Decision of a lifetime ... [Archive] - Madden Tips, Strategies, Cheats

ahr19

02-20-2007, 11:00 AM

I post this in our Old Folks home because I truely think that only some people of similar age (or older with more life wisdom) can relate and assist me through my thought process ... Let me break it down:

I am 32 years old, single, no kids ... with the opportunity to move to Los Angeles or Miami. I currently live in DC, and I have lived in Miami before. I love Miami, but something about the West Coast has me real curious. Been to visit a bunch of times and like it ... Near the beach and the great weather would be awesome for my mental health. Been through some tough family times the last 2.5 years and new surroundings would do me great.

My concern is just the cost of living out west. I would def want to purchase some real estate to continue growing my wealth ... I just don't know. Then other things pop up in my mind ... Some people say if I keep moving around, I will have an even more difficult time meeting someone (a girl) and settling down. Not that I am looking right now, but eventually it would be cool ... Also, I have lived in DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and Miami for all at least a year and a half ... Chicago and Miami are my favorites ... and I wonder, what if I hate it out west??? ... it is hard to move around as much now as when I was in my 20's ... more investments, more furniture ...financially more challenging ....

So I come to my peeps at VG for some words of advice and wisdom ... I think I want to get out to the West ... just a little nervous/scared/wary ...

Help!

Skinsman 68

02-20-2007, 04:43 PM

Ahr:

I lived the first 23 years of my life in DC and moved to California in 1992 so I am probably more qualified than just about anyone to help you with this question. I loved DC but I used to come to Cali very frequently cause some of my family lived out here. I always wanted to come here and then 15 years ago, after a relationship went sour very quickly, the opportunity to go to Law School out here presented itself and I took a chance. I drove across country and was depressed for the first day or so, and then something about being on the open highway driving across country was very liberating.

I live in Bakersfield, a rapidly growing city about 110 miles northeast of LA and to be truly honest with you I hate LA. The traffic situation is horrible (if you think the Beltway is bad, wait until you deal with the 405 on a daily basis), the air quality is bad (although Bakersfield's is worse), the cost of living is shocking, there's the perpetual threat of a cataclysmic earthquake destroying everything you own and possibly killing you and your family, and theres no football team.

But, if you look at the big picture, California is a great state.The joke about skiing in the morning and hitting the beach at night is no joke. It can definitely be done. With the possible exception of Hawaii, you will not find a more beautiful state anywhere in the US. Drive down Highway 1 and you will be blown away by what you see. Spend some time in Lake Tahoe (my favorite place in the world) and you will never want to leave. LA absolutely has its high points. It is the entertainment capital of the world, no offense directed to New York, and there is always something going on whether you are into music, sports, or the arts. And the other major cities, San Francisco and San Diego in particular, are awesome. Plus, you can drive to Vegas in about 3.5- 4 hours from LA and if you have never been to Vegas, thats a unique experience.

I say go for it. You will probably go through a bit of culture shock like I did when you actually live here because the people are much more laid back and relaxed than folks are on the East Coast...and no its not because they are all high...well maybe some of them are:D The biggest problem with LA is the transit system, or lack thereof. if you can live with that, you'll be fine. or you can do what a lot of people do and live in the outlying (and usually cheaper) communities and commute in.

Oh yeah, the women. Well, there's a reason that song says "I wish they all could be California girls." You will not find a heavier concentration of stunningly hot women per square mile of real estate anywhere on the planet and I truly believe that. I found my wife out here and I have been married for almost 6 years now and have two beautiful kids as well. The women here can be real flakes, but you will get that anywhere. But most of the women I have met are good people and as tempting as it may be to go after the younger ones, if you stay close to your own age group you will probably avoid some of the true nutcases out there.

I hope that helps. If you need specific info, just PM me brother. I would be happy to help a fellow DC spirit relocate to California. Good luck.

ahr19

02-20-2007, 11:08 PM

Now that is a cool response. Good story. You gave some good info. The cost of living is VERY shocking ... but I guess I have to search for something nice ... not too crazy ... ugh ... my main fear is being broke out there. But perhaps I can find a deal ... they say the market is down out there. Once it gets real serious, I will definitely have to take a good hard look at the real estate. Perhaps I can do what I do here in DC and sell real estate part time out there. Good for meeting people and learning about the area ... plus the supplimental income is nice too ...

I think the more laid back atmosphere will do me kind of good. I am a bit burned out of the DC vibe.

Good advice though ...For sure I will PM you ... Anyone else out there???

Skinsman 68

02-21-2007, 03:51 PM

A couple of years ago, the real estate market in Bakersfield was exploding. We bought our house for $130K and it now appraises at over $300K. But, the market is indeed down right now and I am not sure when it will rebound. But places like Bakersfield and the Antelope Valley (just outside of LA) are growing like wild fire and probably have some good opportunities for someone wanting to get into real estate.

RicoVacilon

02-21-2007, 05:18 PM

I live in Miami. Kendall to be exact. Chose LA man! Hahaha.

rank is dumb

02-22-2007, 03:25 AM

I always think about getting in my truck and driving out west or south just to live where its WARM!! :D I also lived in DC and I must say that is a very easy place to live..

I think you want to live some where that suits your personality.. Thats what I read into your post.. I personally liked living in Cleveland the best.. The people are always in a good mood and very nice.. I never understood that but it seems to be true.. I now live in Pittsburgh and everyone here has issues.. Conflict seems to be a daily actvity for people her.. I'm more laid back and easy going (although my post might not seem that way)

I'm thinking Arizona for me.. Seems to be a good growing area and has nice golf courses :D

ahr19

02-22-2007, 09:44 AM

I live in Miami. Kendall to be exact. Chose LA man! Hahaha.
Ha!Ha! I used to live in North Miami Beach (163rd and Collins). Loved it. Worked downtown and had so much fun. I still own a place in Surfside (92nd and Collins) right on the water. It is sweet! I have this bug to try out the west coast before I get older and have more "attachments" that make it more difficult. This way I would feel I have scratched every itch (except for over

I always think about getting in my truck and driving out west or south just to live where its WARM!! :D I also lived in DC and I must say that is a very easy place to live..

I think you want to live some where that suits your personality.. Thats what I read into your post.. I personally liked living in Cleveland the best.. The people are always in a good mood and very nice.. I never understood that but it seems to be true.. I now live in Pittsburgh and everyone here has issues.. Conflict seems to be a daily actvity for people her.. I'm more laid back and easy going (although my post might not seem that way)

I'm thinking Arizona for me.. Seems to be a good growing area and has nice golf courses :D

Well Cleveland is considered the midwest and Chicago was my favorite place of all to live in. I know you may be like, "Why??" ... the people made it such an amazing place to be. I have made some real close friends from my time in Chicago. It is cold as all get out there ... and my blood is thinner now and I just can do all that cold. Although the summers there are sweet!!!

