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There’s something about the wibbly ether of the holiday season that puts us in a reflective mood. The transplants go out of town (or leave us here, depending on whether we picked up a retail shift in November) and the non-stop action of the city slows its pace.

Suddenly we have some space. Suddenly we get some perspective.

And then we realize, holy heck – we’re about to round up another year. And we haven’t done anything!

Well this year is gonna be different, by gum. Forget prior commitments, the never ending job hunt, and twenty other distractions. This year is going to count. Happiness will be achieved, harmony will happen, we will say adios to our bad habits and success will find us. The good life can be ours if we’ll just make a plan!

It’s a lot of pressure to put on one year. If you’re resolving any of these 12 things, maybe you should just stop.

[RELATED: 21 Memes About Living in Los Angeles Every Angeleno Knows to Be True]

Travel More

It’s a big world and we want to see it. Right now.

Thanks to Discovery channel, we’re more aware than ever of the awesome stuff that we are missing worldwide. And the whole point of resolutions is to STOP MISSING STUFF. Chances are, this quest for action is one of the reasons that brought us to L.A. in the first place.

Two responses:

One, we live in one of the most diverse cities of the world. There is a lot to do, see and learn if we’re willing to brave the seven miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic and go. We Like L.A. has at least 40 suggestions to get you started.

Two, instead of a vaguely Walter Mitty aspiration, think about one place you truly want to see. Paris. Venice. What will it take to get there?

Make Your Big Break And Quit Your Day Job

This is your year! Every opportunity must be made the most of. No audition, pitch or interview can be anything less than perfect.

This New Year gusto is well-meaning, but unsustainable. Don’t get me wrong – definitely shoot for the moon. Definitely do your thing with all your heart. Definitely don’t quit.

Just try not to get too hung up on the timing. This kind of thing is worth the long haul.

No More Donuts

Have you seen how many donut shops this city sustains? We can’t stop eating them – all those local businesses will die. Think of the economy, people!

Save money

I mean… good luck.

More Family Time

We always seem to barely tolerate have a  nice time with extended family members and think: why don’t we do this more?

Then we realize how impossible it is to coordinate schedules and get everyone into a state fit for a decent picture, let alone spend meaningful moments together. It’s nearly a week before we can come down from the preparation, travel nerves and failure to meet our mothers’ expectations. Or maybe we just don’t like them very much.

I’m speaking generally, of course. My family is perfect.

Volunteer

We waste too much time on frivolous activities. We should do something important, like volunteer for a worthy organization.

So do it. But also recognize the unofficial activity you’ve taken on voluntarily in the last year. Helped a buddy move? Pitched in on a low-budge film shoot? Worked for credit on a blog or industry website?

L.A. is great at getting us to work for free. If you feel like you haven’t had your fair share of it, there are numerous opportunities to get involved with organizations you already connected to.

Love the library? Ask about getting involved next time you heft a stack up to the checkout counter. Can’t get enough free Shakespeare? Maybe they could use a hand setting up. Everyone from open mic stages to soup kitchens can offer a few hours of feel-good love labor – if you have the love to give.

Be More Positive

Everything in this world seems to conspire to make us feel bad. We even feel bad about how bad we feel.

What does positivity mean to you? If it involves spitting back cheery platitudes after a taste of life’s lemons, I fear the effect is wasted. And it can get you punched if you’re not careful.

Let’s all try not to get punched.

Stop Smoking

It’s a disgusting habit and all your friends want you to stop. But will you? Can you? Do you?

Clean More

It’s just gonna get dirty again, right?

Find Your Soul Mate

If L.A. has ten million inhabitants, our perfect match can’t be that hard to find.

Except that it can.

Dating is tough, frustrating and annoying. And if we do happen to find a real connection, the need to know if it’s “The One” will suck the fun out of anything. Who wants to resolve to have less fun?

Learn A Language

You’re walking by Home Depot and a cloud of foreign words follow you. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what those words mean?

Well, yeah, sure… but who wants to do all that learning…?

Stress Less

Just lost your contract and rent is due. Let’s OM our way to peace, shall we?

Between our plethora of yoga studios, beachfront property, and gazillions in revenue, L.A. should be one of the most relaxed cities in the world. Maybe we’ve just forgotten what stress feels like. Or maybe what we think is stress is actually another feeling, like tired or hungry.

Try having a banana and see where things go. Or check out one of these spots.

All This To Say…

When it comes down to it, let’s make the New Year less about what we don’t have and more about what we do. Let’s not get so wrapped up in our plans that we don’t appreciate or enjoy what’s already happening.

