In most cases, when I travel I often looking at the place I’m visiting and wonder, “Could I live here?” I know that it will never happen, of course- not because I couldn’t do it, but because living in and traveling around a place are two completely different things. I could see myself living in Reykjavik, not so much in Oslo, and probably not in Bergen. Having never been to Los Angeles before (not sure why, just never had a reason to go), I was curious to see what I’d think about SoCal. While my five days there provided a very limited exposure to L.A., it was enough to answer the question for me.
HELL, no; I can’t imagine what would possess me to want to live in or around L.A.
Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed Manhattan Beach, but while being a block off the beach was pretty awesome, we don’t have the multiple millions it would take to sustain that sort of lifestyle. Once you get away from the beach, SoCal is crowded, run down, and the roads are horrible…and I’m not even talking about the L.A. traffic, which can be and is all manner of ridiculous. It can take forever to get anywhere…and don’t even get me started on L.A. drivers, some of whom shouldn’t be allowed access to ANYTHING with an internal combustion engine and a steering wheel.
And then there’s LAX, which is without a doubt the worst airport I’ve ever experienced…and I’ve been in some truly awful airports. There’s nothing even remotely redeeming about the place- traffic is ridiculous, it’s horribly overcrowded, there are few food options and the ones that are available have long lines, slow service, and mediocre food (Yes, I’m talking to you, Wahoo’s). There are few services, even less in the way of amenities, and the boarding areas have all the ambiance of cattle chutes at a stockyard.
Granted, much of the terminal I was in is currently under construction…which had the effect of making a truly excruciating experience even worse. If I ever end up in Hell, I suspect it will look a lot like LAX.
Thankfully, there was at least one aspect of the trip that was pleasantly surprising. I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that my interaction with Angelenos at Stub Hub Center was anything but uniformly polite and friendly. The Timbers dismantled their heavily favored L.A. Galaxy 5-2, and even though supporters of both sides were shocked by the result, Galaxy supporters were surprisingly sanguine about what had to be a huge disappointment. Even so, they were polite, congratulatory, and welcoming. Security escorted Timbers supporters in and out of Stub Hub Center to the parking lot they’d cordoned off for us, but at no time did we feel threatened or even remotely unwelcome. Before the game, I walked around the stadium concourse by myself, and even though I was wearing a Timbers kit, no one came close to harassing me. Sure, I received a few odd looks, but the same thing happens here in Portland when a supporter of a visiting team is wandering through a sea of green and gold.
As much as I’m no fan of L.A., one thing I do envy SoCal for is Stub Hub Center. The area around Cal State- Dominguez Hills, where the Galaxy’s home pitch is located, is as depressing and featureless as the day is long. Stub Hub Center, though, is a beautiful and cozy 27,000-seat stadium, easily the most comfortable and enjoyable place I’ve ever watched a soccer match. The sight lines are great, and there’s not a bad seat in the house. Of course, the fact we were seated seven rows up from midfield certainly didn’t hurt
As I sit here in my living room in Portland, I realize that no matter what my occasional frustrations may be, this is home…and I’m happy it is. Sometimes it takes experiencing other places to reaffirm that I’ve made the right choice. I can cross L.A. off my bucket list (finally), but it feels good to be home.
