I just moved out to LA from New Jersey for a summer internship, but I instantly felt like I was in the right place. Being from the East Coast, New York City has always been my heart and soul, but LA has proven to be a tough rival. Here's why I instantly fell in love with LA:
1. You can drive everywhere.
LA is known as the "city of traffic" and it holds true to that nickname, but since LA is far more spread out than NYC, there's hardly any public transportation. The convenience of having a car allows you to explore more neighborhoods (even though parking is a nightmare) so if you want to head to Santa Monica, you can pack all your beach gear in your trunk and be there in 30 minutes, as opposed to lugging your beach gear on the subway and taking a two hour trip to Coney Island from Manhattan. Plus, your car doesn't smell like homeless people and urine (hopefully.)
2. People are happier.
New York and New Jersey have this kind of competitive career-oriented air about them. Of course, it's good to strive to be the best you can be at your job, but if you look at people's faces on the subway in NYC after a long day of work, they look like their souls were sucked from them. Maybe it's all the Vitamin D Californians get or just the relaxing effect of seeing swaying palm trees, but people in LA always seem to have a smile on their face, even after a hard day's work.
3. Each neighborhood is unique.
This is not to say that the five boroughs of NYC don't have their own attitudes, but here, they're more distinct. If you want to be amongst young professionals in the music scene, you go to Silver Lake/Echo Park. If you want to be amongst hipsters and artists, you go to Downtown LA. If you want to be amongst hippies, you go to Venice Beach. If you want to be amongst celebrities, you go to Burbank or Beverly Hills. If you want to be amongst tourists, you go to Hollywood.
4. People love their jobs.
A lot of times on the East Coast, it seems that people go into certain careers to impress other people with all the wealth they accumulate. You'd be hard-pressed to find a smile on a businessman or woman's face on Wall Street. Out here, people love what they do, even if it's not as financially beneficial. Employees aren't dying to go home after work and they're happy to stay an extra hour at the office because they are doing what they love. You can be successful and happy here at the same time. I know, unbelievable, right?
5. The beautiful weather.
I understand people wanting to live in places where they can experience all four seasons, but try to honestly tell me that they would turn down a 70-degree sunny day on a 10-degree day with the brutal, unforgiving cold wind whipping their faces so hard it leaves freezer burn marks. Yeah, no.
6. There are actually reasonably priced grocery stores.
Yes, they do exist in NYC too, but you may have to go out of your way to find them, depending on where you live. Here, there are multiple Ralph's (grocery store, not the Italian ice place) in just about every neighborhood, so you don't have to travel far for decent prices.
7. People are nicer.
Aside from the road rage that's to be expected in a city full of cars, people will just smile at you for no particular reason here. It may seem creepy at first to someone from the East Coast with a Jersey attitude, but Californians friendly demeanor starts to rub off on you and you find yourself saying "hi" and "good morning" as you walk past pedestrians during the rare times you're not in your car.
8. Avocados.
Avocados go on everything here. I almost squealed with giddiness when I saw that avocados were a topping option at Subway. Avocados become an essential part of every meal and I wouldn't have it any other way.
9. Everyone is living "the good life."
Even if you're a struggling actor or a starving artist, everyone here is confident about where they're headed because LA is not nearly as cut-throat as NYC is. Following your dreams here is considered to be more inspirational than it is considered to be destined for failure. People have a much more positive outlook on their futures and aren't ready to quit anytime soon.
10. Hiking.
As much as I am a true city girl, I love to get out and explore and appreciate nature. Sometimes you just need to get out of the city and go for a walk in the wilderness; this is totally attainable in LA. There are so many trail options within city limits that you don't even need to actually exit the city.
11. The relaxed wardrobe standards.
It is perfectly normal to get turned away from a bar or restaurant in NYC if you're not dressed appropriately. Here, there are no rules. "Business casual" takes on a whole new meaning and you come to realize that blazers are nearly obsolete. New-Yorkers are very uptight about dress codes and the only day you get to dress down is casual Friday. Every day is casual Friday in LA.
12. No one cares about what school you went to.
On the East Coast, measures of success are based on where your degree/s are from. Going to school and getting a good paying job is prioritized, whereas here, people are well educated, but name dropping universities doesn't impress anyone. People don't care about where you went to school, they care about what talents and skills you have and what you can do with them.
13. You feel inspired to work out.
Vitamin D from the sun not only makes you happier, but it gives you energy. LA is a city that's obsessed with clean eating, juice cleanses and pilates. The collective healthy lifestyle inspires you to exercise more and since you're happy with your work and don't feel drained by it, you have the energy to work out.
14. Every outing is a networking opportunity.
Chances are, if you're in LA, you're in one business and that's show business. But contrary to popular belief, not everyone is an actor; there are so many different career options in the film industry and with the rise of digital media, there are opportunities to get into the business from all angles. This means that every time you go out, you're bound to meet someone you can make a beneficial connection with. Yeah, it may feel like you're 'using' the connection to your benefit, but I get the sense that people are more willing to help others achieve their career goals here.
I can't say for certain yet if LA will be my permanent home, but I am definitely planning on making it my home for a while past this summer. Don't worry though, New York, you'll always have a special place in my heart.