I’m afraid you guys are going to read this and think I’m a horrid curmudgeon who hates puppies. Really, this list is at least half jesting. Maybe three quarters. My goal here is to help us lighten up and enjoy life a little more.

That’s my own personal resolution: enjoy life.

Whatever your goals, I hope you will too.

Congratulations! You’re moving to the city of angels – the place where dreams come true. Eventually. Possibly. Well, maybe there’s a little more to it, but if you’re willing to work hard and persevere, L.A. can certainly be a great place.

We’ve all done it – the process of transplanting from somewhere else to here – and we have some words of advice for your move. Here are just a few practical tips to help you get settled in your new neighborhood.

[RELATED: 10 Tips on Moving to Los Angeles Every Future Transplant Needs to Know]

Credit: Maelick via flickr creative commons

1. Cost Counting

Moving costs money, and here it costs money plus. Our year-round temperate climes create plentiful produce, so you’ll save on fruits and veg – but everything else is pretty pricey.

Sales tax alone is 9% – on everything from groceries to used cars. Even vehicles purchased from out of state can be susceptible to the tax rate, depending on how soon you bought one before moving.

Definitely check out fees associated with this and the other points listed below as you consider what it will cost to make the move.

2. Big Pond, Many Fish

The entertainment industry is famous for competition – Hollywood hopefuls vying for jobs and even working unpaid gigs to get credits. Even non-industry work is competitive. There are lots of jobs, but landing one can take awhile, so be prepared for your search to go on longer than it has anywhere else.

The same is true for apartment hunting, finding roommates, shopping on craigslist, and even dating. For every person trying to get something, there are plenty more trying to get the same thing. L.A. has 10 million people (that’s more than Sweden) in just 4700 square miles. Competition is fierce.

But so is the deep satisfaction that comes from success.

3. Transportation

The prevailing wisdom holds that L.A. is impossible without a car. But that’s not exactly true.

I think it depends on what you want to do and how close you live to the means of getting there. Public transit in L.A. is certainly a unique beast, and the decision to depend on it should not be made lightly.

That said, the possibility of avoiding car concerns like driving, parking, insurance (some of the most expensive in America) and ever-fluctuating gas prices has its attractions.

If you really want to live in L.A. without a vehicle, my advice is to find housing that’s easy walking distance from a metro stop. And if at all possible, keep early hours – public transportation gets incrementally skeevier as night progresses.

Also, pepper spray. Even if just for your own peace of mind.

If you do drive, bear in mind that you will make a lot of mistakes. You will confuse your east and west. You will exit the 101 at Highland (which you must never, ever do). You will nonchalantly head down Hollywood Boulevard on a Friday night. So must all who move to such places as this.

But you will learn and ultimately you will come out the other side and be wiser for it.

Lastly, if you’re concerned about the mythical horrendous L.A. traffic, here’s 6 six things you need to know  about dealing with the daily grind.

4. The DMV

Everyone loves the DMV! You get to kill a few hours, do some fascinating people watching, and drop a few hundred bucks on something shiny and plastic. It’s like a mall.

Speaking of those few hundred bucks, the DMV website has a handy calculator to get an idea of what sort of sticker shock you’re in for. Keep in mind you must transfer your vehicle registration to the state of California within 20 days of relocating in order to avoid penalties.

New residents will require at least two trips to the DMV – one to fill out paperwork and take the test, the other to turn in your inspection results and pick up your license plates. In between, you will be required to get a certificate of smog inspection. Lots of local auto shops offer the test, so give one of them a call for rates – usually between $30-40.

5. Other Things About Cars

Read those curb signs very carefully. Parking rules are very specific and often lengthy – for instance, you can park free at a meter in Beverly Hills after 6pm, but not after 2am. Being parked on any street in town between the hours of 2 and 5am without a permit will slam you with a $72 ticket.

Learned that the hard way.

Street cleaning is a regularly scheduled event. If you happen upon a street that has so many parking spots it seems too good to be true, it probably is. The signs that say No Parking on Monday between noon and 2pm really, really mean it.

Finally, if you see a colored curbside and you’re wondering if you can park there (and for how long), here’s a rundown you should read.

Credit: Neil Kremer via flickr creative commons

6. House Hunting

There are a number of websites geared toward helping you find a place to live in L.A., so we won’t go into that here. A few helpful things to pay attention to when evaluating a place to call home:

• Use the right tools to search for your next apartment. Fortunately, we have a handy list we’ve already developed to get you started.
• Parking is a big deal. A big deal. Just to reiterate, Parking In L.A. Is A Big Deal. Depending on the neighborhood, it’s not uncommon for apartment dwellers to drive home and spend upwards of forty minutes looking for a parking space. If parking is not included with rent, definitely see about paying extra for a permit or check side streets to get a feel for the curb-to-car ratio. And don’t forget to read those signs. Also, if you’re commuting to downtown and need some advice, check out this list of tips.

