Top 10 Reasons to move to the Los Angeles area

Ya.  There are a lot of things about LA that can force people to leave or find homes someplace else.  Smog, Taxes, Cost of Living, Traffic.  These are the hot buttons for most people.  I have lived in and around the LA Area now for all but 6 years of my 47 years (2 in New York and the first 4 that I don't remember in Tucson and Phoenix). I do love LA, but someone asked me the other day "Why?" I didn't really have a good answer because it's not something I consciously ever really spent any time on, but I thought I would spend a few minutes and let you know why.

For some background, I grew up in a place called Northridge which is located in Los Angeles County and a suburb of the City of Los Angeles.  I graduated from Pepperdine University where I spent 4 very challenging years having to balance school and Malibu, but I figured things out and decided to move to New York.  Lived in New York for 2 years and then came home and spent a short time in Woodland Hills (also an LA suburb) and then moved to Simi Valley which is located in Ventura County (the northwest adjacent County to Los Angeles).  After a few years there we moved to Thousand Oaks and then to Camarillo/Santa Rosa Valley that are all located in Ventura County.  From my home in Santa Rosa Valley, I can be to the beaches in Malibu, Santa Barbara, Brentwood, LAX Magic Mountain all in about 45 minutes given traffic.  But, here are some of the things I love most about living in LA.

10. Travel. By plane - LAX, Burbank Airport are all within Los Angeles County, but it is only a short drive to other major airports in Long Beach, Orange County or Riverside.  In addition, there are a multitude of smaller airports that can support your desire to fly in privately in Van Nuys and Camarillo and a whole lot more.  But, LAX is a hub to American Airlines, Delta, United, Alaska Air and Horizon Air, but is also a focus for Southwest Airlines, Virgin Air and Allegiant Air.  You can also fly from LAX Internationally to wherever it is you want to go.  By boat - Cruises to Alaska, Canada's West Coast, Mexico and the Caribbean happen daily out of the ports in San Pedro or Long Beach. But you can also take shorter trips to Catalina Island or sail your own boats docking them in Marina del Rey or Port Hueneme or Ventura. By car - yes, we have lots of cars.  But the roads are plenty and the destinations endless.

9. Hollywood.  It's got to make anyone's Top 10 list because it is what most people think of when they think of LA, but, to be honest, it's sort of a hassle.  Every once in awhile, I will head down there with my family for an event or two, but for the most part, if you have a family, you probably won't be spending much time there.  If you are single and hip...there is no better place to be.

These could each be their own blog unto themselves, but I will hit the rest of the list another day, but just so you know what else is to come...

8. Entertainment
7. Food
6. Suburbs
5. Melting Pot
4. Beaches
3. Sports and Sports Teams
2. Opportunity
1. Weather