So maybe the west coast is a little more laid back which could be cool because I am a laid back fellow ... no stress ... don't need much conflict ... just chill. And the pretty people NEVER hurt to look at!

joetoronto

02-26-2007, 06:32 AM

go to LA and you'll forget about all those other towns you've lived in, ahr.

like it says in the song, "you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave."

just do it. ;)

hakaida

03-22-2007, 05:47 PM

ahr19

03-22-2007, 11:17 PM

It's not cali, but vegas and phoenix might be good alternatives. As far as real estate goes, it can be really great or really bad. I'm a broker myself and can tell you that a lot of people fail in this business. It is something that I would get into part time if I was starting out unless you have a lot of money to fall back on. It takes years to get referral leads which is what keeps your career going.

Phoenix is another spot I would consider. LA is my first choice because of the beaches and milder weather. In terms of real estate, my plan would be to pick up part time with a broker and just use that as supplimental income. It definitely can't hurt ... especially with the prices of homes in LA.

Perhaps soon I will have an update on my quest. My fingers are crossed!

hakaida

03-23-2007, 12:44 AM

For me cali is a place to visit, not to live. Unless you are used to big city living, you might not like it. I like living in a medium size city where you can get from one end to another within an hour. Most west coast cities have lots of hot babes too.

feardaram

03-23-2007, 09:59 AM

LA. hurricanes = no way.

ahr19

03-23-2007, 12:43 PM

LA. hurricanes = no way.

I think you mean earthquakes and not hurricanes. But anyways, thanks for reading and writing ... Where have you been?

feardaram

03-23-2007, 02:17 PM

i meant i would go with LA, because living where there are hurricanes would not be my first choice. plus, its too humid in miami.

ahr19

03-23-2007, 02:51 PM

i meant i would go with LA, because living where there are hurricanes would not be my first choice. plus, its too humid in miami.

True that. Plus I have lived in Miami already. So ... Fear ... when r u gonna hop on AIM or can you email me back or return a PM. We have to catch up!

Nevada_Ballin

03-23-2007, 05:09 PM

Armani - care to hear from an east coaster who can relate? :D

you know i'm a philly boy. also lived in south jersey and NYC for a while. "How" i cane out west is a pretty adventerous, funny story i won't get into now but one night i decided i was just going to catch a greyhound in Atlantic City and go invade my brother who ws living in San Diego. The next day i did it. He had no idea i was coming...lol

I ended up living in San Diego for 4 years - and it really is one of the most beautiful cities in America. BUT - extremely expensive. Same with LA. Then I stumbled upon Lake Tahoe/Reno and it was "lights out" - it's beautiful, clean, affordable and there's plenty of work to be had for professionals. Plus the number of "plastic people" is minimal, unlike LA where everyone wants to be a "star" or are riding some kind of ego trip.

I've been here for almost 20 years now - the only things the east coast has that the west coast doesn't have - real pizza and real cheesesteaks. :D

ahr19

03-23-2007, 05:34 PM

Amani - care to hear from an east coaster who can relate? :D

you know i'm a philly boy. also lived in south jersey and NYC for a while. "How" i cane out west is a pretty adventerous, funny story i won't get into now but one night i decided i was just going to catch a greyhound in Atlantic City and go invade my brother who ws living in San Diego. The next day i did it. He had no idea i was coming...lol

I ended up living in San Diego for 4 years - and it really is one of the most beautiful cities in America. BUT - extremely expensive. Same with LA. Then I stumbled upon Lake Tahoe/Reno and it was "lights out" - it's beautiful, clean, affordable and there's plenty of work to be had for professionals. Plus the number of "plastic people" is minimal, unlike LA where everyone wants to be a "star" or are riding some kind of ego trip.

I've been here for almost 20 years now - the only things the east coast has that the west coast doesn't have - real pizza and real cheesesteaks. :D

Good feedback. I fixed my name for you as well. ;) I am looking at LA b/c of my industry (hotels/hospitality) and it offers me the best chance to move out there and continue my career. Once I get out there, then I can explore. Plus, the beach living would be great for my quality of life/stress level. But I get your vibe. Thanks for offering your input!

A Disciple

03-25-2007, 01:56 PM

well IMHO, you would love it out west. It's lovely. As far as meeting a woman, I believe that everything has it's reason and its timing. When it's right it's right. No matter where you are, if the timing isn't right, it won't happen.

Follow your heart. Don't get stuck in a rut so to speak. Sometimes you just gotta step out on faith. I know I'm a little bit younger than you, but my situation was similar to yours. I came out here to Vegas and it really has been good for me. Granted, I came with some help and a lady waiting on me, it was still an act of faith to make the move. Pray on it and let God help you in your decision.

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 09:31 AM

ahr19

04-09-2007, 11:15 AM

What did you decide to do ahr?? Your heart tells you to go to the west coast. Do it? Due to the COL, you may have to adjust your lifestyle a bit to start but that would be anywhere you moved.

Dont do what I did? Stay b/c it was comfortable. I wanted to move away when I was single and had my own money. I didnt. Im 34 and thats the only thing I regret about my life so far. To have regrets at 34 is discouraging which is why I will never NOT do something I want to do again.

All b/c I was fearful. :(

Well... ironic that you asked. I have been making a few trips out to LA and working on this job thing. I really hope to make a small announcement in the next week or so saying what has happened. If it all works out, I will keep a nice little online diary right here in the Old Folks home to detail my entire moving experience. But that is if I get the job and everything.

I have been looking at some homes to purchase and it will be a bit pricey. Going to have to probably do a 5/1 Interest only ARM so I can get in and afford the mortgage. Are you able to run some numbers for me True?

I have no regrets right now, but I do know that if I stayed here in DC, I would look up in 3-5 years and wish I had given the West Coast a try. That is the only area in the country I have not lived (except the Northeast) and I have no interest in living in the Northeast.

Stay tune. I hope I can make an announcement real soon!

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 11:37 AM

Well... ironic that you asked. I have been making a few trips out to LA and working on this job thing. I really hope to make a small announcement in the next week or so saying what has happened. If it all works out, I will keep a nice little online diary right here in the Old Folks home to detail my entire moving experience. But that is if I get the job and everything.

I have been looking at some homes to purchase and it will be a bit pricey. Going to have to probably do a 5/1 Interest only ARM so I can get in and afford the mortgage. Are you able to run some numbers for me True?

I have no regrets right now, but I do know that if I stayed here in DC, I would look up in 3-5 years and wish I had given the West Coast a try. That is the only area in the country I have not lived (except the Northeast) and I have no interest in living in the Northeast.

Stay tune. I hope I can make an announcement real soon!
Thats exactly right.

What numbers do you need run? Mortgage payment? What the price? Interest Rate? Down payment??

ahr19

04-09-2007, 01:03 PM

Thats exactly right.

What numbers do you need run? Mortgage payment? What the price? Interest Rate? Down payment??

Basically I am looking to see potential payments if I did a 5/1 INterest only ARM on $700K home, $650 K, $600K, $550 K. I could put 10 % down or maybe 20% down (would prefer not to). I have no idea about taxes ... but that should get us started. Basically, trying to figure out the lowest payment for the most house I could get.

