Today is my 2-year Moving-to-Los
Angeles anniversary! I’m not sure that it’s customary around the rest of the
country to mark things like this but it’s a big deal here. My theory is that
this is because the population is so transient and about 97% of us moved here
in pursuit of a big creative ambition that is progressing at a snails’ pace and
has chained us to a solitary, penniless existence with very few occasions to
celebrate so we cling to this one small milestone that reminds us of a time
when we were idealistic and enthusiastic and had savings accounts.
I'm always surprised that, whether I'm at an intimate dinner party or a noisy bar, whenever I tell someone new that I
moved here from New York City they almost always ask “What brought you
to LA?” I find this sweet because a.) It's more probing than "Cool." and b.) It means that people here are not so
jaded as to assume that I came here to be an actor. I mean, I did totally come
here to be an actor but I value the open-mindedness of supposing I could just
as easily have moved here to be a policewoman or open a restaurant or raise horses.
As for my answer, I still don’t
have a satisfying one. I usually say, “Livin' the Dream!” which seems unfairly
glib, considering how much I appreciate the question. What did bring me here? On the
surface, yes, it was a career move (The Great American Tradition of moving West
for opportunity!). I was also fleeing a gut-wrenching breakup (The Great
American Tradition of moving 3,000 miles to amputate a relationship!). But why,
really, really why down in my core
did I leave a life I loved to move here? I guess the truest answer is that I needed
to grow.
That’s not gonna fly in a noisy
bar, I know. I guess I’ll have to keep my airy, "Livin' the Dream!” for those
moments… but you and I will know the real answer :)