• Seeing as L.A. gets about a teaspoon of rain per year, water gets expensive. Make sure you know if any utilities are covered in the rent, as it can have a powerful cumulative effect on your overall cost of living.

• It’s common for L.A. rentals to come without what one might consider to be standard equipment. Refrigerators, stoves and dishwashers may require an additional cost to rent – or be absent entirely. If you do end up in a situation where you need to buy your own, craigslist is the answer. That’s where everyone else who just moved and no longer needs their fridge is selling it cheap.

• Air conditioning is not a given. I repeat, air conditioning is not a given.

• Dogs – apartment dogs, house dogs, everywhere a dog, dog. There are a few exceptions, but most apartment buildings will not allow dogs over a certain weight – like, 30 pounds. Houses are typically more easygoing about the size of the dog, so you tend to find bigger dogs in neighborhoods with yards and small dogs everywhere else.

7. Valleys and Canyons and Beaches, Oh My!

Surrounded by hills with an ultra flat valley beyond, L.A. weather is divided by “micro-climates” – creating varying temps, levels of humidity and precipitation according to the terrain.

Downtown L.A. is frequently sunny, clear, and no warmer than 90 degrees – but when you get “over the hill” into the San Fernando Valley, the heat rises. The deeper you get, the hotter and drier it becomes – as much as 15 degrees hotter than downtown.

All of L.A.’s beaches are breezy and cooler than the surrounding area, with significantly more humidity – even fog on occasion. Likewise, different parts of the city draw different types of people at different times of year for different reasons.

It’s worthwhile to investigate the neighborhoods in which you’re interested in living – both by online research and by visiting it in person. Make use of friends and relatives who live or have spent significant time here. L.A. neighborhoods are as unique as the people who live in them, and areas vary wildly as regards convenience, crime, sociability, family friendliness and overall personality.

Also if you’re driving a moving truck into town, beware the canyon roads – they can be intense even in a sedan.

Credit: Adan Garcia via flickr creative commons

 8. Settling In

A few tips for plugging in and getting comfy in your L.A. lifestyle:

• Sunscreen. You don’t necessarily have to wear it all the time, but it’s good to have the option. If you plan to be outside for more than 20 minutes, it’s a good idea – even in the car. Also hats.

• With 140 cultures and 224 languages represented (according to lacounty.gov), transplants from other countries are welcome. Definitely make use of the appropriate foreign consulates here in L.A. for help navigating your move.

• Go out and meet as many people as you can. Utilize connections and referrals from friends and family back home – even if it’s a friend of a friend of an old roommate. Meeting people will only help in every other aspect of moving here, from housing to job hunting to having a social life. That’s how I got connected with an amazing apartment right before I moved here. Relationships will help cut through the competition and save you a lot of hustle.

• Go outside! L.A. is a great place to hike, surf, indulge in any number of fitness activities from CrossFit to yoga… No matter which part of town you end up in, you don’t have to go far to find some natural beauty to explore.

The sky is the limit. And well, you’ve seen how big the sky is.

9. When It’s All Said and Done, Relax

Come with a plan, but also know that plenty of people move to L.A. without one. This city is remarkably conducive to couch-surfing and seat-of-your-pants living. With all the uncertainties bound up in work, life and transportation decisions, if you prefer take more of a don’t-worry-be-happy approach, you are definitely not alone.

With all its price tags and bewildering street signs, L.A. is an amazing, multi-faceted and eclectic city. If you’ve left your hometown in search of your tribe, chances are you’ll find it here.

Godspeed.

Did you recently move to Los Angeles? Share your experience in the comments below!

Our local driving experience has a bad reputation. But I believe that if you try hard enough, anything is possible. Seriously, anything – even a less sucky L.A. drive.

Let’s start by considering the following:

In other cities, people chat about freeway traffic lightly – as an icebreaker, a tiny little nothing to start a conversation. Not L.A. Here we have deep, soul-baring revelations about the time we naively hopped on the 110 toward Glendale at 5pm, or what type of person would obstinately hover in our blind spots.

L.A. residents have strong feelings – nay, passions – about driving this city. As well we should. It’s a daily practice of laying our hopes and fears on the table, screwing our courage to the sticking place, and putting our resolves to the test. To say nothing of the adventure surrounding what to do with your vehicle when you at last reach your destination. But can we, collectively, perhaps make these adventures feel more like celebrations and less like pyrrhic victories?

