RE: I never really feel comfortable with LA. You never know when you switch from one city to another while driving; the only real change is when the road you’re on changes names at an intersection.

Get a GPS.

That aside, there are plenty of landmarks to help figure out where you are. Notice the giant NBC/Universal tower? You’re in Universal City. Is the Santa Monica Pier nearby? SURPRISE! You’re in Santa Monica. Hollywood sign within view? Odds are you’re in… wait for it… West Hollywood! It’s really not terribly difficult. But again, if you have a GPS to get from A to B, then there shouldn’t be a problem anyway. Yeesh!

For education, there are many more well-regarded colleges in Los Angeles, especially UCLA. Also, L.A. does have plenty of homeless people but they’re more spread out. In SD I went downtown to a few bars in what I thought was the nice part of town yet there was a street completely littered with homeless people all wrapped up (literally) in garbage/sleeping bags! I’m talking a good 50 people just clogging up a single street! I’ve never seen a more disgusting and saddening example of poverty in person like that. Coronado beach is beautiful in SD… unfortunately it’s a military-exclusive beach! WTF.

So yeah, I don’t agree with this post at all. It sounds like you made a bare-bones touristy experience in West Hollywood to see the Walk of Fame, the Kodak theater, etc and decided that L.A. was just a noisy, unfriendly place. Am I right? Because THAT area is indeed clogged with people and not a good representation of L.A.

Btw, SD is a “sleepy town” because everyone is fucking stoned. During my travels throughout CA, I’ve discovered that SD is the best place if you’re in the military or want to be stoned all the time, L.A. is the best for the creative scene, beaches, and while many do get stoned it doesn’t seem as chronic as SD. People seem more driven and focused here. Then there’s San Francisco which has a smarter and even more driven community but is pricier AND lacks a beach scene. (Oh sure, there are beaches. But it’s too cold to ever really swim and there’s frequently fog.)

I’ll probably live in L.A. for many years, then retire up towards SF. San Diego is terrific for a visit and I encourage people to check it out, but life there is absolutely inferior to what L.A. has to offer. No question.

However, I could never live there. The Air is too polluted to live in, in my honest opinion. There is also a big gang problem there.

I love all of California, so I will always have a place in my heart for L.A.

San Diego sounds like a cool place to visit as well.

Since I haven’t seen San Diego, I have to say L.A. is better.

Maybe my opinion will change eventually:]