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 01:57 PM

Basically I am looking to see potential payments if I did a 5/1 INterest only ARM on $700K home, $650 K, $600K, $550 K. I could put 10 % down or maybe 20% down (would prefer not to). I have no idea about taxes ... but that should get us started. Basically, trying to figure out the lowest payment for the most house I could get.
Using National average Interest Rates:

Home price
$700,000.00

Down payment
10.000 %

Beginning payment
$3,688.52

Beginning interest rate
5.780 % (average on Jumbo loans)

Interest compounding
Monthly

Total amount financed
$630,000.00

Total payments
$1,900,779.60

Total finance charge
$1,270,779.60

APR
8.305 %

Please keep in mind this does not include taxes and insurance.

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 01:58 PM

Home price
$650,000.00

Down payment
10.000 %

Beginning payment
$3,425.06

Beginning interest rate
5.780 %

Again, no taxes or insurance.

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 01:59 PM

Home price
$600,000.00

Down payment
10.000 %

Beginning payment
$3,161.59

Beginning interest rate
5.780 %

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 02:00 PM

Home price
$550,000.00

Down payment
10.000 %

Beginning payment
$2,898.13

Beginning interest rate
5.780 %

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 02:02 PM

AHR

I could get you an even more accurate on the payment if you know what city you'll live in out west.

Again no taxes and insurance included.

Also, I would never put 20% down on a house.

ahr19

04-09-2007, 03:07 PM

AHR

I could get you an even more accurate on the payment if you know what city you'll live in out west.

Again no taxes and insurance included.

Also, I would never put 20% down on a house.

The city is Los Angeles. If you want an even more specific city try either Hawthorne or Redondo Beach. Well, what options do I have to get those payments down besides putting down alot of money. Those were the Interest Only ARMs, right? LOL.

Nevada_Ballin

04-09-2007, 03:19 PM

Well... ironic that you asked. I have been making a few trips out to LA and working on this job thing. I really hope to make a small announcement in the next week or so saying what has happened. If it all works out, I will keep a nice little online diary right here in the Old Folks home to detail my entire moving experience. But that is if I get the job and everything.

I have been looking at some homes to purchase and it will be a bit pricey. Going to have to probably do a 5/1 Interest only ARM so I can get in and afford the mortgage. Are you able to run some numbers for me True?

I have no regrets right now, but I do know that if I stayed here in DC, I would look up in 3-5 years and wish I had given the West Coast a try. That is the only area in the country I have not lived (except the Northeast) and I have no interest in living in the Northeast.

Stay tune. I hope I can make an announcement real soon!

I'm really interested in following your adventure here ahr... if the timing of your move is just right, maybe AD and I can help you move in a few boxes :D

BigW

04-09-2007, 05:07 PM

Hey Ahr19 do it!!! even if It doesn't go the way you expect it. I moved to MA 5 years ago, and though I regret It cause I hate MA, at least I did it and found out first hand that MA sucks. I managed to turn a negative Into a positive. I bought a house, sold it doubled my money and I moved back to NYC.

Also at the age of 32 for you to have that option to pick up and leave is a blessing especially If your single with no kids. Do It, take a chance you only live once. Good luck with whatever your decision Is.

TRUEVisionDC

04-09-2007, 07:19 PM

The city is Los Angeles. If you want an even more specific city try either Hawthorne or Redondo Beach. Well, what options do I have to get those payments down besides putting down alot of money. Those were the Interest Only ARMs, right? LOL.
Yea...lol. Those were the interest only.

I would rather pay a couple hundred bucks more a month and hold on the extra down payment you would need.

ahr19

04-09-2007, 10:55 PM

Yea...lol. Those were the interest only.

I would rather pay a couple hundred bucks more a month and hold on the extra down payment you would need.

Wow. Hmmm ... so that gives me a better idea (even without taxes and insurance ... :eek: ) I am going to have to be real creative with my finances. So I only put 10% down or maybe even 5% and use the remaining 15% I was going to put down to suppliment my monthly mortgage. Sound good? I have furniture and everything else. I am going to get a home that doesn't need alot of work so I won't have to spend money on that.

Thanks for running those numbers. Is 5/1 ARM the best or will a 3/1 ARM get me even lower payments?

Skinsman 68

04-09-2007, 11:25 PM

I'm really interested in following your adventure here ahr... if the timing of your move is just right, maybe AD and I can help you move in a few boxes :D

Yeah, count me in on that too. I am only 1.5 hrs away from LA so by the time Nevada and AD get there, we can have the keg nice and cold:D

TRUEVisionDC

04-10-2007, 08:07 AM

Wow. Hmmm ... so that gives me a better idea (even without taxes and insurance ... :eek: ) I am going to have to be real creative with my finances. So I only put 10% down or maybe even 5% and use the remaining 15% I was going to put down to suppliment my monthly mortgage. Sound good? I have furniture and everything else. I am going to get a home that doesn't need alot of work so I won't have to spend money on that.

Thanks for running those numbers. Is 5/1 ARM the best or will a 3/1 ARM get me even lower payments?
Since you are relocating, I would stay away from a 3 year. Chances are that you wont move again or re-fi (realistically), for 5-7 years. I would lock in for as long as I could. 5 years is a good number. Just know what you have to do after 5 years. If you could afford the higher payment by keeping the difference in your account, you could do so much more with that money. (IE separate investments)

What would be perfect is that you budget a fixed 30 year payment, get an interest only and pay yourself the principal. That would be perfect.

ahr19

04-10-2007, 09:59 AM

Since you are relocating, I would stay away from a 3 year. Chances are that you wont move again or re-fi (realistically), for 5-7 years. I would lock in for as long as I could. 5 years is a good number. Just know what you have to do after 5 years. If you could afford the higher payment by keeping the difference in your account, you could do so much more with that money. (IE separate investments)

What would be perfect is that you budget a fixed 30 year payment, get an interest only and pay yourself the principal. That would be perfect.

OK this sounds interesting. Perhaps you can give me a quick example so I make sure I understand it completely. Thanks.

TRUEVisionDC

04-10-2007, 11:16 AM

OK this sounds interesting. Perhaps you can give me a quick example so I make sure I understand it completely. Thanks.
Sure

Fixed payment on 30 year $500K at 7% = $3000 (round numbers)

Interest Only Payment on $500K at 6% = $1800 (round numbers)

Budget for the fixed but apply for and pay the interest only. The difference ($1200) pay to yourself in some self directed investment.

Personally, my fixed mortgage was going to be $5079 (thats what I budgeted for). I have a 7/1 ARM and my payment is actually $4324. I take the difference of $755 and put it into the Allianz S&P Index Annuity (https://www.allianzlife.com/ProductsServices/EquityIndex.aspx) that guarantees a minimum of 3% and a maximum of whatever the S&P 500 does annually. Plus I get a 10% bump on all money I deposit every month ($75.50 per month)

ahr19

04-10-2007, 06:58 PM

Sure

Fixed payment on 30 year $500K at 7% = $3000 (round numbers)

Interest Only Payment on $500K at 6% = $1800 (round numbers)

Budget for the fixed but apply for and pay the interest only. The difference ($1200) pay to yourself in some self directed investment.

