Lived there for 18 years
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8/1/2010
and I left in 1984. I'm not a huge fan of LA. I still go back quite a bit since my family still lives there.
IMHO----
Pluses: The Weather!!! #1 plus. #2 is the food/restaurants. #3 are the beaches and #4 is the nightlife.
Minuses: The Traffic - it's appalling. When I lived there it wasn't as bad but now if you take a freeway anywhere past 1 or 2pm be prepared to sit in traffic for at least an hour. Everytime I go back I'm shocked as it seems to keep getting worse. #2 minus = the smog. It's so bad that some days it actually hurts to breathe. #3 - it's completely spread out and sprawling. There are places considered LA that take 2 hours to get to.
If I were ever to live in LA again (which I wouldn't do) I would live in Malibu (if I could afford it - but then you're stuck on PCH if you want to get in or out), Pacific Palisades (very nice), Santa Monica, Venus, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach.
Many of the people are gorgeous, many are nice. West Hollywood is fun. Most people work "in the industry". I grew up with famous this and thats (actors, musicians, etc.) but they are just like everyone else - most were nice, some were not.
KA | Sausalito, CA