So, this is California . . .

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

For those of you keeping up with my life (uh, that was how many?), I moved out to California the first weekend of June.

The roadtrip was way cool, and everyone who asked for a postcard should have gotten one.

So.

Here I am.

Hmmm.

I like California. A lot. I like the weather, I like the mountains, I like the drivers (much better than the drivers in Dallas, would you believe). I like the fact that I can buy hard liquor in the grocery store and fresh strawberries at the side of the road.

I like that I can wear my triple crescent pendant that just screams “Pagan!” without getting funny looks from the soccer moms. I like that I can keep my bedroom window open all day and all night long. I like that the rose bushes in the backyard are continuously blooming.

I love LA. My older brother took me site seeing down Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard. Then we caught a fantastic play at the Hudson Group theater. Even the skanky parts of Sunset Boulevard have character and interest.

I really like and am incredibly grateful that my parents are letting me live with them while I go to school - rent free. As a matter of fact, they’re picking up most of my bills. I love the fact that my cat has the run of the downstairs and can go outside during the daytime and sun herself on the roof. She’s happier than I’ve ever seen her.

I don’t like:

Seeing my mom worked to a frazzle and unable to make up her mind to leave this job she hates.

Realizing that my dad really is getting older, deafer, much more set in his ways, less interested in the outside world, much more threatened by new ideas, and less able to deal with change.

Feeling terribly, terribly lonely because I left my best friends, younger brother, and independence back in Dallas. I miss my ex-roomie something fierce, and talking on the phone just isn’t the same as piling in the car to do something fun on Friday night.

Wondering what’s going to happen in the next year. Will I make it through the credentialing program? Will I get a good student teaching spot? Will I find a teaching position and be able to support myself again? Will I be able to afford a place of my own in a land where there are no new houses selling for under $200K?

And, of course, my biggest question is:

When’s the next SoCal Doperfest? Huh?

2

Welcome to California. It’s as good as you hoped, and as bad as you feared…it’s all that and more…and I wouldn’t leave it for anything.

3

PAGAN!!!

Nice pagan, but pagan nontheless.

Hope your stay continues to be delightful. Must be nice to be closer to Mom and Pop, huh?

4

I got your postcard, Phouka, thanks a bunch! The only problem is that is scares everyone…I had it on the fridge but Hubby made me take it down because it gives him the shivers. Wimp!

I’m glad you made it safely. It’s hard to move back in with the parents, isn’t it? I had to do it for about 5 months and it was rough, can’t beat the rent though. The food was good, too.

Keep positive, I know everything will work out great for you.

5

My thoughts exactly!

Glad to have you here phouka :slight_smile:

-Sam

6

I hate California. A lot.

I hate the weather, which is almost always sunny and warm. How 'bout a little variation? There are no seasons to speak of. Smog. Heat.

I hate the concrete and asphalt. The entire city is grey, with only a mocking smattering of green. The local hills have scrubby, dusty, dry, hot vegetation. I like the trees in the San Gabriel mountains, but it’s too hot and dry.

I hate the traffic, which crawls. I hate having to drive everywhere. I hate having to pay for parking.

I don’t like the people, who are superficial and too consumed with looks and money. These are the people The Straight Dope is trying to educate, but they don’t care enough to learn. And there are so many people here! L.A. County has almost twice the population of Washington state! (Last time I checked, 9 million vs. 4.9 million.)

I don’t like paying $690/month for a one-bedroom apartment.

I do like:

The So. Cal Dopers I’ve met.

Being allowed to share lanes when I’m on my motorcycle (no traffic jams!).

The weather… but only when I’m flying. The rest of the time, the weather sucks.

7

Oh, and the availability and diversity of “ethnic” foods is good too.

8

Phouka!

I got your postcard as well! You should have seen the smirk on the mailboy’s face when he came to give it to me at my desk! It was hilarious!

9

My grandmother always hated California. Why? Not for any of the reasons already mentioned, but because “The ocean is on the wrong side.”

10

Holy crap, I would kill to pay that! My rent just got jacked to $950 for a one bedroom, and thats only if I do 12 months.

11

Get the fuck out then. We have too many miserable people here as it is. I’m sure Nebraska could use a few more taxpayers.
Phouka, welcome to California! Unfortunately, yes, you have to pay a bit more for the lifestyle, but then again, you should also find that you get paid more than other places. It’s definitely worth it to me.

