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Leaving Los Angeles

Seattle is good.
Portland is smaller but good.
I would also endorse Chicago, New York (Long Island is a great place to raise a family), Twin Cities, Atlanta.
But I'd recommend Raleigh/Durham as my top choice.
 
Surprised PKM hasn't come up with a 10 page thesis for you on this... he's very well travelled and is usually pretty opinionated about these things...
 
All good choices on your list. I would just aim for whatever one has the highest average salary in your field to living expenses ratio if you can find a job there. I've never been to a place on the entire planet where there were extreme cost premiums that I thought were acceptable given what the place offers. And you live by Magic Mountain right? So I assume you probably commuted into L.A. when you were working? It would probably be nice to cut that kind of stuff down.
 
Duck Rodgers said:
And you live by Magic Mountain right? So I assume you probably commuted into L.A. when you were working? It would probably be nice to cut that kind of stuff down.
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That's a big part of the equation. The LA commute is a killer and it's only gotten worse with the freeway destruction going on. I was lucky enough for a while to have a flexible schedule, leaving home at 5:00 am, getting to work by 6:00, then leaving work at 4:00 and generally getting home by 5:30. That gave me some time w/ family in the evenings but left me short on sleep. I just can't do the bedtime at 10-11 and be up at 4 am anymore. Alternately, the typical 8-5 in LA means leaving at 6 am and not getting home until 7 (or later) in the typical LA traffic. And public transportation isn't much better by the time you transfer from bus to train to bus.
 
PKM said:
Are you LDS?
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Yes, but that's not really a consideration in terms of where to move or work. I've worked with people of all types and persuasions. The only time I really drew the line was when a few work colleagues went to a gay night club in Amsterdam on a business trip. I didn't join them (and they knew I wouldn't). But we'd all go out to dinner as a group. No big deal with then drinking alcohol and me with my Diet Coke - yes, I do have "vices" ;-). In terms of where to live, there will be LDS meeting houses in any community. The main thing for us is to be in a family-oriented community. We live in Santa Clarita and there's a major Christian University (The Master's College) on the other side of town. So I'd say the city is fairly conservative as a result. And unlike the East and Bible belt, I've rarely run into any prejudice or major misconceptions about LDS people. Most, even if they strongly disagree with LDS beliefs, at least understand we're Christians. Not to turn this into a religious discussion, but I've always been more concerned with a person's ethics than religious affiliation.
 
Oh and don't worry, folks: no matter where we move, I will NEVER, EVER find myself cheering for Portland, Denver, any Texas team or Seattle. Well, I guess that last one is moot for now. I've been trying to pitch the cost savings point with my wife about moving to Utah. We'd save a ton of money by not having to subscribe to Dish and League Pass for me to watch the Jazz.
 
Core4 said:
Yes, but that's not really a consideration in terms of where to move or work. I've worked with people of all types and persuasions. The only time I really drew the line was when a few work colleagues went to a gay night club in Amsterdam on a business trip. I didn't join them (and they knew I wouldn't). But we'd all go out to dinner as a group. No big deal with then drinking alcohol and me with my Diet Coke - yes, I do have "vices" ;-). In terms of where to live, there will be LDS meeting houses in any community. The main thing for us is to be in a family-oriented community. We live in Santa Clarita and there's a major Christian University (The Master's College) on the other side of town. So I'd say the city is fairly conservative as a result. And unlike the East and Bible belt, I've rarely run into any prejudice or major misconceptions about LDS people. Most, even if they strongly disagree with LDS beliefs, at least understand we're Christians. Not to turn this into a religious discussion, but I've always been more concerned with a person's ethics than religious affiliation.
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I asked for a different reason..

Was curious because I think SLC could be a nice choice for family reasons and being LDS is a plus when looking to join a firm.
 
PKM said:
I asked for a different reason..

Was curious because I think SLC could be a nice choice for family reasons and being LDS is a plus when looking to join a firm.
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Right. Utah has always been a consideration. Of course, asking about religious affiliation is illegal in an interview.
 
Given the basic sketch of your life and interests, I'm not too surprised to hear you say you're ready to leave LA. As someone who has spent a good bit of time in Portland and Seattle (and I currently live in LA) let me say this: while you are likely to increase your square-footage and decrease your average commute time, the differences between LA and the PacNW are over-exaggerated. I'm 100% confident that a move within LA itself can accomplish the same objectives.

Dunno... I like the other cities you're considering, but imo LA has more to offer if you can be flexible within it. I know that isn't easy. Just don't be surprised in 5-7 years when the cost of living and commute times in your new city are equal to what you have right now.
 
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