When I first had the idea of moving to LA, it was all very whimsical and dreamy. I was imagining a colorful life with lots of sunshine, palm trees, livin’ la vida loca on the west coast (which I am still trying to decide which takes the stamp of approval for the best coast.) Don’t get me wrong, I knew the move was going to be hard and not actually whimsical, but when I imagined living in LA I couldn’t help but think of all of the movies and YouTube videos I watched prior to moving that painted the city in such an incredible way. And when I moved, that is the way I wanted to see it. That saying, looking through rose-colored glasses sounds about right.
I was just turning 21, didn’t have a plan, didn’t have a job, no place to live, sold my car back in PA, only knew two people in the city which I was moving with, and had about $5,000 in my bank account specifically for moving expenses that ended up dwindling down to $500 REAL fast. I had a one-way ticket from Philly to LAX with not a god damn idea what I was about to do, but somehow it felt right. When I look back on that day that I jumped on the flight with two of my childhood best friends, I ask myself “how was I so calm?” But I guess that’s just it, something about it felt right. And from there I turned my fear and doubts into determination.
Moving across the country has been the most challenging, most rewarding thing I have done for my life. It’s funny that when I write about it now, the actual moving process feels like it was all a dream because now I just think of LA as home. It took a really long time to feel like home and every now and then I do find myself day dreaming about living other places, but for the past three years I can confidently say that living in LA has changed my life in ways I could have never imagined. These years have given me so much joy while simultaneously shoving my face into the ground. Which, come to think of it, I think that is just the balancing act of life in general, ha!
I would love to share more of my journey of moving cross country, things I would have done differently, ins and outs of LA, but for now, I will share a hand-full of things that I have learned living in LA in my early twenties:
-You may need to lose yourself to find yourself again, and that is totally okay.
-By experimenting, getting adventurous, and trying new things, you learn about yourself and find your own nich in the city.
-The homeless population is unlike anything I have ever seen.
-In-N-Out Burger really is as good as the reviews say. I am forever and always endowed to that place. My order if I really want to get crazy: A number one double-double with grilled onions, animal style fries, and a chocolate shake.
-Just like any place that you move to, it is what you make of it. If you choose to focus on the shitty things, you will have a shitty experience. If you choose to focus on the beautiful things and the things that made you fall in love with the environment, then you will have a wonderful experience. And that is not to say ignore the bad things, it is just to focus on the good rather than the bad but to be aware of it all.
-Expensive AF. Los Angeles is known to be an expensive city, and boy is that true. Doing my research prior to moving helped me be prepared but when you’re living in it, it’s a whole other story.
-The melting pot of people in Los Angeles is unlike anything I have ever seen. The native Angelenos, the transplants, the cultures, the energy… Everyone brings a little something different to the city. We all simultaneously coexist in the same environment while experiencing life differently. That is one of the main reasons why I love living here.
-LA is not for everyone, but if it is something that interests you, then give it a shot! Why not?
After all, I am just an ordinary gal who found a spark in LA, gave it a shot, and here we are three years later. Looking back to where I am today, I would not change a thing.
Love Always,
Jen
Now And Then With Jen 