![]() 12/17/2017 at 01:41 • Filed to: None | ![]() | ![]() |
I was born in 1971 in DC. In ‘72, when I was 9 months old, my parents, an accountant and an electrical engineer, moved to Southern California to chase the California dream.
In the early 90s, I lived in a rent controlled apartment in the lower end part of Santa Monica (a concept that is laughable now). We are renting a house a little less than 2 miles from there in Venice.
This is the neighborhood we used to cause trouble in during the early 90s. We got thrown out of every bar on the boardwalk. I am a pretty big guy, and in those days I was not far removed from playing college football (the muscle/fat ratio was the opposite of today), so people left me alone. I am a very good natured drinker, and usually get silly then sleepy. I was not the problem.
I had a friend who was a little guy with a big mouth who I had to often step in to make sure he did not lose his teeth. I was big enough that I never had to actually throw a punch, but they would throw us out for my friend’s mouth. I have a lot of memories here of youthful rowdiness.
Back then, Venice was gritty and dangerous. I used to sleep by an open window in my apartment in the summer of 94 and listen to the shots fired between V13 and Shoreline Crips. I was regularly harassed by police here.
Now, the average rent is $4800 a month, and the average housing value is $1.6 million. It all feels strange.
![]() 12/17/2017 at 02:38 |
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Life is certainly interesting when you look back at what you were and did to who you are now.
![]() 12/17/2017 at 06:07 |
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You’d be able to buy my house for AU$300,000 or rent it for $1600 a month.
Back in the dim dark days you speak of...I think that our share house in another university town cost us that much to rent. Probably could have bought it for a hundred and fifty...
My life has changed but not in the usual weird ways. My weird ways seem my own... weirdly!
![]() 12/17/2017 at 07:21 |
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$4,800 a month? Jesus.
![]() 12/17/2017 at 09:33 |
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Holy camoley. I guess they want to get their money while they can before the real estate falls into the ocean. It’s kinda like sports salaries.... ;). But seriously, that is some crazy high cost of living.