It's not worth it to cross the 405 much. If you stay west it's pretty easy to get around.

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.