the TRUTH about living in los angeles. pros & cons

After living in LA for a year and a half now, I'm breaking down my honest thoughts through some pros & cons.

#losangeles #losangeleslife #movingtola

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00:00 overrated?
00:37 la is classist?
02:40 glamour
04:39 perfect weather
05:13 downsides to perfect weather...
06:33 public transit?
08:40 car culture
09:25 traffic!
10:19 lonely city?
11:12 transplants are...
12:39 public parks?
13:44 the food is...
14:55 people are healthier
15:40 finding yourself in la
17:34 follow your dreams wherever

[robertthurman]

What most people do not realize is L.A. was never like other cities. Most cities started at a central location and expanded out war is a steady rate. L.A. prior to WWII was primarily farmland. What happened was inward growth, not outward expansion. L.A. now is a collection of almost 60 small farming communities that slowly grew together and kept merging with one another. Since these cities were all separate there was never a plan for everything to merge together. Right now L.A. is a solid 50 mile square mile paved over parking lot as you noticed. There is no way for public transit to get to every single area. L.A. was never designed to be L.A. There used to be open areas between these cities. That was where the freeways came in. A way to get to the other cities. No one ever imagined every square inch of land would be populated.

[nairina]

I left LA 15 month ago only to realize I miss my friends way too much, I miss the amazing weather, the healthy food, the generally friendly and positive people. I realized LA is home. I guess I had to leave to see it. I'll be moving back in a few months, this time making a full commitment to being there long term. It was nice to see some scenes from my city! Thanks! Now, put on some sunscreen and go out! :)

[thechalkfieldstcf]

I'm an LA native who grew up on the westside. I also lived in NY for 10+ years and can tell you a lot of people from LA are living in NY to get a change of scenery. Just like NYers come here... You really shouldn't compare the two cities. Both cities promote becoming great. It just depends on what industry you are in. Either way, it's a rat race to fulfill your dreams and ideas. Recreationally, LA will always win - from the desert, to the beaches, to the mountains. It's not to be compared. In NY you will always have to search for recreation. Lifestyle is yours to choose. Dense city (New York) or sprawling cities (Los Angeles). Depends on the person. Just come here and know you will have fun. Just like if you move to NY you will have fun. It all depends on what your personality is and the lifestyle you want to lead...

[SirClerihew]

For someone who has only lived here about a year, you represented LA very well.

I’ve lived here my entire life and both the pros and cons you mentioned still ring true.

Glad to see another kind face in this city

[benly]

One thing that I found to be my favorite part about living in Los Angeles is that some of my favorite artists from around the world and different genres of music come to LA to perform live, and I get to travel close to see them! It's so cool to me lol.

[Bluzin]

I moved to LA a long time ago, the homeless problem is very recent. I would say the last 5 years or so it just seem to explode overnight. You would never see a homeless person in most of the west side, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City etc. Venice and Downtown LA were the only places you could expect to run into that. Some cities have actually been caught buying one way bus tickets to California for their homeless as a way to get rid of their problem and point fingers. Nothing illegal about doing it, and no way to really stop it.

[abualzuaree]

I lived in LA for 2 years and I loved it. I'm currently in the bay for work but I eventually plan to move back to LA. It's just better in every way. It's not for everybody and I understand that but I'm an outside person and LAs Weather, Beaches, Parks, hikes and food was incredible.

[mackinmse]

Moved to LA in 2019. I really don’t like it. Understand why plenty of people do. I get home from work and the LAST thing I want to do is go out anywhere. I’m drains your soul, doesn’t matter where in SoCal you go, it all breaks you. Leaving as soon as I finish my education l.

