Living in Los Angeles

[Mr Anabolic]

First off, thank you to everyone that gave great advice and information. I took a lot of it into consideration when making my decision today. I unfortunately declined the job offer because it was not lucrative enough to justify making the move to LA area. I will probably now follow my plan B of working 4 1/2 more years then retiring and get a place in the Destin, Florida panhandle area. Me and my girlfriend are going down there is 3 weeks and will check out some properties while vacationing. Thanks again fellow getbiggers!

I've turned down a few job offers in my career too.  It's very flattering to be in demand and get a lucrative job offer, but you gotta go with your gut feelings.  Good luck GR.

[gym**rat]

I've turned down a few job offers in my career too.  It's very flattering to be in demand and get a lucrative job offer, but you gotta go with your gut feelings.  Good luck GR.

Thank you sir. Your input was especially helpful.

[Devon97]

Last week was my 25th anniversary in SoCA.  I lived in Long Beach, Newport Beach, and now the Inland Empire.  Even 10 years ago I could drive to Hollywood from the IE in 90-120 minutes; now it’s 2.5 hours at least.   Driving back is 3-4 hours, and I’m driving 95 miles each way.  CalTrans adds lanes, but traffic only gets worse.

The state has so much natural beauty, but you pay a price in terms of commuting and taxes (including gas).  If politics matter, be aware the state and LA are as progressive as progressives get.

I'm in my Birkenstocks and shorts everyday thanks to this amazing weather.

There are bad drivers everywhere, but there are more drivers here than anywhere in the US, so there are more bad drivers, period.  Tailgating, lane changes with no signal, driving in the no.1 lane slower than traffic, etc.

If you have a minimal commute and decent digs, it could work for you.  There are 88 cities in all of LA County, so perhaps you could find a place that allows you to use the rail to commute.

Great post and great perspective

[gym**rat]

Great post and great perspective

I know. The insight everyone gave was incredible.

[Primemuscle]

I know. The insight everyone gave was incredible.

I'd say chances are, you made a wise decision. If you are going to retire in a few years, best not to upset the applecart.

[gym**rat]

I'd say chances are, you made a wise decision. If you are going to retire in a few years, best not to upset the applecart.

Yea, you are right prime. The only thing is I have a horribly screwed up back and the thought of not spending another winter in the Midwest sounded like heaven. But I just have to suffer through 4 or 5 more and then say goodbye to snow and ice.

[chaos]

So no chaos/gym**rat lunch date?  Damn.

[Ron]

So no chaos/gym**rat lunch date?  Damn.

Come on.... Chaos - heading to the 2017 Fit Expo Anaheim this Saturday...

[Primemuscle]

Yea, you are right prime. The only thing is I have a horribly screwed up back and the thought of not spending another winter in the Midwest sounded like heaven. But I just have to suffer through 4 or 5 more and then say goodbye to snow and ice.

I can't feel your pain, but you've obviously been living with it for awhile. If you made it this long, a couple of more years should be possible. In the meantime, treat yourself to a holiday break and travel somewhere warm and dry for a couple of weeks each winter. Give red light therapy a try. https://www.tanrepublic.com/services/led-red-light-therapy/ If nothing else, it will make you feel better. Sensible tanning can also provide improved mood benefits as can vitamin D.

If we Oregonians are lucky, we'll have decent weather at least through September. According to the Farmer's Almanac, it's supposed to be unusually cold here this winter. add the never ending rain and I too am probably in for a miserable winter with my degenerative disk disease and arthritic joints. I'll be doing a lot of red light therapy, that's for sure. Maybe I'll take a trip to Palm Springs for some relief too. What I won't do is medicate the discomfort away. Hate, hate, hate pain meds.

-Been retired for several years now. Retirement rocks! It's worth the sacrifices it takes to get to this point.

[gym**rat]

So no chaos/gym**rat lunch date?  Damn.

I will still be making the occasional week trip out the to support them. I will PM ahead of time. Thank you for all the input chaos!

[gym**rat]

I can't feel your pain, but you've obviously been living with it for awhile. If you made it this long, a couple of more years should be possible. In the meantime, treat yourself to a holiday break and travel somewhere warm and dry for a couple of weeks each winter. Give red light therapy a try. https://www.tanrepublic.com/services/led-red-light-therapy/ If nothing else, it will make you feel better. Sensible tanning can also provide improved mood benefits as can vitamin D.

