Relatives lived in Agoura Hills and enjoyed it but the commute to jobs in LA proper was grueling. However, Agoura Hills was pretty and the drive along Kanaan Road to Malibu and then a short hop north to Zuma beach were great (sorry if I spelled the street and beach wrong, don't have a soCal map handy).

I lived in LA for eight years and I agree you don't have to spend your life in traffic if you work it out right. I lived and worked in Santa Monica for a number of years and I was one mile from the office. I could walk if I woke up earlier ;-) but my drive was five minutes. <BR> <BR>In my opinion it's worth paying more for rent and living closer to the ocean. The rent doesn't have to be outrageous. I can understand why Monique feels held hostage. Riverside is nowhere I'd ever want to live. Landlocked, smoggy, incredible traffic and cookie-cutter housing. Don't be tempted by cheaper housing way out east of the city because you will pay in hours sitting in your car every day. <BR> <BR>I should warn you too that many people undergo a bit of culture shock when they first move to LA. I noticed it in myself and everyone else I met who had just moved there. It is "city living", tense, fast paced and has an undesirable underbelly. You will acclimate but give yourself six months before you decide whether you love it or hate it. <BR> <BR>I also concur that the schools are not great in Los Angeles and that is the reason we eventually moved, but Los Angeles is a great place to be a DINK. The weather, the beaches, museums, restaurants, entertainment, all good reasons to live there. I lived in Santa Monica, West LA, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach and would recommend them all. Have fun!

I grew up in LA lo these many years ago and every time I go back (couple of times a year) I marvel at how places we formerly regarded as deep boonies now sprout their own city halls, neighborhood watches, and Fatburger stands. <BR> <BR>It's ironic to me - the spin on LA for years has been that it lacks community, because the population is so mobile and that the freeways destroyed neighborhood identity and encouraged isolation behind suburban walls and tinted car windows. But now I think that's changing. People are discovering their own communities, largely because the region's prosperity and population growth have made long-distance driving less and less feasible. Used to be that people living in one part of the region would hop in the car to go to the shopping center 20 or even 30 miles away, bypassing their local merchants in the process. Well, no more. That former 20 minute drive is now an hour, and not worth it. The same thing goes for job and housing location. My dad commuted from central Orange County to Santa Monica for years, but only a loony few would do that now. Another friend still lives in Agoura Hills and commutes to downtown LA, but he only does it because he goes to work at 5 AM; he's learned several useful languages off tapes in the process. <BR> <BR>So neighborhoods are being rediscovered, communities being built, people are becoming "locals." It's a good thing. <BR> <BR>The other good thing that never left is the variety and joy that comes from this awesome collection of smart and diverse people and cultures. It was Dr. Johnson who said when you're tired of London you're tired of life. Well, welcome to LA, Dr. J.

You cant say it enough that L.A is a collection of "state of minds" You can reinvent yourself by moving there and you can reinvent yourself just by moving across town into a different area. The poster who mentioned that it does have a fast pace of life is correct. Although many people view it as "laid back", it is very rare you can stop to smell the roses unless you are disciplined. After over 10 years there I moved because I wanted to live where things close on Sunday, and where I could sleep without fear of being awoken by my house shaking off its foundation.