I considered buying a C172 and doing that, but the tiedown fees and restrictions at SMO are restrictive. Not to mention they only have a VOR-A approach which kind of sucks - on a really bad marine layer day you most certainly can have to miss that approach.

Wayne, what does a cot in the parts department rent for these days? I'm an okay poker player too. It could be like the beginning of "Boiler Room" for a few weeks.

Thanks for the tip too. Where, generally, is Playa del Rey?

Playa del rey is about 5 miles south on PCH from SM.

http://www.playadelrey.com/history.html

The resort had several other attractions over the years. An incline railroad was built up the side of the palisades to give tourists a panoramic view of the lagoon and seashore. Its two cars were named Alphonse and Gaston. In 1913 racing promoters build a Motordrome which featured a mile circumference wooden track. Auto races there featured Barney Oldfield and other pioneer race car drivers. The track, which was near the present day intersection of Culver and Jefferson Boulevard, burned the following year.

http://www.beachcalifornia.com/playadel.html

OHHHH Joy...I got JOY in my heart....the cot in the back room sounds pretty good to me.... I suggest you leave a week early to work and expect to get back a week late....I got joy in my heart....

I don't even think I would want to make that run even on a visit to LA...at midnight on a Sunday....I got joy in my heart....

Dave I wana be by the beach Cardone....and SO DOES EVERYBODY ELSE....I got joy in my heart....

AND I miss that fking place....I must have rocks in my head...and PWD is right about me I am a twisted fk....

I've worked in SaMo (business park near the 405&10) for 15 years.

Lately in peak evening rush hour -- i.e. 3:30-7:30pm -- it could take you 20-30 minutes just to GET to the freeway. No joke.

Until a couple years ago I lived in Brentwood, 3 miles away. That drive routinely took me 15-20 minutes and sometimes 25-30. I could do it on my BIKE (yes the pedal kind) in 15 minutes...but rarely did that as it's a treacherous area for cycling.

I am counting the days until I can move our office out of there -- lease is up on 6/30.

In terms of where to live near the beach, frankly I am not fond of any of the LA beach towns for various reasons but mostly the extreme high-density living conditions. Parking sucks, traffic sucks, privacy sucks, and there are lots of wackos and bums (esp in SaMo and Venice).

Well, for me, it's just a practical thing. I've got to go where the best job offer is right now. And that is SM.

Tabs, I'm not sure what you're talking about. I live a quarter mile from the beach right now. It's the job opportunity that's pushing this for me.

Thanks to all for the constructive input. I appreciate it very much.

- Dave

Although, I liked Hermosa, the good climate would bring everyone to the area during the summer months. NO PARKING anywhere...

Try El Segundo, east Torrance or LB further south...its affordable

I did the Laguna Beach to Malibu for 3 weeks one summer. Brutal...

Yes the Santa Monica to O.C. run is one of the worst... I was looking at a job for Learjet and turned it down because I didn't want to comute to S.M.
As for renting near the beach anything from Malibu to El Segundo is fine, each little town has it's pro's/con's it all comes down to what you can afford.
If you must avoid homeless, gangsters, drug dealers, illegal immigrants, might as well plan on leaveing California... maybe even the U.S.A.

I was quite shocked to make it in ~90 minutes from Agoura to Anaheim (Disneyland) this morning. Not at O'Dark Thirty either; I left home around 8:15.

I felt sorry for the people going the other direction, though.

Yeah, The SM to OC isn't so bad - I did that after my job moved from El Segundo to Orange for about 2 years.

I was still spending a lot of time on the road and at least once a week it would take me 2 hours or more to get home.

Dave everybody wants to live near the beach...as a consequence the price you pay is in longer commutes and higher rents...at this point practicality should be of paramount importance to make your life easier...

Dave, You are in Capo Beach, right? It doesn't get much more laid back than that. There are no rules in Capo! Manhattan and Venice Beach and Santa Monica are soooo different. Commute as long as you can stand it and find a job in Newport or Irvine. It may be less money but you'll retain your sanity longer. How close to the beach do you think you can afford up there?

I agree with Laura.

I just saw a nice 2 bedroom for rent a couple of blocks over on a big lot $1450 a month in the South Bay that same house would be $3000+

Well, for the short run, I'm going to try the early morning commute. The job pays for parking and since I'm on a contract and getting paid as an IC, I'll be paid hourly. So, it will be worthwhile for me to be there long hours to get more done and avoid the worst traffic hours.

I do like the South Orange County scene, but I do find it a big boring down here in the Capo Beach/Dana Point area. It's beautiful, and relatively peaceful, but if you're young without children it's kinda mundane.

Has anyone utilized the Sigalert service? Is is accurrate in predicting drivetimes?

I'll report back after I try this. Thanks to all for your help.

If you are looking for single girls with nice curves and short shorts you need to come up to Newport.

The traffic gets jammed up by looky loo's checking out the car pulled over fixing a flat.

Yeah, some of us that live here can even get those girls...

I've got the hot girl already, we're just both bored down here. WAY too many soccer moms (and I mean this in the truest sense) with big black SUV's and 20 inch Anterra rims driving Mikey and Susie to and fro. It's sickening.

Hermosa Beach sucks. My wife works there and I HATE (with a passion) going there. It's a college frat party, just on the scale of a small beach town. Freakin' meat market, bunch of a-holes. Avoid it. Newport Beach is nice (but kind of far from SMO) although it's HORRIBLY expensive and pretentious. Sorry if I'm being so judgemental, but I just call 'em as I see 'em. I wouldn't live in either location for those reasons.

My thoughts exactly. A few years ago, I lived in Hermosa for about 6 months (apt), while I looked for a second home. Everytime I thought I found a decent affordable home, I found that the neighbors were too out of control for my tastes....