when people visit LA they spend hours driving across town over and over, for absolutely no reason. you don't have to do that.
LA residents avoid doing that at all costs.
Sure, you can choose one neighborhood - except your friends chose another one, your employer a third, culture happens elsewhere, and your doctor is always at the other side of the moon. You can make a no-car household work, but you're much more restrained in what you can do, compared to a city with even semi-decent public transport, like Chicago.
Yes, you can take public transport. Pre-expo-line, the 8 miles from my home to work were a 120-150 minute ride. One way. Now, with the expo line, I can do 8 miles in an hour. Whee.
LA residents unfortunately need a car for many instances, because that's the only way to get anywhere without spending a day.
So probably not a viable solution :)
But continue rooting. Not that boundless enthusiasm without any plan does anything to change reality, but it's such an L.A. mindset, it's endearing.
By the same token, if you move to the Westside from pretty much anywhere else in LA, you'll get tons of shit from your friends who now have to go over the river and through the woods to see you.
The ocean breeze is hard to leave and friends will come visit you all the time if you have adequate parking, live near the beach, and have decent space to hang out.
I rarely visit my buddy because he only has 1 of those things in Venice and I have friends drive upwards of an hour almost every weekend to hang out at my place.