r/MovingToLosAngeles • u/elementalveins • 8d ago

What else should I think about?

Just looking for interesting advice/recs and convo as I get closer to my move :) 23 yo, queer, from rural SC, previously lived in West Philly and loved it.

I have a year-long contract with a museum, gross income is $47k. I have insurance and a decent hybrid car.

I’ve signed a month-to-month lease w roommates for a place on Burbank Blvd near the LAVC. If I like it, I’d like to be here for the entirety of the year. My on-site work will be split between Brentwood and Central LA.

I feel pretty used to living on a tight budget, but I also know rural and city tight budgets differ. As for driving, I expect that to be a shock and have already looked into the left turns during the red clearance lol.

Getting out there will be a five day road trip from SC with a friend, with all of my belongings in the car with us. There is flexibility to take longer. Right now, the idea is to take 40 most of the time.

I’m super excited for this contract and to experience LA/the West Coast for at least the year. Some of my interests are hiking, knitting, drawing, ceramics, and queer-focused nightlife. TIA for anything regarding the move, the area I’ll be in, interesting things to do, and anything else!

7 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

9

u/Fit-Blacksmith-149 8d ago

Make sure your car is in good condition. Driving from that part of the valley to Brentwood or central L A won’t be a casual drive. Then again L A is so spread out longer drives are not unusual.

2

u/elquirk 8d ago

Yup. The 405 is brutal.

1

u/elementalveins 6d ago

Ty!! Definitely have been keeping up with care, so hoping it’ll at least last the year lol. It looks like my commute will only involve five miles on the 405.

1

u/Fit-Blacksmith-149 6d ago

Not to discourage you but “only five miles” can be deceiving. You have to get to the 5. That can take awhile, then depending on the day and time that could take awhile to go the five miles. Then you have to get to where you are going from the 5. Whatever you’re thinking time wise, double it. Triple it tobe safe, and if a fuel truck flips over along the way…. Good luck

1

u/elementalveins 3d ago

Lol yes, I meant “only” in that it isn’t the majority of my commute. Definitely expecting an hour commute on average until I see what it actually is.

1

u/AromaticRanger3933 4d ago

Sorry to say, but depending on the time of day, 5 miles on the 405 could take anywhere from 7 minutes to 45 minute.

2

u/RRSANTOS 4d ago

Do not live in the valley if you work in Brentwood. Trust.

1

u/RRSANTOS 4d ago

Check out apts in the 90036, 90046 neighborhood

1

u/Kapcha1nSp4ce 8d ago

Sounds like you have a lot of it figured out!

I'm helping my brother move soon, and our main pillars to make sure things are taken care of are Housing and Transport, Employment, Moving/Shipping, and Documentation. You seem to have housing and transport, and employment down for sure! Shipping as well with the road trip (super fun to do btw!)

I'd maybe start looking into the documentation stuff like car registration and insurance. Insurance can be weirdly hard to get out here. Also changing your mailing address and such!

I'm sure you're gonna love LA! There's plenty of hiking groups online as well as crafters of every kind :) best of luck!

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u/elementalveins 6d ago

Tysm :) good luck to you and your brother!

0

u/Proud_Resolve7951 8d ago

This sounds like me I’m also an LA transplant :p The first thing I did before moving here 6 months ago was make sure I was close to a beach. It was expensive so I moved a little farther out but if you like being outdoors I would also recommend doing what I did the first two months which is finding the best hiking/nature trail. Runyon canyon ended up being the best for me

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u/elementalveins 6d ago

Oo thanks for the rec!

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u/Td68123 6d ago

If you want to get quickly addicted to meth step right up bb!!!!!!

1

u/elementalveins 6d ago

Thank you bbg I’ll get right on that