A friend is looking for a roommate and offered me a place in Marina del Rey. How do you feel about that place?
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I think it’s a great place to live if you like quiet and don’t mind driving. The marina itself is beautiful, but parts of MDR can feel weirdly disconnected from everything around it.
I was looking for a place to buy there at one point and then gave up because HOA was like 1,5k or so.
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I am a beach person and I like Marina. You have plenty of bike paths & safety isn’t an issue.
It really depends on what you are looking for. It’s not the most exciting place if you want nightlife on your doorstep. But if you want to live somewhere that feels a bit more calm than Venice for example.. Marina is awesome. 
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I feel like the marina is the entire personality of this place and most residents will never set foot on a boat. It just feels weird whenever I go there. Sure, it’s safe and the weather is nice, but I don’t really see myself living there. It’s lacking most of the things Santa Monica or Venice have.
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Could you elaborate on that one?
Venice and SM actually have places. MDR has a harbor and then a bunch of apartments. Santa Monica has a real downtown. Venice has a real street culture. Marina Del Rey has waterfront paths and a couple of touristy spots like Fisherman’s Village and then it tapers off into residential towers and parking lots. What’s missing is texture like independent shops or late-night spots.
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Okay, that’s a pretty fair assessment. I still enjoy going there for things like 4th of July. It’s certainly a different vibe to Venice or Santa Monica, yes.
Venice is messy, creative, loud, sometimes annoying, but it’s alive. Santa Monica is more polished but still has density and nightlife.
That said, if you just want ocean vibes and enjoy rather laidback vibes, Marina might hit the spot.
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It’s just not for me. Not saying it isn’t pretty, it’s just not what I want for daily life. A bit too inconvenient in terms of shopping, food, nightlife..
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Spot on.
I wouldn’t move from Santa Monica to Marina Del Rey. Not before I retire at least. 
I wouldn’t mind that to be honest. I enjoy MDL whenever I am there. They have some cool events sometimes. Try the Halloween festival near the harbor. Burton Chase Park is good for barbecuing and live music events.
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I love Marina Del Rey. If you are in that area try out the Frankin It Up guy on Pacific Ave. He is such a cool dude and makes some of the best burgers in town.
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I will give him a visit soon. Looks like I am actually moving to Marina Del Rey next months. It’s not the most inviting neighborhood in terms of nightlife, that’s okay though.
Santa Monica and Venice are just around the corner.
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It’s not West Hollywood. Trust me, you will start to enjoy the peace one day.
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Kinda jealous. I am sure you won't regret it. As I wrote, I love that place and wouldn't mind it being quieter at all.
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Come on, guys, it's really not that bad. Yeah, Marina lacks bars and restaurants, but it's very close to everything. I would be more concerned if there was no place for groceries, but they have Ralphs, Pavilions, or Gelson's. It's just a bit quieter than other areas.