The 6 Things I Wish I Knew Before Buying a House

We sold this house and moved to Dublin, Ireland. Most of these lessons have held up, but living in the house for 3 years developed my thinking in other ways.

TL;DR we weren’t ready for a move to the suburbs. We missed the energy and walkability of the city. I believe your environment — the people and places you surround yourself with — quietly shape you. You can resist the change but you’re fighting upstream the entire time. Someday we may be ready to be molded into archetypal “suburban parents”. Just not yet.

So at the peak of this crazy post-pandemic market, we sold the house at a loss to my brother and his girlfriend, packed our things into 7 large suitcases, and moved to Dublin.

New lessons learned:

personal development

Your Eternal Struggle Between Expectations and Reality

I recently learned of a condition called “Paris Syndrome.”

The shock of coming to grips with a city, [Paris] that is indifferent to their presence and looks nothing like their imagination [that] launches tourists into a psychological tailspin.[note]Paris Syndrome: A First-Class Problem for a First-Class Vacation by Chelsea Fagan | https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/10/paris-syndrome-a-first-class-problem-for-a-first-class-vacation/246743/[/note]

relationships

France Baby Moon (Plus Favorite Traveling Tips)

I’m the first to admit that the idea of a baby moon seemed like an odd bit of millennial silliness, like taking Frisbee too seriously. But after-the-fact, I’m 100% baby moon on board, and highly recommend it.

hollywood

How Hollywood Can Save Itself

Olivia de Havilland was 19-years-old when she started her acting career. Eight years later, she killed the Golden Age of Hollywood and changed the business of entertainment forever.

personal development

Humble is Practical

In middle school, on Friday I’d come home with a folder of all my graded assignments for the week. You were supposed to show it to a parent, they looked at your graded assignments, signed the folder, and you returned the folder on Monday.

los angeles

The Best Places to Live in Los Angeles: 2022 Guide to LA

Los Angeles is sprawling. Anything seems possible… but where do you start? Where are the best places to live in Los Angeles for you?

What are the best places to live in Los Angeles?

The first challenge is finding a safe neighborhood in LA. Then, filtering for neighborhoods you can afford to rent or buy. Finally, each neighborhood has a distinctive personality; where do you fit?

Your first year in particular can make or break the experience. Los Angeles can be a lonely place. I got lucky, I loved my first neighborhood. This article can help do the same for you.

Choosing the best place to live in Los Angeles depends on what you’re looking for. First we’ll look at safe neighborhoods in LA. Then we’ll explore some of the best places to move for families and single, young professionals. Finally, for those renting, we’ll cover how to find an apartment in Los Angeles.

(Moving to Los Angeles soon? Click here to learn the best time to move (hint: when rents are lowest), how much to save, and whether you really need a car.)

10 Safe Neighborhoods in Los Angeles

When you move to LA, finding a safe neighborhood should be your top priority. Here are 10 safe neighborhoods in Los Angeles to explore:

Playa Vista
North Hollywood
Westwood
Palms
Tujunga
Sawtelle
Mid-Wilshire
Sherman Oaks
Pacific Palisades
Toluca Lake

career

I have had a few internships, but no long term employment other than waiting tables. I’m currently looking for my first job as an assistant, but everywhere I look (entertainmentcareers, UTA, etc.) is asking for at least a year of experience if not more. How do I get experience if even the most entry level positions require it?

career

How to Turn Your Hollywood Internship into a Job

You’ve fine-tuned your resume and honed your cover letter.

You’re blasting out to every posting on EntertainmentCareers and the UTA Job list.

But after you land your first internship, are you making the most of it?

Chris Ming