Insanely high cost of living: True. I grew up in the SF area, though, so I just consider that normal. But it's also true that normal people manage to live here, somehow, and make the rent and pay the bills and still have enough left over to see a movie now and then. Or, y'know, go to a concert or two. ;)
Awful traffic: Also true, to a large extent. Though, as with so many things, it's mostly a question of learning how to work the system. Sure, working the system sometimes means You can't get there from here at rush hour, but more often it means Take this route, not that one. And (almost) always, always stay off the 405 unless it's absolutely necessary.
And pollution: It's not as bad as it used to be. No, seriously. And air quality varies depending on where in LA you live. I'm not going to claim the environment here is pristine--far from it--but I enjoy doing stuff outdoors and I don't feel like I need a gas mask.
The occasional earthquake: Absolutely. Living anywhere has its risks. I'll take earthquakes over hurricanes (or tornadoes, blizzards, etc.) any day of the week. Sure, they sometimes kill people. But I've lived in earthquake country virtually all my life, and I've never been more than minorly inconvenienced by a quake. I'd say you've had it worse in the past three weeks than I have in well over three decades.
I'd still recommend it: Not to everyone. Hell, I hated LA for a good 20 years. Ran it down every chance I got. Then I moved back "for six months" and the rest is history. I don't know that I'll be here the rest of my life--who knows what the future will bring?--but I don't know that I won't be, either. I absolutely love my neighborhood, I have great friends here, and the entertainment opportunities are, I think, second only to New York... and not necessarily even that, depending on what it is you're looking for. You certainly never need be bored in LA, that's for sure.
Plus, y'know, boys throwing tennis balls for their puppies. Priceless.
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Awful traffic: Also true, to a large extent. Though, as with so many things, it's mostly a question of learning how to work the system. Sure, working the system sometimes means You can't get there from here at rush hour, but more often it means Take this route, not that one. And (almost) always, always stay off the 405 unless it's absolutely necessary.
And pollution: It's not as bad as it used to be. No, seriously. And air quality varies depending on where in LA you live. I'm not going to claim the environment here is pristine--far from it--but I enjoy doing stuff outdoors and I don't feel like I need a gas mask.
The occasional earthquake: Absolutely. Living anywhere has its risks. I'll take earthquakes over hurricanes (or tornadoes, blizzards, etc.) any day of the week. Sure, they sometimes kill people. But I've lived in earthquake country virtually all my life, and I've never been more than minorly inconvenienced by a quake. I'd say you've had it worse in the past three weeks than I have in well over three decades.
I'd still recommend it: Not to everyone. Hell, I hated LA for a good 20 years. Ran it down every chance I got. Then I moved back "for six months" and the rest is history. I don't know that I'll be here the rest of my life--who knows what the future will bring?--but I don't know that I won't be, either. I absolutely love my neighborhood, I have great friends here, and the entertainment opportunities are, I think, second only to New York... and not necessarily even that, depending on what it is you're looking for. You certainly never need be bored in LA, that's for sure.
Plus, y'know, boys throwing tennis balls for their puppies. Priceless.