--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even though I grew up two hours south, I…" description: "\"“Even though I grew up two hours south, I had rarely ventured to Los Angeles. I soon learned that my dad wasn't totally off base when he said, \"Los Ang..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/justin-halpern-4029_los-angeles_even-though-i-grew-up-two-hours-south-i_12337.jpg" --- # Even though I grew up two hours south, I had rarely… ![“Even though I grew up two hours south, I had rarely ventured to Los Angeles. I soon learned that my dad wasn't totally off base when he said, "Los Angeles is like San Diego's older, uglier sister that has herpes." . . . "Remember. Family," he said. "Also, how do I get back to I-5? I hate this…” quote by Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/justin-halpern-4029_los-angeles_even-though-i-grew-up-two-hours-south-i_12337.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/justin-halpern-4029_los-angeles_even-though-i-grew-up-two-hours-south-i_12337.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2d/justin-halpern-4029_los-angeles_even-though-i-grew-up-two-hours-south-i_12337.jpg) > ““Even though I grew up two hours south, I had rarely ventured to Los Angeles. I soon learned that my dad wasn't totally off base when he said, "Los Angeles is like San Diego's older, uglier sister that has herpes." . . . "Remember. Family," he said. "Also, how do I get back to I-5? I hate this fucking city.”” [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses frustration with Los Angeles, comparing it unfavorably to San Diego and feeling trapped far from home. **In simple terms:** Los Angeles feels oppressive and alienating. Key Takeaway City can feel hostile and isolating. Themes urban alienation family advice regional rivalry personal discomfort cultural critique Mood irritated wry discontent Type humorous personal anecdote When to use this quote - relocating to a new city - feeling lost in an unfamiliar environment - seeking familiar routes - expressing disdain for a place Key Concepts geography family dynamics city identity Practical Applications - writing comedic memoirs - providing candid travel commentary Questions to Reflect On - What makes a city feel unwelcoming? - How does family perspective shape our view of a place? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Los angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/los-angeles/) ## Related quotes > [Los Angeles is like San Diego's older, uglier sister that has herpes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/los-angeles-is-like-san-diego-s-older-uglier-sister-that-has-herpes/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [Los Angeles is much like Mumbai, the film industry rules the city over most other professions, so it feels like home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhay-deol/los-angeles-is-much-like-mumbai-the-film-industry-rules-the-city-over/) [Abhay Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhay-deol/) > [New York reminds me a little bit of Canada and my upbringing. 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Shen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-shen/) > [I've found, being in Los Angeles, it's like living in a live-action Planet Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-ve-found-being-in-los-angeles-it-s-like-living-in-a-live-action/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [They were looking for someone to play the neighbor of the Jeffersons. I thought it would be a nice trip to Los Angeles. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxie-roker/they-were-looking-for-someone-to-play-the-neighbor-of-the-jeffersons/) [Roxie Roker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxie-roker/) > [I didn't like Los Angeles very much but I like San Francisco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-ralphs/i-didn-t-like-los-angeles-very-much-but-i-like-san-francisco/) [Mick Ralphs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mick-ralphs/) > [At first, I didn't like coming down to Los Angeles at all. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-thewlis/i-really-like-los-angeles-i-like-the-weather-the-openness-of-it-the/) [David Thewlis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-thewlis/) > [living in Los Angeles was like being an extra in a movie that was starring other people entirely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-tsing-loh/living-in-los-angeles-was-like-being-an-extra-in-a-movie-that-was/) [Sandra Tsing Loh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-tsing-loh/) > [My father was the first to read in his family, and he said to me that words were the first beautiful thing he ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/my-father-was-the-first-to-read-in-his-family-and-he-said-to-me-that/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [Tell me about your family," I said. And so she did. I listened intently as my mother went through each branch of the tree.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/tell-me-about-your-family-i-said-and-so-she-did-i-listened-intently/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [I was actually the one who decided to move to LA. Mom and I were driving on Sunset Boulevard during one of our trips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-collins/i-was-actually-the-one-who-decided-to-move-to-la-mom-and-i-were/) [Lily Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-collins/) ## More by Justin Halpern > [“Someday you’re gonna go stupid for a woman. And when you do, do me this one favor: don’t get all caught up in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/someday-you-re-gonna-go-stupid-for-a-woman-and-when-you-do-do-me-this/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [I feel like if I'm going to give you a book about my dad, then I really want to give you my dad, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/i-feel-like-if-i-m-going-to-give-you-a-book-about-my-dad-then-i/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [Sometimes its nice when people you love need you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/sometimes-its-nice-when-people-you-love-need-you/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [“On My Interest in Smoking Cigars “You’re not a cigar guy…. 