I'm moving (my family) to LA

[Joaneasley]

We moved my family to Woodland Hills so my daughter could go to El Camino High School (the two Woodland Hills high schools often win the national Academic Decathalon. She has since graduated from UCLA, where she had hoped to go even when she was growing up in a college town in Delaware. From Woodland Hills and Agoura, you can take canyon roads to Santa Monica and avoid the 405. The trip is probably an hour in rush hour, half an hour on off hours.

Originally Posted by Cheese

Thought I'd drag this thread back up, as we're looking hard at making the move this summer. My wife may have a great opportunity at a hospital in Santa Monica. So, if they make an offer, we'll probably pull the trigger.

A while back I had said that Thousand Oaks/Agoura Hills would be a desired location for us. But we're now thinking we'd have to live closer if this hospital pans out. How's the commute from the valley (places like Encino, Reseda, West Hills, Sherman Oaks) to Santa Monica these days? We visited LA last summer (the week prior to Carmegeddon, no less), and I regret (not really) that we didn't have the opportunity to drive that stretch of the 405 during the morning rush to get a feel for it. We've also been hearing mixed reviews on raising the fam in Culver City as an alternative to the valley, so chime in if you've got an opinion.

As always, you guys are the best.

[JoeBanks]

I would rather eat a gun than commute on the 405 during rush hours

[Joaneasley]

Re 405 at rush hour -- that's my point about Woodland Hills. It's the part of the Valley that's just inland from Santa Monica/Malibu, but there's a mountain in the way. Topanga Canyon cuts through it. It's normally a half hour from the Woodland Hills end of Topanga Canyon to the ocean.

[NikeeGoddess]

so joan -- you're from Newark? sorry to hear that, but happy that's you're out.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by ScriptGal

I live in Sherman Oaks and husband commutes to Santa Monica. Rush hour commutes are not great - will your wife be on a typical 9-5 schedule? Valley living for kids is good - decent public schools in Tarzana, great ones in Calabasas. And great private schools - Buckley is around the corner from me in Sherman Oaks. I don't know about family life in Culver area - but I would imagine it's only getting better and better (the area has really become vibrant over the past 5 years.)

Good luck!

We don't know about the shifts at this point, but my wife would like to work four tens or even three twelves a week. I'm guessing those hours (7:00a - 5:30p, 6:30a - 7:00p) would improve commute times, but by how much I don't know.

[Joaneasley]

Yep. Are you? Actually from Philly but moved to nearby Newark for work/graduate school when my daughter was little and stuck around till I convinced the family to move to LA.

Originally Posted by NikeeGoddess

so joan -- you're from Newark? sorry to hear that, but happy that's you're out.

[Joaneasley]

Originally Posted by Cheese

We don't know about the shifts at this point, but my wife would like to work four tens or even three twelves a week. I'm guessing those hours (7:00a - 5:30p, 6:30a - 7:00p) would improve commute times, but by how much I don't know.

traveling at 6:30 or 7 AM is a big improvement. Traveling at 7 PM is a lot better than 5:30 PM.

[NikeeGoddess]

Originally Posted by Joaneasley

Yep. Are you? Actually from Philly but moved to nearby Newark for work/graduate school when my daughter was little and stuck around till I convinced the family to move to LA.

no, but i spent my unfortunate college years there. lol!

[merrymary]

Cheese,
Consider Valencia Santa Clarita Valley for schools. I raised 3 kids there (single mom also an RN) and worked long hours but because of the Paseos they could walk to and from school without crossing a street. Joan actually recommended the area for me about ten years ago and I rented a house at first then was able to buy a new one. Lots of great neighborhoods, but it does get hot. My kids never had a problem (they were born/babies in KC area) and I'm so glad I moved when I did even if it required a lot of long hours and very little writing time.

The difference is the people you meet. Everywhere somebody knows somebody who works in film. When you say "I write screenplays" you hear "I do too" not "you're kidding right?" I loved that I could go to things and the drive isn't bad early early (I left at 5AM so yeah) and the pay is much better for RNs.

Valencia has a lot of film crews and they used my neighborhood several times for filming. My kids loved the schools and had a huge head start for college. So do it while you're young and they're young. I did it when I was old and kids were young and I still love CA and live here even if I never sell a script. I'm a great nurse and just having options and being around creative positive energy all the time is worth working a few extra shifts.

[Joaneasley]

I remember our conversation when you were moving here. Ten years ago? Glad it was the right place for you.

Originally Posted by merrymary

Cheese,
Consider Valencia Santa Clarita Valley for schools. I raised 3 kids there (single mom also an RN) and worked long hours but because of the Paseos they could walk to and from school without crossing a street. Joan actually recommended the area for me about ten years ago and I rented a house at first then was able to buy a new one. Lots of great neighborhoods, but it does get hot. My kids never had a problem (they were born/babies in KC area) and I'm so glad I moved when I did even if it required a lot of long hours and very little writing time.

The difference is the people you meet. Everywhere somebody knows somebody who works in film. When you say "I write screenplays" you hear "I do too" not "you're kidding right?" I loved that I could go to things and the drive isn't bad early early (I left at 5AM so yeah) and the pay is much better for RNs.

Valencia has a lot of film crews and they used my neighborhood several times for filming. My kids loved the schools and had a huge head start for college. So do it while you're young and they're young. I did it when I was old and kids were young and I still love CA and live here even if I never sell a script. I'm a great nurse and just having options and being around creative positive energy all the time is worth working a few extra shifts.