© Photography by Madison Kennedy

Going through some of my iPhone pictures, I found these oldies from the time I used to live in Calabasas. When first I came to Los Angeles, I lived near Redondo Beach because I was going to EF school there. I was in a host family, and I stayed there for a while, even after I graduated.

Moving to Calabasas was my first time living on my own, I had to search for a house to rent and everything… it wasn’t a piece of cake but in the end I was really glad, it felt like home after only day one. Which was so good. The reason I chose to live at the city limits of L.A. is because I don’t like the rush and hustle of living in the center.

Calabasas appeared to me like a perfect little spot nearby, where I could chill and enjoy my life without the craziness Los Angeles can be. It was the best place I’ve lived in, and I had an awesome time there : that’s why I miss it so much sometimes !

It was just a short drive from the beaches in Malibu, I’d take a Uber* through Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains, which is gorgeous. If I had some errands to do, I’d go in the cities that are south of the Valley, like Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Encino and Sherman Oaks.

And whenever I had to go to the center for some work, or meet my friends, it was fun because I wouldn’t had been there in like a couple of days, so I’d enjoy the insanity of the city and when I’d come back home at night usually, I’d just feel really happy and relaxed because, it was quiet up in the hills, and always a nice break to a more normal scenery for me.

What I used to do, and how I’d deal with my appointments and what not, outside of Calabasas, is I’d just pile everything I could in one day so I could get as much as I can done while I’m out in L.A., and that way I didn’t have to leave too often, which I didn’t like, I prefer being home or do things close by. I just figured I could have the best of both worlds, living in a cute and calm area and when I really had to leave that awesome place for whatever reasons, it would be fine for a day or two every week.

Unfortunately, what happened is I got more and more stuff I had to deal with, and living in Calabasas became problematic because it wasn’t worth it anymore, those long car rides from one point to another were exhausting me, they became too often. I would basically have to leave about every day of the week, and then come all the way back… and in between, I had to stay hang out in the city even if I was super tired and wanted to go home take a nap.

Since I’d always had to see someone or do something, and home wasn’t reachable during my “in-between” short break times, I couldn’t do as most people and just go and rest, because my home wasn’t anywhere nearby, it was in freaking Calabasas ! So, I’d just have to fill my time with whatever I could while others would go back to their homes wherever in L.A. when they had the chance; but I literally, never had the chance to…

I moved after that, in the worse place I’d ever lived in. It was way too much in the center for me to bare, that was West Los Angeles, and it made me totally unhappy. After that experience I just know I cannot take it, living in the Greater L.A. so I will never reiterate that again. Next time I come back, I’m gonna have to find something closer to the city than Calabasas, but certainly not in the center.

I am living in Paris at the moment, because I’m attending classes at an art school and I will have to stay here for the next three years because that’s how long it’ll take me to fully graduate. After that, I’ll be totally done and free to go, and if I do go back to Los Angeles it will be my main to find a new “home sweet home” but until that happens, even if I am in Paris now, and even if I left Calabasas a while ago because I lived in West Los Angeles : Calabasas will remain my home sweet home.

It’s the only place I’ve felt like I was home, and it made sense to me living there. My next place needs to be kind of like that, wherever in the world… I will be on the lookout for it, and I have a nice feeling that when the time comes, I’ll find it. Because last time, it wasn’t my choice at all to settle in West Los Angeles, I was living there with my sister. I did think it would be practical though, and was okay to try it out, but even my sister regretted it. We made a deal, and I’m the one who choses these kind of stuff from now on, which is awesome, I have good instincts when it comes to home hunting. That’s why I’m not worried, next time I’ll be knowing a lot better !

*Uber : I don’t drive, I don’t have a driver’s license but I take Uber whenever I need or public transportations and it’s all right, it’s manageable like this. Los Angeles is huge so it’s better to have a car, or at least a Uber budget. Public transportation is cheap and can be convenient for short trips, but no more than that.