[Flyingstorm]

Born and raised in NYC and moved to LA a year ago (now 27 years old.) So far I have zero regrets. I’ve been able to do some tremendous things you’ve mentioned in this video: I completely found myself, I’ve been able to exponentially level up my career and skyrocket my way into both an early retirement and financial advantage, and I’ve enjoyed the weather 10x more than anyone who’s been taking it for granted lol. I’m a beach person and I’m on it all the time, mainly Santa Monica. The city is “lonely” to me because I’m single and honestly I believe the dating scene is mostly trash, I will admit. I just feel like everyone in LA is so focused on themselves and their careers so it’s hard to find someone who is willing to set time aside to actually build a strong connection. I don’t take it personally and I’m continuing to build myself and my business, and master my craft and career, and honestly the perfect year-round weather has kept me in good spirits the whole time. The experiences here are just so different, with or without other people. I know there are cleaner, more well-kept, more upscale and nicer cities, but I gotta say LA as a whole has such a special charm that makes it (almost) as important and legendary as NY for a reason. Hope that makes sense; cheers!

[Nick-zwgg]

People from California notice the difference in sunlight so its easy to notice the seasons.

[opinionatedurbanist]

Hi Michael. I don't know you personally, but you come across as a thoughtful person/content creator. As an Angeleno who lives here, I wanted to respond with a few thoughts:
1.) It's more useful to think of LA as a region rather than as a "city". Sure, there technically is a City of LA, but it crisscross-intertwines with hundreds of different towns, suburbs, and wildlands. Some of the places you mentioned (Malibu, Calabasas, South Bay) are just different pockets of the LA region. They might feel like completely different places to you because our topography and dense sprawl amplify perceived distance. Once you get out to Palm Springs or Ojai or San Diego, that's when you have left the LA region.


2.)
I would say the best thing about LA is that it's a "choose your own adventure" type of place. Yes, you can feasibly do a version of that in any major city, but it would be a decidedly watered-down experience. There isn't another metro area in America with our variety of geographical, cultural, and lifestyle options.


3.) Even though LA has something for everybody, not everybody *should* live here. I've actually considered writting an essay (or listicle!?!?) about what types of people are most likely to thrive in LA. I think that would be helpful for people to self-select/self-disqualify before even moving out here. Too many newcomers show up with ridiculous expectations, meanwhile others never make the move because they incorrectly wrote off LA when it would have actually been an excellent fit for them.

[angusorvid]

Born and raised in L.A. While L.A. has a steep downside it does have its upside too. If you don't take the flash and pizzaz of Hollywood too seriously and can live a localized life while driving as little as possible, it's a good town. I live in Culver City which is an incorporated city that handles its own affairs. It's clean, neat, tidy, certainly safer than Santa Monica or other parts of L.A. County. I rarely drive because I don't want to and I managed to set up my life so if I need to go to a market I just walked a couple blocks with a handcart and fill it up with groceries. If I want to go to a restaurant or a movie it's still walking distance. I'll admit, most people in L.A. can't do this, but this kind of lifestyle was always a goal of mine. I could get a much larger house in Santa Monica or Brentwood, but this is what I've chosen and it works for me.

[michaelallaway]

For 12 years, home was all over LA. I didn’t own a car much of my time there, cycled from pico Robertson to East LA for work, and loved coasting along Santa Monica to Redondo Beach after work when I lived in Sawtelle to reflect and take a fresh gulp at all the life throughout the city. I’ve had many of the same thoughts and points you made in this video about the FOMO from the sun, and the tinge of loneliness the city life there gives you. So much fun and beauty, and many times those epic moments are by yourself. Sunsets and peak hikes, views and hidden gems. I also love that you wish you could read at the park—same! I would ride my bike to parks with a book and blanket to go and read, but then I’d get fomo and decide to just keep riding, people watching and feeling the vibes and trying food from all the different neighborhoods throughout LA. I made it a goal to visit every city and neighborhood in LA (i did)
The biggest sadness is the sense of impermanence that exists as time stands still. It always felt like my time in the city was limited. A lot of the wealth gaps were entertaining to see and notice as you crossed the city back in the 2010s, but now it’s a sad and frustrating reality—hardly a joke, and for the last few years, it became frightening to watch the change of the city degrade
In the end, i lost out on my love and career and had to move on to begin again. Im in Santa Ana, and there is no where near the same energy and vibe here as there was in LA.
Friend4aDayinLA

[EdwardGarrenMFT]

