Well, it's not so much that there's something wrong with here.
I went to school in Santa Cruz and while there just fell in love with the central coast and sf bay areas. L.A. will always be the place I call my home, but california's just too beautiful to stick with just one part. I grew up in 'the valley', and would agree that there are definitely some great family-friendly cities in Los Angeles but for me anyway there's an attraction to the slower pace and greener views up north.
I lived in Capitola/Soquel of Santa Cruz county and gosh, that's a nice place to raise a family. It's liberal country, a little too much for me, but still a place that makes me feel safe and comfortable.
That said, nothing will ever mean 'coming home' in my mind, like driving over the Sepulveda pass and seeing the old San Fernando Valley, blanketed in smog, ten degrees warmer than it was 'over the hill'.
I feel lucky to have grown up in LA, ya know? There's so much here, things that are common to everyone that lives here: olvera street, dodger stadium, the piers, watts towers, the studios, the colisseum, the getty's...
ahh. I love LA.
oh yeah, we've got lots of great songs about us too...that could be it's own thread hmmm
-coliano