Personally, my fixed mortgage was going to be $5079 (thats what I budgeted for). I have a 7/1 ARM and my payment is actually $4324. I take the difference of $755 and put it into the Allianz S&P Index Annuity (https://www.allianzlife.com/ProductsServices/EquityIndex.aspx) that guarantees a minimum of 3% and a maximum of whatever the S&P 500 does annually. Plus I get a 10% bump on all money I deposit every month ($75.50 per month)

Good example. Makes sense. I need to first make sure the move is a definite and then things will go into play very fast. Have to rent my home here (going to use craigslist as my main advertisement source). As that is being done, I need to find a place in Cali as my temporary housing may only be for 60 days. But let's not let me get too ahead of myself. Still waiting for a few things to fall into place.

TRUEVisionDC

04-11-2007, 07:22 AM

well good luck

keep us posted as a couple VGers want to see how things turn out

ahr19

04-12-2007, 09:00 PM

Update: Today began the discussion of compensation. Their agent came to me with a package, me and my agent discussed their package and responded with a number and package we are looking for. They will probably respond on Monday.

I am pleased with their initial offer but we will need to adjust a portion of the package.

I am now going to put a listing for my house to be rented on craigslist and see if I can get any interest. (Any other good online sources to rent out a house?)

I will also step up the search for a home in Cali. Get my pre-qualification complete and start to nail down a few options for homes.

I will also begin to look for soccer teams in the LA area so I can join up as soon as I get there and keep my exercise on.

So ... should I continue to detail my move process in this thread or start a new one? (I kind of like this one because it shows my thought process from the beginning of my search). Thoughts???

TRUEVisionDC

04-12-2007, 10:42 PM

Yeah keep it here.

BTW, tell me about the place you are trying to rent. Im a Realtor so I come across of plenty wannabe homeowners.

ahr19

04-18-2007, 11:59 PM

Update:

It is official. I have accepted a position in Los Angeles, California. I have electronically signed my offer letter. I will have to start around May 1st, 2007. I am so excited and kind of nervous at the same time. This will be a huge move for me. Wow!!!

Now I must rent out my home here.
Then find a place to purchase there. Looking at trying to find something near the beach.
Come back to DC and pack up my house.

I also have to ship my car there at the end of next week. Also, I have to check with the vet and figure out what I need to do to make sure my dog is safe on the plane ride out there.

At the same time I still have business affairs here to attend to (including an active listing I have to sell Truevision!).

I have to tell my staff tomorrow. They might be a little bit sad. Let's hope so.

10 days to get some of this done!!! Cue the LL Cool J, Big E. Smalls ...

:D

More to come soon.

joetoronto

04-19-2007, 07:01 AM

all the best, ahr19. ;)

Zymotic

04-19-2007, 09:35 AM

ahr19

04-19-2007, 12:02 PM

Are you sure you want to live on the beach ? Also, if you have a dog and are interested in soccer there are other locations you might want to look into. Encino is a nice city that has lots of dog parks and lots and lots of soccer going on almost 24 hours a day , also the south side of Burbank has lots of soccer and dog parks along with a couple of great golf courses... Im not saying the beach isnt nice, but ... eh .. I grew up here, Im unimpressed by it... and most people dont realize about all the crap you have to put up with when you live at the beach... There are plenty of hotels along the coast though, why not work on the beach and go home to another area ? Just a thought. Also I'd love to hear what prices you run into when you look for a home near the beach ... there are some very seedy areas, and even the seedy smells like piss areas start at over a million... Also, if you plan on living at the beach I hope you arent easily upset by traffic, as you can look forward to a three to four hour commute to go 30 miles ... Most of the better activities are not near the beach, such as sports stadiums and such...

Hey ... thanks for writing and giving me some good info. A few things. My job will be at LAX right now so I am unable to find a job on the beach. I want to live close enough to where I work so that I don't have to take the highway if I don't need to. The areas I am looking at are Redondo Beach, Hawthorne, and Hermosa Beach. So far it seems like in Hawthorne I can find a pretty nice place for $600 - $625K. In Redondo Beach ... from $650K to $675K ... so... my current dilemna is whether or not to pay a little more for the beach behind my address or not. BUT, if I can scoop a place where I can walk to the beach and stay around that price range ... then cool ...

Also, I am looking to join some soccer leagues out there. Any recommendations for the such? Where is Burbank from the airport?

Skinsman 68

04-19-2007, 01:49 PM

Burbank is on pretty much the opposite side of the city from LA. On the map it doesn't look too bad, but driving there will give you a real taste of LA traffic.

Thats awesome you are coming out here man. Someone else I can talk to when the Skins start to suck this year. You shouldn't have any problems finding soccer leagues and such down where you will be. Soccer is very popular in California. There are games going on everywhere and, not trying to offend anyone or sound stereotypical at all, because of the heavy hispanic population you will come across some truly excellent players from Mexico and Latin America.

Too bad you can't drive across country. i did that when I moved here from DC and I am sure my dog enjoyed that better than he would have liked a flight. But, if you are pressed for time you probably can't do that.

I'll have to look you up when you get settled as I am only 110 miles from LA.

Good luck with the move.

Zymotic

04-19-2007, 02:22 PM

ahr19

04-19-2007, 11:31 PM

LAX is about 20-22 miles from Encino, and maybe a couple miles further to Burbank ... although they are on opposite sides of the valley basin there are easy freeways... What is your schedule ? Traffic is really bad from 6:30am to 9:30 and then really bad from 4:00 to 7pm. If you can come and go before or after those times you will have no problems... As for the cities you mentioned, I'm sure I've driven thru them on my way to somewhere good ...

Hey, we also have a few new bus and train routes... I think the train goes to LAX so might want to grab a map and see where the stops are and look for property near them also ...

As for soccer, if you want to play you better speaky de spanish ... and you better be good, the players here are fantastic and will treat you like a pinata on the field ...

Gas is $3.34 a gallon.

Just curious, is it your plan to live here forever ? Not really sure why you want to rush to buy property... at least not without researching the latest property trends, such as the recent increase in foreclosures... I'd just hate to see you get tied down to a mortage to a house that wont be worth half what you paid for it in a couple years...

Might want to visit the trustee/county clerk of the area you are chosing to live in and see if you can get a list of foreclosures... There has been a huge boom in building apartments/condos due to these insane property prices ... I think this will greatly effect the prices of houses in the next couple of years.

Are you dying or something ?

Yo hablo espanol. And I think I can hold my own against my Latino brothers.

The basic premise behind me buying property when I get out there is 1) I refuse to give away money for rent. 2) the market is down there and several friends who are into real estate living there say now is a good time to buy. Generally speaking, I like to acquire an additional piece of property every two or three years. This will be three years since I bought a place so it fits right into my schedule.

