I left Altadena 4 years ago, after the last big fires, knowing in my heart that LA is just not sustainable. As I watched the Eaton fire burn, and frantically checked in on friends and family, I experienced such a huge wave of relief that I had left, and horrible survivor's guilt that I wasn't there to help. I'm in Oregon now (Honey would love it, so much open space, no people!) and I never want to go back, but I will never really escape the feeling that LA is superior in every way, even in its brokenness.
I really appreciate your thoughts. I'm sorry for the specific heartache of not just the literal loss of the city but the proverbial and spiritual severing that has happened. I watched the TT you linked about the unhappy people helping the poor. It made my stomach turn... Even in the midst of a catastrophic event, the dehumanizing of houseless people remains a thru line. It truly makes me sick.
I hope you find a peaceful place for you and Honey to call home.
I spent 10 years in Northern California, and I left a year ago because I couldn’t justify paying the cost of living anymore while corrupt electeds, the pandemic, and climate disaster are making it less and less accessible. There’s a specific type of grief that comes with leaving a place not because you want to but because you see the writing on the wall. Thank you for sharing this.
As someone who lost their home in Altadena, thank you for sharing. I’ve been trying to gently talk to my family about next steps. To everyone affected, continue to take the time to grieve and heal. 🫶🏾
This is the sermon. Not the TikTok recap. Not the vibes. Not the distraction. But the uncomfortable, inconvenient truth that cuts through the haze of apps, influencers, and empty rhetoric.
The part that floored me: “If doing something is too overwhelming for you, then doing nothing should be easy.” That’s the thesis for the whole damn system right now. Apathy in designer packaging.
You threaded grief, anger, satire, and systems analysis like only someone who’s been paying attention could do. Not performative. Not curated. Just devastatingly honest.
i grew up in LA and have lived here most of my life. i was crying everyday seeing the devastation. thank you for sharing your process and insights on the city because the people need to know. and i hope you decide to stay. mostly for selfish reasons because it's cozy to hear your LA references and will be inviting you to be guest on my pod soon 🙇🏻♀️
Originally growing up behind Angeles Funeral Home, I miss LA so much. But it’s too much. Too expensive, fires, corruption. I hope you find peace in your decisions.
I left Altadena 4 years ago, after the last big fires, knowing in my heart that LA is just not sustainable. As I watched the Eaton fire burn, and frantically checked in on friends and family, I experienced such a huge wave of relief that I had left, and horrible survivor's guilt that I wasn't there to help. I'm in Oregon now (Honey would love it, so much open space, no people!) and I never want to go back, but I will never really escape the feeling that LA is superior in every way, even in its brokenness.
I really appreciate your thoughts. I'm sorry for the specific heartache of not just the literal loss of the city but the proverbial and spiritual severing that has happened. I watched the TT you linked about the unhappy people helping the poor. It made my stomach turn... Even in the midst of a catastrophic event, the dehumanizing of houseless people remains a thru line. It truly makes me sick.
I hope you find a peaceful place for you and Honey to call home.
Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻... poignant
I spent 10 years in Northern California, and I left a year ago because I couldn’t justify paying the cost of living anymore while corrupt electeds, the pandemic, and climate disaster are making it less and less accessible. There’s a specific type of grief that comes with leaving a place not because you want to but because you see the writing on the wall. Thank you for sharing this.
As someone who lost their home in Altadena, thank you for sharing. I’ve been trying to gently talk to my family about next steps. To everyone affected, continue to take the time to grieve and heal. 🫶🏾
want to send u a hug 💔 thanks for writing this
I enjoyed this article, thank you.
This is the sermon. Not the TikTok recap. Not the vibes. Not the distraction. But the uncomfortable, inconvenient truth that cuts through the haze of apps, influencers, and empty rhetoric.
The part that floored me: “If doing something is too overwhelming for you, then doing nothing should be easy.” That’s the thesis for the whole damn system right now. Apathy in designer packaging.
You threaded grief, anger, satire, and systems analysis like only someone who’s been paying attention could do. Not performative. Not curated. Just devastatingly honest.
i grew up in LA and have lived here most of my life. i was crying everyday seeing the devastation. thank you for sharing your process and insights on the city because the people need to know. and i hope you decide to stay. mostly for selfish reasons because it's cozy to hear your LA references and will be inviting you to be guest on my pod soon 🙇🏻♀️
Always look forward to your writing and your prespective. <3
Originally growing up behind Angeles Funeral Home, I miss LA so much. But it’s too much. Too expensive, fires, corruption. I hope you find peace in your decisions.
Excellent observations on the fires and LA in general imo. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