Well seeing my move to SEA is going slow (too slow), then I'm considering a move to the west (CA). Since so many of you are from there, I thought I would toss out a feeler regardng where you give a thumbs up in terms of area and costs. My only requirement is that it is relatively affordable and fairly close to an airport.

Hey DM, this is great news, now we can watch each other's back when the Big One Hits :-)

Houses and rent for desireable cities near the airport (Westside) will be very high these days. If money wasn't an issue, I'd live in Santa Monica again (a lot of beautiful people and nice beaches) or the beach cities near there like Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach or Redondo Beach. All very expensive now.

Housing and cost of living gets relatively more reasonable as you go inland, towards Riverside County (Corona, Riverside, etc), but obviously the distance to LAX will be at least 1-2 hours.

OC is nice (espec. south) and just as expensive by the coast. But a bit far off from LAX.

If you want to stay in L.A. and rent ST, check out the Palms area where they have lots of apartments for UCLA students or the miracle mile area(Wilshire btwn La Brea-Fairfax) or Los Feliz Area up north by Griffith Park or Silver Lake Area near Downtown.

You may also want to check out some cities in the western part of the San Fernando Valley, or the Ventura County area (coastal) which is nice.

Good luck.

coastal san fern. and ventura sounds nice... thanks for the info. I'll be trying to hash details out and make a decision over the next couple weeks.

Only Ventura is by the beach and not SF Valley, it's relatively more affordable housing but very far from LAX. Check your PM you.

Other options that can keep you near the airport as well as not being budget killers are Culver City (will need to look around for good deals) and El Segundo (same).

Marvista should be another option.

How much money are willing to spend on rent anyways? And how far from the airport do you wish to be?

Concarne's right on (I live in Mar Vista, 12 min for LAX), I'd look seriously at those places, or the Marina if you can spend more. If you want to live near non-primary airports, Long Beach and Ontario are (poor) options.

DM,

Plenty of Asians in LA for you especially in the San Gabriel Valley but too far from the beach and LAX. 45 min plus.
I live in Brentwood but we don't allow Patriots or Red Sox fans here. j/k

I can rent here anyone can. West La should be very affordable to anyone who travels the world like you.

By close to the airport, I mean within a hour or so drive of LAX, SD, or SFO.

Cost. Well I don't have a budget per se, but cheaper the better as long as it has what I need (safe locale, somewhat quiet, and convenient). I'm also rarely there, as hotel rooms are my home at least 50% of the time.

Then I stand by what I said. You could look to get something pretty decent for below $1000 and less if you do not need a big party pad.

If SD is an option for you than you could consider Oceanside, Northpark (very close to the airport), University Heights. And you would be about 20 min away from TJ for what is worth.

most places become affordable when you share the rent. let me know if you make the big move, i may be up for a roommate. I'm thinking in the central LA area or los feliz area.

One thing though, with all the travellin we both do, it'll be one empty apt. lol. soc

DM, You moving to LA? Or anywhere on the west coast? Don't move to the San Francisco area. It's WAY too expensive. But then I'd skip the whole thing and move to SEA!

(Message edited by the_senator on September 14, 2005)

I'm seriously thinking of moving out of California (seriously). I have a problem though (less seriously): in order to maintain my handle, I would have to move to New Orleans or something, and I don't think now is the time to do that.

soc: we'll see, I'll be chewin' if and where I move over the next couple months (I'm in SEA and Brazil for most of this year.

Senny: yes, I am considering just that.

LAG: CA is closer to SEA, lots of nice chicks, and good weather... don't sound too bad to me.

Laguy, try Mobile (aka Lower Alabama) -S.

Try Hermosa Beach,Redondo Beach,South Bay Rentals online to see apts.Hermosa has become trendy as a hotspot with USC+UCLA.Small surf town with incredible babes.15min. from LAX.Been here 20yrs and never regretted coming back from anywhere in world.

now that sounds like what the doctor ordered

I hate So Cal and would move out of this fucked up state in a second if someone offered me decent money someplace else.

The Manhattan/Redondo/Hermosa area has gotten a bit pricey over the years. The small place next door to me went for $2.3 million. Don't know what the apartment rental situation is, but things are high everywhere. A friend of mine, who lives two blocks off the beach, is getting $10,500/mo. renting his three bdrm place.

"I hate So Cal and would move out of this fucked up state in a second if someone offered me decent money someplace else."

Really? We have never met, and for all I know, we may be vastly different, but I can't for the life of me imagine living anywhere else in the USA anywhere but So Cal, Vegas, or So. Texas. The key for me is access to the Mexican border and stuff 'to do' (and gambling's always nice, in that regard!). Any other place I have ever been in the U.S. seemed to me to tremendously BORING, and when you factor in weather concerns, I wouldn't live most places even IF the income screamed 'HIT ME'. Making 6 figures in GREEN BAY would seem to me to still be life in HELL!

I would just like to chime in from Carlsbad, Ca which is in N. San Diego Cty. I am a native New Yorker and would not want to be anywhere else but in so. ca. My favorite part is this time of yr. when I know everywhere else in the country is starting to cool down. Thats when this place starts to heat up. I think they call it indian summer. Good luck with the move

I agree w Porker...

I love the state and I will be getting good cash to remain too!

Different strokes for...

That is what makes the world work (to a degree)

Have you ever given any consideration to Northern Calif. Redding is real nice you have lots of recreation there and the rents are cheap. They also have flights to LAx & SFO daily. You can still buy a house fairly cheap you can get a real nice one around $300,000 and a decent one for around $200.00. Rent on a 3 bedroom house is between $725.00 & $1200.00 per mo

Damn...I had no idea how many of you guys are here in Los Angeles. We've seriously got to hook up.

I am in Playa Vista. New development of condos, townhomes, and single family residences. All over priced (1400 s.f. place is gonna run you $500k+). But if you know anything about LA traffic you'll appreciate how easy it is to get around the traffic from there. Not to mention only being a 5 minute drive from your door to the airport.

DM if you're ok with driving an hour or less to the airport, and you like Chinese/Vietnamese food (and women) you could look into the San Gabriel valley. I understand that you can find a 1 bedroom apartment for under $800 (altho you might want to see if you're comfortable with an area like that). BTW in that area you could easily have breakfast/lunch/dinner for under $20 a day (that includes tip), all Chinese food of course but it's varied, not just talking about your typical chow mein and fried rice crap. But all types of dishes from the different parts of China.

As for female entertainment...well I can honestly tell you that compared to the girls of SEA or Latinas down south, the play 4 pay here in LA SUCKS ASS. We're talking $120 for an hour of their time, and that's IF you're in good with the house that's operating the setup. Otherwise the going rate is $160 for the hour (both prices include tip to the girl) Don't get me wrong, the girls are nice, sweet and pretty...but they definitely do not come close to the treatment you would get in SEA or South of the border. BJs, DATY, Multiple positions, available, but it's just the feel is different. Chinese girls are generally better than the other Asians but are usually not as attractive, well at least from my opinion. But just the same it's available if you need a fix in between mongering trips. I've never done TJ, but at least it's only 2 hours away from LA if you want to go that route.

Of course, if you don't wanna pay upfront for it, you could always signup for those Asian dating clubs and meet lots of Asian ladies that way. They're always up for meeting non-Asian men for dates, much more cost effective I think, than visiting the 'houses'.