If I live there for two years and move, I can sell the property and probably make some good money (not great but good) based on the areas I am buying in. The property closer to the beach grows at a faster rate than property further inland.

Gas is up to about $3.14 a gallon here so it is almost as bad.

Good suggestion on the county clerk piece. Good looking.

I am not dying? LOL. Why do you ask that? Just about to begin another chapter in my life ... :D

Zymotic

04-20-2007, 12:47 AM

ahr19

04-20-2007, 10:30 PM

The dying question was due to your posts, there are things in them that imply you are either cracking , close to cracking , or already cracked. And usually people dont make big moves at your age because their happy as hell ... A new town, a new house, a new job ... it wont fix what is wrong with you if whats wrong with you is inside. A move might distract you for a while , but its not a fix.

These real estate friends of yours... you know them well ? People you can count on to do you right ? The real estate market here is cut-throat and I dont want you wrapped and rolled by a guy that would kick his mother just to make a sale. I generally dont believe a word a sales person tells me until I have researched their pitch. This place was built and thrives on the quick smile and "trust me" line, and usually the smilers are the one that benefit... at the cost of others.

I guess Im just saying explore all options and find out all you can before you do it. Cause I sure as hell dont want to read a thread by you called " boy did I get a$$ raped in Cali " ....

LOL. I'm not cracked up or in the process of cracking. Basically I have been looking for a new job for the last two years. All over ... Bristol, CT ... Tampa Bay, Florida ... Phoenix, AZ ... and even LA back in November. Just trying to get a new job with some new surroundings. I think it will do me good both mentally and professionally. I have discussed it with family, mentors and close friends and they all have given me different things to consider, but 99% of them have been like, "Go for it!" Plus, I have always wondered what it would be like to live out west. So when it came down to it, I was debating whether or not to move to Miami or LA. I have lived in Miami already so I wanted to try LA. I don't want to look up three years from now and be like, "Damn ... I wish I would have moved there instead of staying put." I used to think like you too ..."people don't make moves like this at my age ..." , but then I thought what the hell ... I'm gonna bounce and try it out and see what I think. It will be stressful at first, but it will be worth it. So let's see what happens.

My real estate friend is very trustworthy. He also just bought a place in Redondo after a years worth of looking. So he is just sharing his wisdom with me. And I am doing research every day.

Nevada_Ballin

04-25-2007, 06:57 PM

The thing is too, you don't want to look back in life when you are actually OLD and wonder if "I should have gone there when i had the chance" or "I should have done that when i had the chance".

Screw that, go do it. Then when you're OLD (60+ is "old" btw...lol), you can look back and say "i DID go there" and "i DID try that" and not have any regrets about missed opportunities in life when you start reflecting about it all.

Seize the day my man, seize the day & enjoy it, life is one way trip, there is no turning back the clock. :D

ahr19

04-29-2007, 09:26 PM

Day 1 is complete in my journey to California:

Yesterday (Saturday), I arrived in LA to begin my journey. Packed myself (five bags) and my dog onto the plane and we headed across country. It took me almost 45 minutes to check my dog into the plane. They had to scan him and everything. Ugh ... so ... two movies later we touched down in LA. Everything was cool.... dog had a little accident in his crate but he was healthy with is most important. Now we are chilling in our hotel room.

The past two days I have spent looking for a home to purchase. This will probably take a few weeks of looking. I am debating changing real estate agents because the agent I am working with is not all that familiar with the areas I am looking in. Then today me and my boy were cruising by some open houses and met this one agent who was real sharp and gave us great info. I will have to call him shortly and see wht he is talking about. I am part of a special program with my job where they assign you a realtor so they can get back some of the commission. Like a referral program. I am going to call him shortly.

Tomorrow (Monday), I start my new job. Not really nervous just yet. I know that they are very eager for me to arrive. My position has been open for 4.5 months. Have a busy, busy week ahead of me.

I went to this party last night and met this actress:

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2006/08/Alicia250806_228x326.jpg

Her name is Alicia and she was in ... Two Week's Notice, The Upside of Anger and a few other things ... she was pretty cool ...low-key ...

I was able to get my PS2 hooked up in my room AND online so I can still get my Madden on and destress.

My staff was very sad on Friday when I left. I have to go back for my going away party ... that will be real sad. My assistant was so sad, she didn't even say "Goodbye" ... she just left ...

Well ... those are just some random thoughts after two days in Cali. I will post up something else in the next day or two ...

TRUEVisionDC

05-04-2007, 10:17 AM

WOW. GOod stuff. Glad things are going well. How is your tenant treating your place back here?...

Zymotic

05-04-2007, 10:21 AM

She was also the kid from DUNE the movie... Good luck with your new life. LOL

ahr19

05-05-2007, 02:21 PM

WOW. GOod stuff. Glad things are going well. How is your tenant treating your place back here?...

Yep, so far so good. I don't have a tenant yet for my place in DC yet. Still have some people coming by to look at it and all that. Hopefully in a few weeks I will get one. I am off to go look at places right now!

Highlander

05-14-2007, 06:51 PM

Yep, so far so good. I don't have a tenant yet for my place in DC yet. Still have some people coming by to look at it and all that. Hopefully in a few weeks I will get one. I am off to go look at places right now!

If you venture over for a Vegas trip give AD or me a shout (although due to scheduling since AD moved out here I havent seen him, when he visited we would get together) we can try to hook up and maybe Nevada and Surf can drop down from the North.
Glad you made your move your still young so find out if the grass is greener instead of pondering and good luck

ahr19

05-15-2007, 01:58 AM

Day 16:

Whew! Work is so very busy. I barely have time to surf my VG sites and threads. Meetings every day and important meetings at that. But work is going well so far after two weeks. Very busy. Let's see what else is going on.

Looking for a home ... I spent the three weeks before I got here (including one trip out), looking for a place to live. I think I have found one. My initial requirements (desires) was to get a detached 3 Bedroom, 2 BATH house with a garage, master bathroom and a yard for my dog, close to the beach ... for a decent price. I wanted to avoid getting a condo b/c of the HOA fees. After alot of looking around, feelings getting hurt ... I have found a 2 BR, 2.5 BTH, Condo that is detached with a garage and a decent little backyard. Nice patio outside the master bedroom and another patio off the living room. The Den area could pose as a third bedroom, but I think I am going to turn it into my computer/gameroom. It will be right next to my living room so I will probably have two TV's right next to each other. One for PS2 and one for movies, sports,etc ... I dunno yet ... So I learned quickly that I had to sacrifice some things to get a decent place. Prices are cheaper, but it is still alot ... I did get my place for about $58K lower than original asking price ... so let's hope everything appraises and I can move forward. It is like 1.5 to 2.0 miles from the beach in North Redondo Beach ... cool area ...