Oh yeah, thanks for the postcard!

12

(Bolding mine.)

I just can’t leave this alone. I am completely stunned. I just have never, ever heard anyone complain because the weather is sunny and warm! I don’t understand. Someone please explain this to me! Would you prefer overcast and cold? Rainy and miserable? Dark, cloudy and freezing? Cripes, some people are never happy.

13

I’m a transplanted midwesterner and I love California. I just spent 5 years in Pennsylvania and, they’ve got your “variation” out there, Johnny L.A. Snow, rain, sleet, rain, hail, mud, tornadoes, black ice, 500% humidity. For about 4 weeks a year–two in the fall and two in the Spring–it’s gorgeous. The rest of the time, you’re stuck inside because it’s too hot or too cold. It could snow, literally, for 6 months of the year.

It seems silly to be so concerned about the weather, but it really started to play way too big a role in my life. I love being able to count on taking a walk everyday and I love living in a place with some diversity.

So, Johnny L.A., why be miserable? There are lots of other places to live besides L.A.

14

Democritus, As a matter of fact, I do prefer overcast, cold and rainy. As a So. Cal. native, I’m sick to death of the sun. It’s boring. When I was a kid, I’d climb up on the roof during thunderstorms. I still go outside when it rains.

And indeed, I’ll be moving to Seattle just as soon as I get a job offer from one of the many companies I’ve sent my résumé to. Been there in the winter, been there in the summer.

Modian, compare $690/month for a 1-br apartment in Los Hideous to my friend’s 2-br house with a yard and garage in Northern Washington for $700/month!

15

Hey Demo, try not to get too defensive. Y’all are talking about apples and oranges (well, except for the weather). Johnny lives in Los Angeles and you live in Northern California – and there is a big difference.

Truthfully, as absolutely beautiful as it is down here (I do love the ocean, palm trees, mountains, etc.), its beauty is ruined by the ugly people. It’s very hard (at least for me, and apparently for Johnny) to appreciate the beauty of the landscape when it’s riddled with such superficial, self-centered individuals.

I’m a pretty friendly, outgoing person and I can’t seem to make any friends in this gawd-awful city. I also hate it. And I would move if I had the emotional energy or the financial resources (or a damn good job offer or marriage proposal from someone in another city). And for the record, one of the places I’d consider a viable option and an improvement would be No. Cal.

16

Oh, and welcome to LA, phouka. I hope things go well for you here.

17

Shayna, soul-sistah!

Actually, it would be easier for me to appreciate the natural beauty if it weren’t all covered with concrete! :wink:

Yeah, me too. Fortunately, I can move even if I don’t get a job up north right away. (If I’m careful, I can live for a year on my savings.) As it happens, I have more friends in Washington state than I do here in my birthplace!

18

Oh, Shayna… You’ve missed the last couple of So. Cal. Doper meetings! We ate alligator last time. :slight_smile:

19

Phouka,
If I haven’t thanked you before, thanks for the postcard!

I’m glad you like California. With the quakes, fires and winds, I hear it’s a wonderful place, when it isn’t trying to kill you! :smiley:

20

Welcome,phouka, it’s nice to see a bright and intelligent person arrive here to Southern California–it brings up the average I.Q. up another point.

So many people have such a love-hate relationship with Los Angeles, including myself. Sure, there are things I can’t stand about L.A., most of which have already been mentioned in this thread: superficial people, smog, traffic, and high rent costs.

But, I have found that there is far, far more to love about it:

Those days (which happen often) when it’s not too hot, and a sea breeze is blowing in

Going to a yoga class in the morning, have Thai food for lunch, and end the night at a Salsa Club–all in the same day. There are few places in the world where there is that level of diversity.

The wonderful, year-round selection of produce, and unusual ethnic foods.

The old neighborhoods, like Pasadena–I love seeing all the great architecture.

A balmy Saturday night at the Hollywood Bowl, with a fantastic picnic basket and a bottle of wine.

The arts & entertainment scene–there is always something to be seen or done around here.

I could go on.

But, one final thing to add, of why I love it here:

This is where I grew up. No matter what, Los Angeles will always be home.