If we Oregonians are lucky, we'll have decent weather at least through September. According to the Farmer's Almanac, it's supposed to be unusually cold here this winter. add the never ending rain and I too am probably in for a miserable winter with my degenerative disk disease and arthritic joints. I'll be doing a lot of red light therapy, that's for sure. Maybe I'll take a trip to Palm Springs for some relief too. What I won't do is medicate the discomfort away. Hate, hate, hate pain meds.

-Been retired for several years now. Retirement rocks! It's worth the sacrifices it takes to get to this point.

There are no red light therapy bed locations around me it appears. There are a few red light districs though. I could get some relief there! 

[Shizzo]

First off, thank you to everyone that gave great advice and information. I took a lot of it into consideration when making my decision today. I unfortunately declined the job offer because it was not lucrative enough to justify making the move to LA area. I will probably now follow my plan B of working 4 1/2 more years then retiring and get a place in the Destin, Florida panhandle area. Me and my girlfriend are going down there is 3 weeks and will check out some properties while vacationing. Thanks again fellow getbiggers!

[Primemuscle]

There are no red light therapy bed locations around me it appears. There are a few red light districs though. I could get some relief there! 

Of course. Red light districts should brighten your spirits. 

Tanning beds also help with the winter doldrums.

[gym**rat]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ok. 

[Simple Simon]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, ok. 

I wouldn't worry mate, lifes failures tend to be overly sceptical and critical of others successes.

[Tapeworm]

Not reading 9 pages but can imagine little worse than being surrounded by urban sprawl and interacting with city folk all day.

[POB]

Do it, best state there is. There's a reason why it's so exspensive.

[gym**rat]

Do it, best state there is. There's a reason why it's so exspensive.

Thanks for the advice POB but I had to decline. There will be more opportunities come up.

[gym**rat]

I wouldn't worry mate, lifes failures tend to be overly sceptical and critical of others successes.

Nicely put! 

[amoney1986]

I have been in Orange County near Anaheim for about 5 months now. I came from Tacoma which is just south of Seattle. The non stop perfect weather is a life changer for me. People are actually pretty happy in general and yes Rent/Homes is outrageous but everything else is reasonable like gas and groceries. I literally am surrounded by some amazing beaches to the west "Venice/ Santa Monica" and south "Huntington, Laguna" . It's crowded but doesn't seem to bother me in the least.

[gym**rat]

I travel to Seattle 3-4 times a year. The cost of living there is much closer to the cost of living in LA than the Midwest is, much closer. This process really made me appreciate what I have here even more. But as I mentioned before, when that -20 wind chill, ice and snow comes this winter my ass will be black and blue from kicking it for not making the move.

[Tapeworm]

My grandparents lived in Monticello, IN.  They were humble folks who did nothing more extraordinary than contentedly live a modest life.  There's something to be said for that, and for being in a place where others are doing the same.

I would not move from Indiana to some megalopolis.  Cities are for visiting, not living in.  You want a beach, go to Lake Shafer.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic because grandpa let me pilot the Shafer Queen.

[Shizzo]

My grandparents lived in Monticello, IN.  They were humble folks who did nothing more extraordinary than contentedly live a modest life.  There's something to be said for that, and for being in a place where others are doing the same.

I would not move from Indiana to some megalopolis.  Cities are for visiting, not living in.  You want a beach, go to Lake Shafer.

Maybe I'm just nostalgic because grandpa let me pilot the Shafer Queen.

Thought you were from Australia?

[Tapeworm]

Born in WI and grew up in NJ.  Left the US in '96 for Europe and been living in Aus since '99.

"You've come far, pilgrim!"
"Feels far."

[Bevo]

I have been in Orange County near Anaheim for about 5 months now. I came from Tacoma which is just south of Seattle. The non stop perfect weather is a life changer for me. People are actually pretty happy in general and yes Rent/Homes is outrageous but everything else is reasonable like gas and groceries. I literally am surrounded by some amazing beaches to the west "Venice/ Santa Monica" and south "Huntington, Laguna" . It's crowded but doesn't seem to bother me in the least.

Venice, Santa Monica beaches are garbage, stick with laguna, Newport, Huntington