My car arrived on Friday (last week) so I have my wheels now which is cool. Good move ... One thing about living out here that is different than I thought. The temperature is much cooler than I thought. Barely a day over 72 degrees .. and at night it gets down to mid 50's ... Keep in mind I am working/living about 2 miles from the beach/ocean! So that is different than I imagined ... Also ... everyone here has nice rims on their rides ... and people seem to live in small little apartments, but have sweet rides. Also, regarding the people ... they seem pretty nice ... talking to me when I am at the bar eating dinner by myself ...

I am supposed to get out a little more now that I have gotten situated with my home situation. I have seen some nice glimpses of the women everyone talks about here in Cali. I am trying to pick up on a few soccer teams as well ... going to a tryout on Sunday ... and picking up outdoor 7 v 7 during the week. I hope that gets pretty regular as well ....

I think that is it right now for an update. I will update later if I miss anything.

If you venture over for a Vegas trip give AD or me a shout (although due to scheduling since AD moved out here I havent seen him, when he visited we would get together) we can try to hook up and maybe Nevada and Surf can drop down from the North.
Glad you made your move your still young so find out if the grass is greener instead of pondering and good luck

For sure ... I plan to get to Vegas real soon ... (esp the Spearmint Rhino) ... you and AD are on my list! And I am happy I am seeing what this is like for myself and not wondering ... It only has to be a year ... (but I am willing to bet it will be longer) ...

TRUEVisionDC

05-17-2007, 10:36 AM

Glad things are working out.

Out of curiousity, what do you do?

Zymotic

05-17-2007, 11:08 AM

Ooops, yeah I forgot to tell ya the beach is always 15 to 20 degrees cooler then the valley... you got that marine layer making to deal with , but you will love it in the summer... Not sure about the soccer scene in Redondo ... but there are a few good leagues in Los Feliz ( near griffith park ) in Burbank ( near equestrian center ) and Balboa ( near golf course ). I was looking at some condos just yesterday and it seems like there is a real decline in real estate. The places I saw had been on the market for a few months, at under market value and not selling ... Im glad you got a 58k discount on asking ... congrats !

ahr19

05-17-2007, 07:05 PM

Glad things are working out.

Out of curiousity, what do you do?

I am the Director of Sales & Marketing for a pretty nice sized hotel (>500 rooms) here in LA. I did the same thing in MD but for a smaller hotel.

Ooops, yeah I forgot to tell ya the beach is always 15 to 20 degrees cooler then the valley... you got that marine layer making to deal with , but you will love it in the summer... Not sure about the soccer scene in Redondo ... but there are a few good leagues in Los Feliz ( near griffith park ) in Burbank ( near equestrian center ) and Balboa ( near golf course ). I was looking at some condos just yesterday and it seems like there is a real decline in real estate. The places I saw had been on the market for a few months, at under market value and not selling ... Im glad you got a 58k discount on asking ... congrats !

Yep, they have a cool league setup in South Bay so I am trying to pick up during the week. Looking into another league out by Los Alamitos?? And ... then ... maybe something else in Santa Monica. I think Newport Beach is too far ...

Where were you looking for a condo?

Zymotic

05-29-2007, 02:00 PM

Where were you looking for a condo?

Woodland Hills area... which is usually 1 mill + for a fixer upper... so I see this 3bdr 2 1/2b for 350k and was thinking wtf is wrong with this place ? I am not really into condos persay, I'd rather have a house , but for that money in that area ... had to check it out. I now know why it was so cheap, and I know I don't want to get involved with condos.

So what's the update ? Did California get you yet ? Put you into that happy mood ? You loving the sun and the laid back attitude everyone has ? Or have you developed road rage and joined a gang ? WEST SIDE !!!

ahr19

05-29-2007, 08:30 PM

So what's the update ? Did California get you yet ? Put you into that happy mood ? You loving the sun and the laid back attitude everyone has ? Or have you developed road rage and joined a gang ? WEST SIDE !!!

I don't know if Cali has gotten me yet ... but it is cool. I think once I get into my place it will be better. My own home base so to speak. And I was already laid back before I arrived ... so it shouldn't take long for me to fit in.

Update #1: after listing my home in DC for about ... a month and a half on craigslist to rent, I have secured a renter for a year. This is a great burden lifted from my shoulders. The timing is pretty much dead on so it should work out.

Update #2: The process for me getting my new home purchase is almost done. We are in "escrow" as they call it out here and I hope to close in the next three weeks. Now I can plan how I want to lay out the house and set it up. I see a couple flat screen TV's to be posted on the way in my near future! I will have to downsize in terms of my furniture as my home in DC will be larger in square footage than my new place. Perhaps I will sell some of the furniture on craigslist ...

Update #3: I had my first "In-And-Out Burger" experience and the burger was Very good! Whew ... I don't usually do fast food at all, but I was told to try In and Out ... Next time I have to get the milkshake as well as I hear they are to die for ...

One of my next projects is to determine if the women here are better than the women in Miami. Stay tuned, but to start off with Miami has a large lead! ;)

Zymotic

05-30-2007, 01:01 PM

LOL , sounds like its all falling into place. I don't know about In-and-Out. Everyone always raves about them, but I can't stand them. The ravers are usually people that grew up in the 50s ... In-and-Out just reminds me of some after the sock-hop joint to grab a burger. I guess I'm not old enough to appreciate the nostalgia of that stuff. I prefer Tommy's chili burgers. The chili isn't too spicy, isn't too bland ... its jussst right and they lay a ton of it on their food...

Good luck with your chick study ! lol

ahr19

06-12-2007, 12:31 AM

Small Update!:

Actually, I returned back to DC on Sunday AM to prepare to pack my house up. I took a red-eye in and was able to play a farewell game with my soccer team. Definitely worth the sacrifice. I made it through the day without falling asleep. On Monday, the movers came to pack my home up. Took about 6 hours to pack all my ish in boxes and stuff. Tomorrow (Tuesday), they will load the truck ...

Tonight was my going away party for my soccer team I played on here. There was a great turnout and it was a great time. Two shots and a bunch of drinks later, I am at home getting ready to go to bed and wait for the movers tomorrow ... I am some kind of lit up ... Sort of emotional party as I have gotten close to several of the people I play soccer with. I will miss them and it will be sad ... but I must press on ...

Tomorrow they movers come to load my things AND I have the going away party for my previous job ... this should be just as emotional as this party tonight, but with a speech ...Oh boy ...stay tuned!!!

ahr19

06-15-2007, 09:31 PM

Yup ... I have returned to LA and won't be back to DC for about three months for a wedding. The movers came and loaded all my stuff. 10,000 pounds of stuff. Definitely time to downsize. Also had my going away party for my job which was very nice and very sad ... Four years in one place is a long time, especially when the team I worked through went through things like parents dying, children being born, attempted suicides, marriages, hurricanes, blizzards ... and all sorts of other crazy things. They sent me off well ...

I was able to confirm the rental of my home (my previous renter bailed at the last minute), cleaned up my entire home and make some necessary repairs. Did all that in time ... And made enough time in the end to have dinner with my mom and brother ... Good move ...

