[scorpioqueen]

and if so is it expensive to live there? If so is there an area near it you would reccomend? Anything we should be warned about? My DH has an interview at a college there. It would be adjunct only position so money will be an issue. Oh and too keep this diaper related, are there any CD companies in the area?

Deanna

 

[lori810]

I lived there briefly (actually in Marina Del Rey, next to Santa Monica, but lived in Santa Monica). It is one of the most expensive places to live probably in the country! Sorry, I don't have any recommendations - it was a few years ago that I was there.

Lori

 

[Miny20]

We live about 7 miles from Santa Monica... my husband commutes to SM every day. It's pretty pricey. We live in LA and it's pretty 'not cheap'. Our rent is $1700 a month. I don't know how that compares, though... since we moved from NYC where we were paying $2300 for a studio. I've not seen any diaper companies here, unless you count Dy-dee diaper delivery service.

I think, though, that there are plenty of rental around this eare that aren't terribly expensive. It would just take some searching. The traffic here is a nightmare, too! Ugh!

Where are you moving from?

 

[Miny20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miny20 Where are you moving from?

Uhh.. yeah, I just looked. You're moving from AZ. It is SOOOO cheap to live there. If you moved here, you'd be in for some serious shock!

 

[scorpioqueen]

I kinda knew SM was horribily expensive my SIL and her husband are both doctors making 100,000 each and they struggle (of course they have other "issues" )If he gets the position we will be moving from Tucson AZ, I don't want to move I'm sick of moving, we have ZERO money to move so thats a whole nother issue

: .....but DH needs a job, he wants sooo despertly to get back into teaching at the college level.

Deanna

 

[scorpioqueen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miny20 We live about 7 miles from Santa Monica... my husband commutes to SM every day. It's pretty pricey. We live in LA and it's pretty 'not cheap'. Our rent is $1700 a month. I don't know how that compares, though... since we moved from NYC where we were paying $2300 for a studio. I've not seen any diaper companies here, unless you count Dy-dee diaper delivery service. I think, though, that there are plenty of rental around this eare that aren't terribly expensive. It would just take some searching. The traffic here is a nightmare, too! Ugh! Where are you moving from?

Whats your utility cost like and how big of a place do you have? If I can ask

Deanna

 

[Sisyphus]

As long as you have a car, you don't have to live right near SM. I lived in South Pasadena for years and worked in Malibu... it was an awful commute, but I did it... The further east you go, the cheaper rents are. I also lived in a predominantly hassidic jewish area in West LA (Robertson and Pico, there's also a Kaballah center there) and I LOVED IT!!! The rent wasn't exorbitant, and you are within walking distance to lots of restaurants, etc. You still NEED a car, though... LA is so spread out, it's hard to find a place near a grocery store LOL!!

You could also try the Wilshire district (near LA County Museum), there actually *is* a grocery store over there, and Pasadena if you don't mind a horrible commute.

LA is a great place to live, but it will take some getting used to coming from AZ. If you live in Pasadena and commute to SM depending on what times you are commuting, it could take anywhere from 30+ minutes (off peak times, no accidents, etc.) to 2+ hours (Thanksgiving eve... rain... ugly). From Robertson/Pico area it will take about 15 - 30 minutes depending on how you go (surface or freeway) and how much traffic there is. Traffic will ALWAYS be a wild card because you just can't know what is going on at any given time.

I totally understand the moving thing... between dh and I we've moved 20+ times in the last ten years... I HATE MOVING!!! (but am considering doing it again soon if we can find a house we like better than this one! Call me crazy!)

PM me if you want any more info. I lived in LA for almost 20 years (up til about four years ago)... I'm happy to help!

Lo

 

[Miny20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scorpioqueen Whats your utility cost like and how big of a place do you have? If I can ask Deanna

Well, we live in an apartment building. Unbeknownst to us before we moved in, we don't have AC! It seems like it would be horrible, but in two months we've only had one unbearable day. Our electric.. we don't pay for water... was $45 for 47 days. It came with a nice little statement saying that we average $0.99 a day! Cool, huh? I guess for that we can live without AC!

 

[todzwife]

We moved from West LA (3 miles from Santa Monica) just last year. We were paying $1030/mo on a 1 bed 1 bath apt, and we paid all utilities except water.
It was horribly expensive, but there is soooo much to DO there! I really miss it now that we are in the middle of nowhere!

 

[scorpioqueen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miny20 Well, we live in an apartment building. Unbeknownst to us before we moved in, we don't have AC! It seems like it would be horrible, but in two months we've only had one unbearable day. Our electric.. we don't pay for water... was $45 for 47 days. It came with a nice little statement saying that we average $0.99 a day! Cool, huh? I guess for that we can live without AC!

Now thats conforting especially because we own a window unit so we would have some "help" if a day or too did get unbearable.

Deanna