. Plus, it won't go as far as you like b/c people consider LA to be not the "city of" but the "county of". I actually lived in the city of LA, but drove 4.5 miles through Beverly Hills (also LA) into Century City (also "LA") everyday. At rush hour, the 4.5 miles took 45 minutes driving. 1 hour bus time (if the bus went as far as it claimed).
The "LA" that people typically dislike is downtown/E.LA because of the dirtiness. There's also a bit of distaste among the literati for Hollywood with its lack of academic-style intelligence.
However, Santa Monica is far from all that. It's on the West Side (actually on the ocean!). It's very, very close to UCLA, so there's a huge population of smart people. But it's the bohemian side of West LA . . . not including Venice (but it's, generally, nicer than Venice).
Lots of people:
The most Seoul-like is going to be NYC, because LA County spreads out it's dense population over more space.
Recommendation:
If you've never left the East Coast and all of your family lives there, I very much recommend getting out and seeing places. [My parents had a rule that I had to go far enough away for college that I couldn't come home on weekends. I have always been happy about that rule.]
The East Coast and the West Coast are so . . . indefinably different that it's great to live both places and see which works for you. Plus, NY is really a state unto itself (with commonality in OH, but that's it).
If you're looking to throw yourself into a complete opposite: Santa Monica is the way to go. Plus, gorgeous weather and views, and a million things to go do all within 15 miles of wherever you live.
For ultimate comfort: People who settle into the Silicon Valley side of the Bay Area adore it. It's comfy like a suburb, with more to do than a general one. Plus, you're near three major cities -- San Jose (the "local"), Oakland (the "edgy"), and San Francisco (the "City").
Kirkland is probably the least exciting, but also the most laid-back. It may ease you into the West Coast thing better than anywhere else.
I'd say "move to S.M. so we can hang out" but heavens know when I'm moving again.
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