Sure we can, and  it starts with politely reframing our perspective. Or maybe just poking a little fun at the experience as a whole. 😉

So let’s review 10 reasons why dealing with the traffic nightmare of Los Angeles doesn’t have to suck nearly as much as you thought it did.

1. Time

L.A. is full of busy people. Previously one might have considered sitting a traffic to be a waste of precious time. But on the other hand, sitting in traffic leaves us lots of opportunity for people-watching, radio surfing, podcast absorbing, and practicing our beatbox abilities. All the leisure activities one wishes one had more time for.

See, don’t you feel better already?

2. The Power of Left

It’s a belabored point that L.A. is severely lacking in protected left turn lanes. But goodie for us when we do finally catch an opening between the mad rush of oncoming vehicles and oblivious foot traffic. The euphoria, the squeal-inducing elation of safely executing a left turn during typical daytime driving hours.

Anyone who has inadvertently scared the pants off a pedestrian or made their passenger’s life flash before their eyes understands The Power of Left.

3. Diversity on Display

L.A. is one of the few cities incorporating drivers from around the world, a range of cultures and etiquette, with a strong sample of every legal driving age there is.

On any random tuesday morning you never know who might be tailgating you, whether it’s a banker from Bangladesh, a wanna-be actor freshly arrived from the midwest, or just some rich chick from the valley. Truly an epic display of diversity, and lucky-us for getting to experience it everyday!

4. The Relief of Empty Bike Lanes

An empty bike lane means there are no bicycles riding beside stop-and-go traffic, which means we are not forced to constantly pass them and be passed by them. Or to wonder what in heck to do with them… Are we accidentally putting their lives in peril?

Better to have no bikes at all. This freedom and range of motion is less sucky then having a slow-moving two-wheeler on your right and wondering how much space is enough space whilst avoiding oncoming traffic.

A brief aside: one Wednesday night I was trying to avoid the 10 Westbound and the GPS took me through Beverly Hills on Wilshire, where I found possibly the slowest moving traffic of all time. Screaming. I was screaming in my heart. And oh, what’s that? It’s a tall bike. Riding down the lane lines between stopped cars. We both lived to tell about it, that’s all I can say.

5. Turn Signals

L.A. drivers pay attention to turn signals. According to some random anecdotal research, roughly 9 out of 10 instances of a turn signal will get you a few feet of space to change lanes when you need it. Of course, this practice is greatly enhanced when we speed up and move over like we don’t care if there is space for us.

And like every other basic American freedom, we reserve the right to use the turn signal or not. Many times not.

6. The Sun

It’s either right behind you or right in front of you. Seriously, did no one foresee the difficulty with this?

Thank goodness we have such a razor straight grid of asphalt leading directly into the sun most evenings of the year, which allows us to double up on cool. Shades, check. Visor, check. Seat tilted back to allow as little of the sun’s rays to peek around the edge of said visor, check check check. We still can’t see anything, but we look totally cool.

7. Carpool Lanes

Carpool lanes make us feel really smart when we do finally have a second person in the car. Usually because we are so used to driving solo that we forgot the carpool lanes even exist, leading to a last-minute Eureka as the flow of traffic comes unceremoniously to a halt.

Carpooling can be fun in other ways too – like having a friend to talk or listen to music with, as well as back us up when another driver is behaving badly and we need to let off steam.

8. DIY Roller Coasters

Why spend big money at Disney when we can ride the canyon roads for free? And then there are those choice areas of Hollywood, Studio City and Silver Lake that can usher you out of the bland downtown flats and right into a loop-de-loop.

Nothing says “Wheee!” like the straight, straight, curvy-twisty-turny-hello-blue-sky ride.

9. Left Lanes

Other people use left lanes to pass slower moving traffic. We use them for that too.

They also come in handy when Valet Parking lines have totally taken over the right lane and we just think we’re stopped at a light. A handy tip when driving surface roads on any given night: keep left.

You’ll be happier. And that makes the road a nicer place for everyone who likes driving in L.A.

10. There’s Not Always Traffic

One of my favorite things about driving in L.A. is hitting that sweet spot between the peak traffic hours of  7-10am/3-7pm weekday rush when the roads are clear for a few hours. Well, except for the lunch rush from like 11am-2pm. Or the beach rush on the weekends.

And then there are the lane closures for road work at night. But hey, 2am on Christmas Day you can fly down the 101 with no problem. Assuming it’s not raining.

Traffic is What you Make of It

Like anything in life, the traffic perils of our city become exactly what you make of them.

My advice is to kick back, blast your rock ‘n roll music, and thank the good Lord that you get to live – and drive – in the city of angels.

Even if you have to recite this affirmation with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

What’s your worst ‘driving in L.A.’ experience? Let us know in the comments below!