So I was able to get a first class plane ticket for the ride back out to LA. My first time ever in first class. I look behind me two seats and who is sitting there???

http://specials.rediff.com/entertai/2005/feb/17don1.jpg

Don Cheadle ... I didn't get a chance to talk to him but he was just chilling the whole flight. Low key ...

I am back and waiting for my items to arrive to I can begin to set my place up!

Stay tuned ...

ahr19

07-02-2007, 02:30 AM

Day 9 in my new home ...

I have been in my new residence for the last two weekends. The number of boxes are now down to a more manageable level. This has been a beast to unpack and figure out where my furniture is going to go. It looks like I am going to have to downsize majorly ... I knew I had to probably get rid of a sofa and a loveseat ... it now looks like I have to get rid of another loveseat which makes two now.

Learning some new stuff about my area. I found out there are some cool restaurants and stuff around where I live (Cheesecake, Chart House and some others ) ... I now need to get some definite groceries and begin to cook. I also got two new TV's ... one for my gameroom and one for my bedroom. Have to get them mounted on the wall ... trying to set up the pad real nice. Living in a hotel was a bear for two months ... It is definitely not all it is cracked up to be ...

So now for my gameroom, I now I will have a PS2 .. debating on getting a 360 or PS3 as well. And as a treat for myself, I will pick up a Wii for my main room where I would entertain company. It is fun for everybody, so the ladies will enjoy it. The game room will just be for the guys.

Still looking for some good outdoor soccer teams to join. I have one that is cool and and working on some 7 aside teams during the week ...

That is my update for now ... I'll keep you all posted once I figure out my furniture and rooms ...

Zymotic

07-17-2007, 11:51 AM

So your place isn't haunted is it ? Nothing been moving around ?

ahr19

07-20-2007, 01:29 AM

So your place isn't haunted is it ? Nothing been moving around ?

Funny you say that. There is this one room in my home where the light just comes on at random times. Trying to figure out what is up with that.

Besides that ... bought my xbox 360 and have a contracter coming by the put up two of my new TV's on the wall. I also ordered a new table for my big TV in the living room. It should come in soon and then I can put it together and figure out how to hide the wires. I also stopped by IKEA and figured out a good bookcase to order also. Real good price for that one.

Having some issues with my dog. He is used to having a doggie door and we don't have one here yet so he has issues holding his bladder when he can't get outside. He is in TIMEOUT right now.

A few things I continue to notice. California is very detached from the rest of the country. You had better watch the news and keep a real good eye on what is going on through websites etc. Otherwise, I could be two weeks late finding out things. Another thing is that there are some very, very pretty women here. Impressive ... AND ... I have even noticed some pretty, pretty Asian women... don't have those where I am from ... definitely something to continue to report on ...

Until the next time ...

Zymotic

07-20-2007, 09:34 AM

Funny you say that. There is this one room in my home where the light just comes on at random times. Trying to figure out what is up with that ...

The light coming on is a ghost... put a small bowl of pennies in that room and close it off... See if anything happens with the pennies.

IKEA - well, I go there now and then. They have a pretty good selection, and the prices are decent... however do not forget you are in the land of earthquakes... I've had more then a few IKEA bookcases fall apart after a shaker ... Pier One Imports just had a big furniture sale, they have some very very nice bookcases... I just bought one for $30 which to me is incredible... and it was already put together !!!! Thats another thing about IKEA , you have to put it together yourself, there are always parts missing, and the instructions are usually in Swedish...

The California Vibe - yes, very true , we do not keep up with the news here... know why ? We don't care... The sun is shining , there is a nice breeze, we love life ... The biggest news issues here are OMG its raining !!! I guess local news casts just think if you really cared about world news you would be watching CNN...

Asians ? Yes , we have everything here... that is one thing about this place that I love, there is every single kind of people here... you get so use to the diversity that when you travel over seas it really feels weird to only see one type of face...

ahr19

08-11-2007, 02:27 AM

So I have a funny story to share:

I am at my soccer game and at the end of the game I put on a shirt that says .. "Montgomery County champions ... "

This guy on my team asks me "Where is Montgomery County?"
I reply, "Maryland."
He says with a straight face, "Where is Maryland?"
I stammer and say "Back east by DC and Virginia"
He says "Wow ... I don't know where Maryland is. I only know my corner states."
I say, "Were you born and raised here in California and never left?"
He says ..." Yes."
I am thinking "Oh my goodness ... that is so bad."

What makes it worse is that he is a principal at an Elementary School. :eek:

We had an earthquake here on Wendesday night/Thursday AM. I didn't feel a thing. My dog didn't bark on anything so I guess we got lucky. 4.5 on the scale so it was a mild one ...

cybed

08-17-2007, 12:00 PM

I'd almost take a VERY minor earthquake to day after day of 95 + degree temps here in NC.

So I have a funny story to share:

What makes it worse is that he is a principal at an Elementary School. :eek:

We had an earthquake here on Wendesday night/Thursday AM. I didn't feel a thing. My dog didn't bark on anything so I guess we got lucky. 4.5 on the scale so it was a mild one ...

Zymotic

08-17-2007, 12:25 PM

So I have a funny story to share:

What makes it worse is that he is a principal at an Elementary School. :eek:

We had an earthquake here on Wendesday night/Thursday AM. I didn't feel a thing. My dog didn't bark on anything so I guess we got lucky. 4.5 on the scale so it was a mild one ...

Yeah, we always gettem when you have temp. snaps like we are having now , when it's 105 degrees during the day , and 60s at night ... 4.5 is a decent sized quake but depending on the epicenter there is a pretty good chance you won't be feeling it... There have been a couple after that too, but usually they attribute them to after shocks of the first one... Considering this heat wave is predicted to stay around for another week , I wouldn't be surprised if we had another decent sized quake ... under a 5 , and probably occurring during midnight and 4 am.

Oh, and I am horrible at geography as well. I don't even know my corner states... Well, wait , I know Mexico is down there cause I drive there a few times a year... and I think Canada is at the top ... but I don't know what else is out there... For some reason the geography of the united states hold zero interest to me, and despite repeated attempts to memorize the information I still can not name all the states, or tell you where they are... Seriously I have maps at home, at work, in my car ... everywhere... I just cannot make it stick in my brain... Maybe it's a California born trait... ??? :D

JoeJGibbs

08-26-2007, 02:55 PM

The bad geography is probably because out west when you drive for hours you're still in the same state.

if you drive on the East coast for a few hours you can go through 5 or 6 states easily.

ahr19

11-07-2007, 08:14 PM

Six month update:

Alright ... I have a little free time for a six month update. Time sure does fly. I have been out here a little over six months. It has been almost four months since I have been in my home. Let me see where I can begin to discuss my thoughts on California.

This time difference is really bugging me out. The wildest thing so far is getting up at 9 AM to get to my friends house to watch the Redskins when they play the 1 o'clock game on TV. Watching football half asleep at 10 AM is interesting. Especially when the Skins love to mess with your heart/patience. Also, now that the NBA is starting ... I could get home from work and the Wizards will be off the TV already. So the time difference with sports is really different. I will have to definitely make some adjustments to my work schedule when the Terps start playing basketball. Another thing is that most of my friends back east are asleep by the time I can get home, walk the dog and eat dinner ... so keeping in touch is more challenging ...

