Thinking about moving back to Los Angeles... (Burbank: 2013, lease)

[MerylNag]

At the beginning of 2012 I moved to LA from DC , mainly to give it a shot and get a change of scenery as I'd lived in DC my entire life. I loved the food, weather, people, and all the usual stuff about living in California. But after about 7.5 months there, I moved back home. My main reason was because most of my family and friends (who've I've been friends with for 20 years), all live in DC or the surrounding states. I found it hard to be without them, though I did make some cool friends in LA. Seeing my family only 3/4 times a year was a bit tough for me. I've been back in DC for exactly one year now, and I think about Los Angeles everyday. Living and working in DC depresses me to no end, as I feel like it pales in comparison to LA.

So my main dilemma comes down to having all my close friends and family nearby and living in a city I really don't like, or living in a city I really really love while not having those people around. Of course I can make new friends in LA, though I did find it tough when I was there.
In November, I'm flying to LA to visit for a week, so I plan to immerse myself in the city once again and see if it's everything I remember or if I'm only being nostalgic about the good parts. I do kind of feel like I didn't give LA a full shot while I was there, and I didn't go out as much as I should have. I moved around wile I was there; I lived in Playa del Rey, Burbank, and Los Feliz. each for a few months. If I do move back I'm planning on staying in WeHo or somewhere walkable, since driving to go out was one of my gripes with LA that contributed to me returning to the east coast.

What do you guys think? Did anyone else leave all their friends and family when they moved to LA?

I am 24

[PDF]

Come back out here if that's what you really want. I moved from Florida to LA back in the winter without knowing anyone, and without a job. Things couldn't have worked out better.

I visited LA for a week before I moved out here, but honestly I don't like it as much as I thought I would. So I will be leaving sometime soon. But I know what you mean about not giving LA a full shot.

But it sounds like you really need to get out of DC. It was easy for me because I really needed to get out of Florida and wasn't close to family and friends there.

[fkinteh]

I have been here in Weho for 5 years and have no family out here and no friends. I have made some good friends in my time here, but they have all moved or live so far away that I never see them. Actually, I have a lot of old friends who live in DC and have thought of relocating there because I feel so lonely and isolated. But, I'm a 39 yr old woman. I have to think it would be easier for a 24 yr old. Less than a year is definitely not long enough to get over homesickness, so I think it's worth coming back and staying at least a couple of years just to see. It's an amazing city...I haven't been able to let go of it yet. You can always Skype with your family.

[marilyn220]

I understand what you mean about LA being somewhat isolated from the rest of the country. It takes 5 hours by flight and almost a week driving. If there's a family emergency, then you can't just pick up and "drive" home. You'll need to have ready airfare available at all times.

I lived in LA for a few years, then moved back to NYC sometime in September 2013. I'll be moving BACK again in September/October to house sit for a friend for three months, while he's traveling for business.

I don't like NYC anymore. I knew I wouldn't like it when I moved back, but I just had to make sure I wasn't overreacting and not giving it a "chance". The city's changed a great deal and I will no longer tell people that I'm from here as I'm quite "ashamed" of what it's become now. Like, can you say pussification of the highest order??

I dig LA's vibe. Very cool and different place.

[NyWriterdude]

Originally Posted by marilyn220

I understand what you mean about LA being somewhat isolated from the rest of the country. It takes 5 hours by flight and almost a week driving. If there's a family emergency, then you can't just pick up and "drive" home. You'll need to have ready airfare available at all times.

I lived in LA for a few years, then moved back to NYC sometime in September 2013. I'll be moving BACK again in September/October to house sit for a friend for three months, while he's traveling for business.

I don't like NYC anymore. I knew I wouldn't like it when I moved back, but I just had to make sure I wasn't overreacting and not giving it a "chance". The city's changed a great deal and I will no longer tell people that I'm from here as I'm quite "ashamed" of what it's become now. Like, can you say pussification of the highest order??

I dig LA's vibe. Very cool and different place.

And that's I am moving back to LA too, around the same time. My lease ends in Nov., and there's no point in renewing it for the SUCKY place Bloomberg has turned the city into. At least I'll get to vote in the Mayor's race by absentee ballot.

Back to LA, I particularly love the beach cities in Los Angeles. So looking forward to the nice weather.

[Hawaii4evr]

Yeah, LA pawns the east coast. The east coast is cool, but only for visiting IMO. So many old-money snobs who think they're above everyone, terrible weather, and people that live to work and don't know how to chill. Not that LA and the west coast don't have problems too, but at least you can enjoy yourself more.

[DCNita]

I made the move from DC last month. I had 30 years in DC. Most of my family and friends are in DC. I've lived away from DC when I went to college so moving away again is not so much of a shock. DC is boring after 30 years. There's nothing much to do there. When I was there I stayed home most of the time because I ran out of things to do. I've seen it all. When I was in DC my family only got together during holidays and we mostly just talked on the phone. Well I don't need to be in DC for that. Sometimes it's the mental crutch of having family and friends near when in reality if you thought about you don't really see them and or hang out that often. What's the point of being near them then? That's my reasoning. I don't miss DC and I text/talk to everybody on the phone just like I did when I was in DC. The only difference now is I'm in different environment and have much more to do to keep me entertained. They all want to come visit LA.

[Miss Pip]

Originally Posted by MerylNag

...So my main dilemma comes down to having all my close friends and family nearby and living in a city I really don't like, or living in a city I really really love while not having those people around. Of course I can make new friends in LA, though I did find it tough when I was there.
In November, I'm flying to LA to visit for a week, so I plan to immerse myself in the city once again and see if it's everything I remember or if I'm only being nostalgic about the good parts. I do kind of feel like I didn't give LA a full shot while I was there, and I didn't go out as much as I should have. I moved around wile I was there; I lived in Playa del Rey, Burbank, and Los Feliz. each for a few months. If I do move back I'm planning on staying in WeHo or somewhere walkable, since driving to go out was one of my gripes with LA that contributed to me returning to the east coast.

What do you guys think? Did anyone else leave all their friends and family when they moved to LA?

I am 24

I left my whole country. I find that the longer you're away, the less homesick you get. You'll just need to be more active and have more distractions to take your mind off it. Go on road trips etc. Stay busy.

[Nerf Herder]

maybe convince your friends and whole family to move out with you? That would certainly help ease traffic congestion, although not by much

[BuffalonianPride]

Ask yourself this: Would you mind wearing a gas mask every day outside?