Los Angeles is a city of contrast—a sprawling metropolis where sky-high rents collide with dreams of a freer, more connected way of life. My own journey through the city has been anything but conventional. Each place I’ve lived has been an experiment in community, nature, resilience, and reinvention. This is my story of seeking a different kind of home.
1. Haven Coliving: Learning to Live in Community
For nearly three years, I lived at Haven Coliving in Venice, a wellness-based coliving community. It was an unconventional choice, but in a city where rent prices are sky-high, it was an opportunity to live affordably while immersing myself in communal living.
At Haven, I slept in a pod-style bed, alongside 70-90 other residents. It was a crash course in shared living, but what I gained in return was a deep sense of connection. As community manager, I helped curate experiences that made Haven more than just a place to live:
Led weekly meditation classes for the residents.
Coordinated other wellness offerings, including yoga, breathwork, sound baths, and art therapy.
Organized monthly event calendars, featuring beach bonfires, talent shows, moon ceremonies, and community gardening.
Helped transform our yoga studio into an art gallery for the Venice Art Crawl, opening our space to the public.
Showcased our events on Instagram.
Haven was a living, breathing ecosystem of ideas, shared growth, and personal evolution. I believe that when you live with others, you spiritually awaken faster—every interaction is a mirror reflecting parts of yourself back at you.
Then, one day, the property owner decided to shut down the coliving experiment. The pods were torn down, and just like that, it was time to move on. Fortunately, my girlfriend had been living with me there at the time.
2. Topanga: Reconnecting with Nature
Leaving Venice, my girlfriend and I craved something different. We wanted community, but we also longed to reconnect with nature. Topanga called to us. Some of my hippy friends were already living there, and during a visit, they introduced us to the land in the most immersive way possible—by bathing naked under a waterfall after a trip to the local farmers market.
Eventually, we found a place to temporarily call home: a groovy vintage trailer on a private acre of land within a sprawling ranch.
Life slowed down. Mornings started with yoga outside the trailer. Afternoons were spent hiking through private trails. Nights were for stargazing. Sometimes we spotted bobcats roaming just feet away from our camper. Cooking became an art form; we’d make oatmeal breakfasts and creative dinners together in the small but functional camper kitchen.
It was a time of simplicity, but after four months, we found what seemed like the perfect next step.
3. The Dream House—Until It Wasn’t
Our next home was something special—a private house in Topanga, perched atop the canyon with breathtaking views of the Pacific. We had a hiking trail right next door, complete with walking meditation labyrinths. We turned the house into a sanctuary, decorating it with rugs, an altar space, and cozy elements that made it feel truly ours.
Every night, we’d watch the sun dip into the ocean, its golden glow casting a warmth over the canyon. It felt like the perfect place to settle.
Then came the Palisades fire. The Santa Ana winds carried flames through the canyon, sweeping up our home in a single day. We had to evacuate quickly, leaving behind the space we had poured so much love into. Just like that, we lost everything.
Learn more here about how the fire consumed our home and purchase my ebook if you’re interested.
4. Rising from the Ashes—A New Wellness Retreat Home
Heartbroken but resilient, we searched for a new beginning. That’s when we were offered a chance to live at a wellness retreat center in Topanga, as on-site managers.
Now, we live in a tiny cabin originally designed as a massage hut. It’s barely big enough for the murphy bed and a few wicker baskets for clothes, but the amenities more than make up for it. We have access to a beautiful communal kitchen, a yoga studio, a sauna, and scenic overlooks where we still get to watch the sunset—just from the other side of Topanga.
We’re surrounded by chickens, roosters, and a vegetable garden, a reminder that life continues to grow and evolve, even after loss.
Here, we’re hopeful about what comes next, excited to connect with wellness influencers and community leaders.
5. The Future? Sustainable Living and Fireproof Homes
The fire changed us. Losing a home that felt so sacred made us question everything about how we live—and how we could rebuild.
Inspired by our experience, my girlfriend and I attended an Open House at CalEarth (https://calearth.org/), an organization specializing in sustainable, fireproof homes. We’ve begun exploring their courses, learning how to build earthbag homes—structures that can withstand wildfires, earthquakes, and extreme weather.
We also discovered Earthships (https://earthship.com/), off-grid homes built with natural and recycled materials.
As laws shift to accommodate sustainable rebuilding, we’re hopeful that these homes could provide a real alternative for the future of Los Angeles housing.
Final Thoughts
Living in Los Angeles doesn’t have to mean being trapped in the traditional housing model. My journey through unconventional living has taught me that home is not just a place—it’s a way of being. Whether it’s in a pod, a trailer, a canyon house, or a tiny massage cabin, each place has shaped me, revealing new insights about community, nature, resilience, and self-discovery.
The journey isn’t over, and I have no doubt that new adventures—and new unconventional homes—await. But for now, I’m grateful for every step along the way.