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It just means right now, I like silence more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/i-just-want-silence-jesus-it-doesn-t-mean-i-don-t-like-you-it-just/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [On Furnishing One's Home - Pick your furniture like you pick a wife; it should make you feel comfortable and look nice, but not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/on-furnishing-one-s-home-pick-your-furniture-like-you-pick-a-wife-it/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [“On Packing My Own Lunch You have to pack a sandwich. It can't just be cookies and bullshit…No, I said if you packed it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/on-packing-my-own-lunch-you-have-to-pack-a-sandwich-it-can-t-just-be/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [The baby will talk when he talks, relax. It ain't like he knows the cure for cancer and just ain't spitting it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/the-baby-will-talk-when-he-talks-relax-it-ain-t-like-he-knows-the/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [“Human beings do dumb shit. You do dumb shit. She does dumb shit. Everyone does dumb shit. Then, every once in a while, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/human-beings-do-dumb-shit-you-do-dumb-shit-she-does-dumb-shit/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [No, you can't go getting mad at people because they're shitty. Life will get mad at them, don't worry..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/no-you-can-t-go-getting-mad-at-people-because-they-re-shitty-life/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [People are always trying to tell you how they feel. Some of them say it outright, and some of them, they tell you with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/people-are-always-trying-to-tell-you-how-they-feel-some-of-them-say/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [“On Receiving Straight As on My Report Card “Hot damn! You’re a smart kid—I don’t care what people say about you!…I’m kidding, nobody says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/on-receiving-straight-as-on-my-report-card-hot-damn-you-re-a-smart/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [“I don't give a shit how it happened, the window is broken... Wait, why is there syrup everywhere? Okay, you know what? Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/i-don-t-give-a-shit-how-it-happened-the-window-is-broken-wait-why-is/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) [Explore all 117 Justin Halpern quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) ## More Los angeles quotes > [I wasn't attracted to American cinema, but I fell in love with Los Angeles the minute I arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-varda/i-wasn-t-attracted-to-american-cinema-but-i-fell-in-love-with-los/) [Agnes Varda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-varda/) > [“French Polynesia embraces a vast ocean area strewn with faraway outer islands, each with a mystique of its own. 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I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/) [Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/) > [Elevated locations imply elevated purposes, even in American cities departing as radically as Los Angeles does from the traditional planning patterns of the Eastern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-filler/elevated-locations-imply-elevated-purposes-even-in-american-cities/) [Martin Filler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-filler/) > [As a sports fan, the Los Angeles Kings winning the Stanley Cup makes me feel very alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/five-for-fighting/as-a-sports-fan-the-los-angeles-kings-winning-the-stanley-cup-makes/) Five for Fighting > [Reggie Jackson hit one off me that's still burrowing its way to Los Angeles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quisenberry/reggie-jackson-hit-one-off-me-that-s-still-burrowing-its-way-to-los/) [Dan Quisenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quisenberry/) > [We been bubblin' in the Los Angeles underground for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xzibit/we-been-bubblin-in-the-los-angeles-underground-for-years/) [Xzibit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xzibit/) > [ It's \[Los Angeles\] mostly full of nonsense and delusion and egomania. 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A woman director makes one bad independent film and her career is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-wolf/there-was-an-interesting-article-in-los-angeles-magazine-about-women/) [Dick Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-wolf/) [Browse all 2,005 Los angeles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/los-angeles/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Even though I grew up two hours south, I had rarely ventured to Los Angeles. I soon learned that my dad wasn't totally off base when he said, \"Los Angeles is like San Diego's older, uglier sister that has herpes.\" . . . \"Remember. Family,\" he said. \"Also, how do I get back to I-5? 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