Happy 10th anniversary to the city of Los Angeles and me. 10 years ago, I took a one-way flight to LA. I didn’t know then how long this amazing adventure would last
I once heard that due to the transient nature of the Los Angeles population, if you live here for 10 years, you’re considered native. I don’t know if I dare be as presumptuous as to say I am native (especially since I have close friends who were actually born and raised in LA). I will say after 10 years, Los Angeles is my home and I love it dearly.
The past 10 years have truly been an adventure. Some good, some bad but rarely dull.
In the 10 years I have lived in LA, I have lived in 4 different apartments in 3 different neighborhoods (Hollywood, Pacific Palisades and Westwood)
During my 10 year tenure here, I graduated from law school and obtained a license to practice law.
I have had about 11 jobs, in the past 10 years. I have appeared in 11 of the 47 Los Angeles Superior Courts currently open. I also have appeared in a court that has since been closed due to budget cuts (sorry Redondo Beach, but your courthouse was pretty shoddy anyway).
In my personal life, in 10 years, I fell in love with, moved in with, married and decided to have a kid with, the most amazing man. I have also made some awesome friends, who I have also watched fall in love, get married and have kids. Some still here in Los Angeles, others, sadly, have moved on to new adventures.
One of my biggest achievements, it just about to come. I am going to give birth to Los Angeles’ soon-to-be, greatest native son.
I think I am most amazed by how the city has grown on me. When I arrived 10 years ago, I was wide eyed and amazed by all things the city had to offer. Los Angeles felt like the dream guy I had just started dating, I was still a bit tongue tied around it and uncertain. Today, Los Angeles is like the man I have been married to for 10 years. I know its idiosyncrasies but there are still days it surprises me. It is so ingrained in me, that there are days I forget I wasn’t always here.
I don’t know how long the adventure will go on. If I had to predict today, I’d say forever. But things change suddenly, especially in Los Angeles. For now, I am content to wish my favorite city a happy 10 years of being my home, I can’t wait to see what is next.