I moved to LA 40 years ago this September from Florida. Tampa and Miami have all the issue we have here, PLUS God awful humidity half the year, very low wages, and equally high rents/housing costs. Plus, because there is even LESS "middle class" in Florida, there is a lot more crime.
Also, if you live in Culver City and navigate mostly west of the 405, the traffic IS awful. After 22 years in Hollywood/West Hollywood, I moved to South Los Angeles 12 years ago (south of the I-10, east of Culver City/West Side) where there is HALF the traffic and better public transit. So I think a lot of the issues you raise are "area specific." 
The "lonely" thing has some truth. People here are busy and don't always have time to spend making friends like in other places where the weather makes for more indoor time. That said, most make friends doing volunteer work, at churches, synagogues, and at any of the numerous "Meet ups" which are basically like sifting through mud for a few gold nuggets (like most places in the U.S. now). There are more parks than your realize, you just need to find them.
I love South LA because the people here are mostly Latino and Black, both cultures appreciate relationships, family and friends much more than in the "White" areas. You will make friends, it just takes more time. But also, you will adjust and realize you don't like the social obligations and constraints of other places. In reality, unless you're constantly making new acquaintances (some of which will stick as friends) everywhere is "lonely" particularly after mid 30's when many young people are raising families, building careers, etc. In a nutshell, the darker the residents are in an area of LA, the better the living issues are (except in really poor areas, though even places like Watts and Compton are much bettedr than 30 years ago). Then there is San Pedro, which is lovely, and no one knows it's there. Ever been? Make a trip to the Korean Friendship Bell in Angels Gate Park, then go to the San Pedro Fish Market down on the channel. Explore the shops and restaurants in downtown "Pedro" and the incredible views in the hills to the west of Gaffey Street.
Glad you're here. There is no place I'd rather be, earthquakes, mud slides, fires, drought and all.

[ruyrabello]

LA resident here, originally from Brazil. Coming from a tropical country I can definitely notice winter here. It’s cold in the winter (for my standards), it’s cool in the spring and fall, and it’s warm in the summer. To me those are pretty clear seasons.

[QuiqueSaldivar]

LA has become home to me, despite the fact that is full of issues going on right now I love the city for all the reasons you mentioned. I think LA is not for everybody, especially if you have issues spending time alone/by yourself. I was so fortunate of having created a community of really good friends that love LA as well, as opposed of having friends that hate the city and eventually will leave. Coming from TX (yuck)!, I'd never think about moving out in the near future.

[mychaelawilliams]

We just moved to LA this weekend!! Been planning & saving for over a year and finally made it happen. Drove from Atlanta & blew my transmission on the final leg coming out of Palm Springs, but we made it! 🥴😂

[oyunla]

When you say LA is a lonely city, I feel that in your eyes.Moving to LA this August from Tokyo.Thank you for your channel giving out so many information about LA.Can’t wait to enjoy all the amazing beaches as you mentioned.💜🙏

[richmane]

Currently stuck choosing between LA and NYC. I love NYC’s infrastructure and energy but there’s something about seeing the palm trees, beaches, and mountains that’s calling me lol

[jackienaiditch]

I think this was a very fair and balanced "review" of life in L.A. I've lived here for over 50 years, with much of that time on the Westside (since I went to UCLA) and much of it here in Altadena. It would be very easy to trash the city, as many do. As you mentioned, traffic is horrible, which is incredibly annoying. Also, there's a huge homeless problem--probably, at least in part, because of the great weather. There's a lot of urban sprawl. Countless communities with separate identities. But then there are the good parts. These countless communities often reflect different ethnic groups, each with its own incredible cuisine. Yes, we do health food. But we also do Japanese and Korean and Indian and Vietnamese. I live by the San Gabriel Valley, which probably has the largest Chinese community (and, therefore, Chinese food) in the U.S., outside of China. One thing you didn't mention was all the culture that exists here. Wonderful concerts at Disney Hall with a world-class conductor in Gustavo Dudamel. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with neighboring theaters. We have amazing art and architecture. And the car culture is reflected in a few truly incredible car museums, like the Petersen and the Nethercutt. It's true what you say about this not really being a city of parks. But within 15 minutes of my house, there are three public gardens--like Huntington Gardens--that are a huge draw. So, as with any city, there's the good and the bad, and we can all chose to connect with either.