After years of fighting and rejecting the thought of moving to L.A., here I sit…on Sunset Blvd, in my new hood of West Hollywood.  Who would have thought it?  Certainly not me!  The person who has detested and fought the very concept for all 17 years that I have been a resident of California.  Guess it just goes to show that in life, you simply just don’t know.  You have to let the wind take you where you are to be.  For me, I became an LA Woman by taking on a new role where I needed to be based in LA.  So now that the wind has blown me here…Now what?!

I was fortunately offered two months of housing while I find my way around this hustling, hectic and yet quite incredible new place!  I have to say that I’m falling for LA.  And this is again coming from the person that was against everything I thought LA was.

However, along with this excitement comes some of the crazzzzzy that LA is known for.  In fact, in my search for my new home, I had some very interesting encounters and experiences.  First off, I learned that most people secure a place and move within days.  No long leeway in securing an apartment.  Everything, unlike the traffic, moves at a fast pace.  And if you’re interested in making a place yours, you better come cash in hand and ready to commit.  I went to check out a 1 Bedroom in West Hollywood, along with 17 others.  17 people up for the same place?  And to be honest, this place wasn’t worth the competition that came with it.

Finding a place was a great way, if nothing else, for me to explore neighborhoods and parts of town I hadn’t even known of.  It was a chance for me to see that LA actually had much more to offer than I had ever given it credit for.  Stunning tree lined streets, charming architecture and adorable pockets hidden all over this city.  In fact, I found a 1930’s Spanish Colonial just driving around Robertson.  Called immediately and was able to move quickly.  The woman was from Pennsylvania, just like me…and we bonded over the fact that we were thankful for our east coast upbringing and how we valued the morals and integrity that came along with coming from there.  This was it.  This was my place.  A hand shake, deposit given, move-in date set.  Hooray, it’s official, I have a home in LA!!  Two hours later, she calls me back with great despair in her voice.  She begins by apologizing profusely saying she had another offer which she simply couldn’t refuse.  You see, another girl wanted this place as badly as I did.  Her father was a plastic surgeon and offered “Miss PA Integrity” with $300 more/per month in rent, though this grand offer came with something she valued even more.  It came with BOTOX.  Of course it did.  I mean, this is LA after all!  Needless to say, I can’t compete with units of face-freezing botox, so my dream of residing in this classic, cozy place went away like the wrinkles on her face.

Onward I go…the search must go on.  Driving up and down all the streets from Sunset south and back up again.  Found yet another place simply by exploring and driving up and down WeHo.  Called and toured immediately by yet another transport from the east coast.  Thankfully this time the woman was simply lovely to work with and when I put down a deposit, this time it was truly mine.  It’s a charming little community, somewhat of a (cliche and all)…Melrose place feel to it and is located just moments from the Chateau Marmot, which just so happens to be one of my favorite places in LA!

Sometimes it can be tough to navigate where you’re headed in life, though if you weather the winds of change and enjoy the ride…you may just end up where you never thought you would be and be happier than you thought.  Trust in life… and the course you’re on… and an adventure awaits!  May the constant winds of change guide you along a wonderful journey, through this thing called Life.  xo