Post: #1

Anybody have any info on Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, etc.? There's a job I could take out there. Pays in the 130k-140k range.

Is it too far to commute to from Malibu or Santa Monica? What's the scene like? I heard Woodland Hills might be a good compromise but I kind of want to be closer to the ocean.

Post: #2

Mainly families. Giant outlet mall. Working for Dole in Westlake? Amgen in Thousand Oaks?

At least a 30 minute drive without traffic to get to the places you mentioned, if I am thinking right. People in LA are used to driving an hour to work, which would be more like your commute.

Do a google maps thing and check real time traffic.

Just do a reverse commute, live by the beach. I remember driving out that way for work and people were headed into the city, it wasn't that bad. But that was several years ago.

Post: #3

I used to work out there myself as well as date a girl from around there in '09. We'd never hang out in her hood as there was absolutely nothing to do. It's just a conservative Republican bedroom community. No actually we did go to a couple mediocre bars there. But pretty bad as for nightlife. But very safe place with good schools. Ventura County is great for families, not single men.

It's actually not that far from the Ocean, maybe half an hour's drive on route 23 to Malibu beaches. You'd be looking at a 2hr round trip commute between there and Santa Monica. And don't move to Malibu, there's nothing to do there. If you want a quiet, isolated sea-side home where you have to drive 30 minutes to go to a supermarket or an hour to a nightclub, then maybe it's for you.

I'd recommend Sherman Oaks over Woodland Hills. It's way better and closer to L.A. Plus It's still a straight shot to Ventura County on the 101 freeway and it's at the intersection of the 405. About half an hour to Thousand Oaks, about 10 minutes from West L.A. 15 minutes to Hollywood, 20 minutes to downtown. These are travel times without traffic!

Post: #4

Agreed on Sherman Oaks.

Post: #5

Thanks guys. Is there much nightlife in Sherman Oaks or does everyone just head over the hill to LA? I'm a little wary of driving to nightlife though I'm guessing I won't have much of a choice if I want a reasonable commute.

Post: #6

Let's get some perspective. Where would you be moving from?

Santa Monica is just over the hill...

Post: #7

Undisclosed location currently in the midst of the polar vortex. But I'm familiar with the basic geography and roughly how far away things are. Santa Monica is on my list. I've visited a few times and loved it though I'm worried the commute would be a bitch.

Post: #8

(01-08-2014 08:46 PM)Ensam Wrote:  Thanks guys. Is there much nightlife in Sherman Oaks or does everyone just head over the hill to LA? I'm a little wary of driving to nightlife though I'm guessing I won't have much of a choice if I want a reasonable commute.

Nightlife in the San Fernando Valley(where Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills are) is lacking. There are some bars around that are "okish" but nobody goes to the valley for the nightlife. But if you needed a place that's not too far from the action yet will make your commute to work reasonable, Sherman Oaks is an ideal locale.

Post: #9

speakeasy was good enough to start this LA thread. /thread-16165.html

If you read through it, you can get an idea of where all the action is at. I would read the more recent posts, obviously.

Just pull up a map and use sherman oaks as one of your locations and sort of see what the commute will be like.

Just an idea.

Post: #10

The drive is not that bad. 30 minutes if it's not crazy traffic.

But I wouldn't want to make that commute during rush hour. Better to live in the valley, and drive down for friday nights & weekends.

Another option is to get yourself one of these. Cut your LA travel time in half. Perhaps along with your lifespan.

But hey. YOLO.

Post: #11

getting after work from TO to SO will be about 1:20 hour. traffic at pkwy calabasas is death trap hell after 4 pm. and you have to cross 405.. i lived in that area and the summers are shitty toaster oven all over TO or WH.

if I had a job in NB I would get a nice place in oxnard by the ocean, get a boat, sail and drink beers on it and fuck all the airforce wives from Oxnard air force base. easy tail and it's 20min without traffic either way. but make sure to get a radar detector. the sides of that hill between oxnard and TO is lit like a blue and red xmas tree every time i pass

there is no nightlife all the way from oxnard to Hollywood. nothing on 101.

Post: #12

After reading the Santa Monica and LA threads I think if I'm going to take the commute Santa Monica is probably the right place for me. I could drive up through Malibu, surf, then pop over the 23 or 27 and go to work.

Post: #13

(01-09-2014 02:57 AM)calihunter Wrote:  there is no nightlife all the way from oxnard to Hollywood. nothing on 101.

I disagree strongly here. Sherman Oaks and Studio City definitely have nightlife. Is it Hollywood? No. Are there still tons of chicks to game? Yes, for sure.

Woodland Hills also has places to go out and game chicks and keep you from getting bored. I go out in WH 1-2 week and pull lots of nice girls in the area. Lots of the places are restaurant bars, but IMO those are some of best places to pull chicks.

Flemings- Has a good happy hour with nice chicks.
Paiolis- Always has drunk, cute girls who are game for ONS. This is a bar which stays open until 2.
Local Peasant- Recently opened has lots of nice, classy and hot chicks there. Sit at the bar and run your mouthpiece. It'll get you places there. Restaurant but stays open till 2 I believe on the weekends.
Sol y Luna- This is probably my favorite although it closes early. Mexican restaurant with a low ceiling and a small bar with lots of seating. Always chicks in there and the layout makes talking to them super easy. Usually they are getting pretty loose also. Guacamole is some of the best around also.

Those are just a few options for you in Woodland Hills. Westlake Village is even closer and if you like rich divorcees with tons of cash, its for you.

(01-09-2014 08:57 AM)Ensam Wrote:  After reading the Santa Monica and LA threads I think if I'm going to take the commute Santa Monica is probably the right place for me. I could drive up through Malibu, surf, then pop over the 23 or 27 and go to work.

I grew up in SM so know it well. That is a hell of a daily haul from SM to Newbury Park taking PCH. It sounds sexy now, but in the long run I think it will drive you crazy.

Here is my advice. Get a two week Airbnb rental in Woodland Hills/Westlake Villlage and hit those scenes and see how you like it. Do the same in Sherman Oaks maybe for a week or two. Then the same in SM. You'll like SM the most I'm sure, but the balance of work/fun is what you need to weigh. No need to commit long term to a place anymore like you would have to in the past. AirBnb/VRBO are great for that.

Let me know if you want any more info but I think I laid out a pretty good plan there.

Post: #14

(01-09-2014 08:57 AM)Ensam Wrote:  After reading the Santa Monica and LA threads I think if I'm going to take the commute Santa Monica is probably the right place for me. I could drive up through Malibu, surf, then pop over the 23 or 27 and go to work.

Sm to kanan is 40 min on pch without traffic. Kanan to nb is 30 min.
Malibu canyon is actually faster if you take that n then 101.. I dont envy you. I lived in dt and worked in 'bu. Also lived in wh and worked in weho.. id rather shoot myself

Post: #15

Santa Monica is way too far from Thousand Oaks. I hate the Valley, and I'd still recommend living there if you were working in Thousand Oaks.

If I were you, I'd live in Encino, maybe right near White Oak or something. Its a bit closer than Sherman Oaks, its a geographically desirable location as far as LA goes (has a "prestige factor"), there are pretty hot girls in the area. No nightlife though. Sherman Oaks is "ok", but you'll save like 20-30 minutes commute every day living 4-5 miles closer to Thousand Oaks. Decent restaurants in the area, still close enough to take a cheap uber ride to the bars in Sherman Oaks, etc.

The Oxnard plan isn't a bad one if you're not going to be going to LA alot either.