I live above my parents' garage

I'm in the process of moving into my new apartment on the west side.

I finally figured out why in LA it seems like more people live at home.

#1. Because there are more people in LA, so if the percentage stays constant, there will be more people living at home.
#2. Because it doesn't only SEEM like there are, there actually are. The percentage is not constant, it is more. See #3.
#3. Because it's SO EXPENSIVE to live here. People just can't afford to move out and live on their own. It requires a much higher income, thereby (on average) people must wait longer (like until they get a good paying job) to move out.

This makes total sense. This also applies to Taiwan where there are even more people living at home. I must be tired. I can't believe I didn't figure this out before.

This also plays into why everyone is so driven here. When I say "driven" I mean willing to go for their dreams. My sister, on a recent visit here, commented that it seems like more people here are willing to go for their dreams. People back home (read: Ohio) have as many dreams as people here, but it seemed to her that LA'ers were more willing to take the risk and actually do something about their dreams. I have two explanations for this.

#1. There are a lot of smart and successful people in LA. Thus, people are motivated to be successful and it possibly may be more important to them. Who wants to be the odd ball who is different from everyone around them?
#2. See #3 above. Everything is so expensive here and we are surrounded by wealth. It just makes people want to be rich. Partly out of necessity, but partly out of envying what everyone else has.

Okay, so the two reasons are kinda the same. So I only have one reason. So what. Lists are cool.