Living in Los Angeles has its ups and downs

Living in Los Angeles has its ups and living in Los Angeles has its downs. Up for some is the fact that Los Angeles is the entertainment hub of the world. Down for some is the fact that Los Angeles is the entertainment hub of the world. Los Angeles has more gorgeous residential areas than most cities, an "up" for those that can afford to live in them, but the traffic in Los Angeles stinks and getting to and from those million dollar homes is a big down. Even the great Los Angeles freeway system, originally built for drivers to travel the fringes of one side of Los Angeles to the other in 20 minutes or less, has become the bane of every Los Angeles driver, a plainly true "downer" for anyone keeping tabs on the merits of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is prone to earthquakes, but they come infrequently unlike the annual hurricanes and twisters that plague the eastern and midwestern states. The weather in Los Angeles is an "up" however the late summer fires borne out of months of high Los Angeles temperatures and the water shortages caused by this rain-free living are down marks. Los Angeles has a very eclectic and diverse population, with restaurants, markets and stores of varying flavors and contrasts, which is probably an "up" for the city of Los Angeles especially for those appetites yearning for something new. Los Angeles is a beach, desert, and mountain city, an "up" to some. But the smog in Los Angeles, although responsible for some spectacular orange and blue and pink late evening skies, is a choker and disgrace to both secular and religious worshippers of Gaia. Los Angeles is a city for liberals, a down for conservatives. Los Angeles has more than its fair share of beautiful people (not necessarily true) which is an up for those that care and a down for those that do not. It's been said that Angelinos, the affectionate term for the residents of Los Angeles, are shallow, that their depth only extends to their reflection in the mirror, which is likely to crack anyway given its overuse. This is a sad indictment for the people of Los Angeles especially for those who are trying to find meaningful relationships. And of relationships, finding true love in Los Angeles is elusive, claim many. Though Los Angeles weddings are plentiful indeed, Los Angeles divorces are as common a breed. Should such a notion be a factor for a bride to make a decision of marrying in Los Angeles? Come now, Los Angeles is where fairytales do come true. After all, Disney started here In Los Angeles. Akin to its name, Los Angeles is the home of many angels in the likes of humanitarians, philanthropists, neighborhood saints, and more, but in contrast darker forces are afoot, an ocean of violence coming from Los Angeles based gangs, street thugs and hardened criminals who are drawn to Los Angeles by the notion of easy pickings. Los Angeles, arguably, is not a pretty city but rather a sprawling mess. Los Angeles is the city I dreamed of, Los Angeles is the city I migrated to, and Los Angeles, paradoxically, is the city I cannot wait to leave. I love Los Angeles. I hate Los Angeles. Los Angeles is the city of promise. Los Angeles is the city of cracked hearts. Where else can one live if not in Los Angeles? Would the same of all said here be true of New York or Philadelphia or any other city? Smog aside, weather aside, population density aside, Los Angeles has its ups and Los Angeles has its downs. But in truth we do not live in Los Angeles, we live in our hearts.