I think the weather is really nice for the most part. Of course in May - September it is really nice. Now it gets down to about 55 degrees at night time with a breeze by the beach so you definitely better have a jacket or sweatshirt available. That is a bit surprising for me but it's cool. During the day it is nice, but at night time just have a sweatshirt ready. It's different than when I lived in Miami because it was humid and that made it warmer in these months. There is no humidity here so it stays at the temperature. As long as there is no snow or freezing rain or any of that madness, I am cool with it. I do need to adjust the clothes I wear at certain times.

I found a good soccer league to play in at least two or three days a week. 7 v 7 on 1/3 of a regular field with no goalies ... and it is outdoor. Of course it is coed so I can meet some cute girls while I am at it. And I definitely have met some cuties and some cool dudes too ... so that is a great thing I got into very early when I arrived. Still looking for a nice 11 v 11 outdoor league ... I found one over the summer, but wasn't pleased with the team so I went searching after the season. I found a better team on Saturday nights ... the only challenge is that the games are from 7:20 - 10:30 PM on a Saturday night which isn't ideal ... but it does leave my Sundays free for football.

Work is cool. My new boss is a huge micro-manager so he will take some getting used to. Put it this way, I have to fill out a permission slip when I want to take extra days off work and I also have to let him know if I am going to be an hour or two late. :rolleyes: But the team of people I work for are really cool. Some cute, cute girls too ... my goodness ... I have to watch my mouth so much because I wanna say some things, but I may get fired/sued if they come out of my mouth. So work is not really that stressing (except for my boss), and I can hang out here for at least another year or so before looking ...

My house is coming together ... All my stuff is unpacked. That took three months and I still have three sofas that I will need to sell because they don't fit in my house anymore. My place here is much smaller than where I lived in Maryland. I set up my gameroom for my PS2/360. Have two nice, comfty bar chairs and the TV on the wall. The next thing for that room is some type of surround sound system. I will need to figure that out eventually. Maybe after Christmas I could do that ... The next step for the house is to start to paint each room a different color. I think I am going to start with my bedroom and work on it from there. This will be a long project but well worth it. I will also have to work on the outside deck area. Set up a chiminea and some benches and a dog house for my dog ... That is it for now in terms of my home.

In general I am really liking LA/California. I like to use the analogy of when you see a really pretty girl out in public. You look at her and you are like, "wow ... she is really pretty ...I bet she isn't as nice inside as she is on the outside ..." Then I get to know the girl and she is actually really cool and just as nice on the inside ... Of course she would have expensive taste (LA is expensive to live in), but it is will worth the investment .. and you just keep falling in love, slowly but surely... You look from afar and think Cali is a good , fun place to live but must be full of shady and materialistic people ... well, so far I haven't run into that too much ... so I am slowly falling in love with California ...

That is it for now ... I'll try to post up more in a few weeks or such ... especially as I meet new people ...

Zymotic

11-08-2007, 09:43 AM

Awww, glad you like California ... And you are right, there are a lot of misconceptions about Californians ... but we don't try to dispute them because we don't want more people coming here ... it just drives up property costs ...

Chimineas are cool. I bought one for my folks a few years ago for Christmas... I was down in Mexico and found one for $20 . Recently I've seen some in stores here and they are around $200 ... So, if you plan on going down to Mexico for a vacation, buy a chiminea there... Just bring a friend ... the one I bought was concrete with river stones all over it and weighed a ton.

ahr19

12-13-2007, 12:58 PM

Met this lady last night at this Christmas party. She was mad cool and real friendly ...

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/05_01/ashleyjensen1AP1605_468x702.jpg

Ashley Jensen from the show "Ugly Betty" ...

Just keeping a record of the peeps I meet ... It is a little colder here than I thought it would be in the "winter" ...

ahr19

01-07-2008, 06:30 PM

Today I woke up and looked out my bedroom patio and saw the ocean ...

Then I look out my kitchen window and I see mountains in the distance ...

It just rained for like a day or two straight and after it cleared ... wow!! I will try to take a picture and post it up ...

Very cool ...

Zymotic

01-08-2008, 10:02 AM

HAHA , you are starting to get into the California lifestyle , thats for damn sure... when you start talking about an appreciation for a view .... you've made it kid !

ahr19

05-12-2008, 05:22 PM

I have reached one year of being a resident of California ... Although I didn't move into my place until July and didn't fully unpack until the end of September ... One year is here and gone ... I have some thoughts about living in LA/Southern California now... 10 Things I think about living in LA ... :

1.) It is so odd to watch NFL Football @ 10 AM, NBA playoff basketball @ 4 PM and March Madness @ 9:10 AM ... so crazy ... the good thing is that it all ends at a decent hour where you could watch the game AND then go out for a night on the town.

2) The weather is definitely NOT what I expected. In the summer, it barely gets over 75 degrees. At night time it will be in the low 60's. In the winter it gets to be around 60's or mid 60's. At night it will get to be around 45 degrees. The thing is that I leave 1.5 miles from the ocean so we ALWAYS get the ocean breeze which keeps it even cooler. That being said ... I'll take this over the DC winters in a heartbeat ... I do miss the hot weather in the summer time, but probably only for a day cuz then the humidity and thunderstorms get old quick!!

3) There are definitely some pretty people here of all shapes, sizes and colors. I must admit I was naive about the Asian women and how they looked. I slept on them but now I am not sleeping ... my goodness ... I even see some with thick hips and nice tails as well ... Most of them are Filipino but even some others ... and the Japanese/Hawaiian (sp?) mix is on point as well.

4) The LA metropolitan area is HUGE. Biggest city I have ever lived in by far (chicago would be in 2nd place). I mean it can take you an hour/1.5 hours (no traffic)to get from one spot to the next and it is still the same Metro area ...

5) The Lakers fans are so bandwagon fans ... they were killing Kobe and the team (rightfully so) at the beginning of the season and now they are in love with them??? Whatever ....

6) Living close to the beach is uber-cool ... I live in a beach city and it reminds me nothing of LA ... real beach like which is nice.

7) I would say the majority of the clubs (popular and underground) are real mixed which is way different than I am used too. Good DJ's though for the most part.

8) Lap dances at almost all the strip clubs cost like $41 (the $1 is because of living wage ...) so expensive ... I just don't get it ... Oh well ... best to wait to go to Vegas ...

9) Hollywood is definitely a part of LA ... but you can easily separate yourself from all the hype and craziness ... It isn't that bad and most times you can see people who are just trying to blend in ... it's kind of funny ...

10) LA is far from DC ... no one wants to come visit yet ... and it isn't the fastest (or cheapest) of flights ... :(

Overall, I like living in LA a lot ... it can easily grow into loving it out here ... we will see!!!