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Preview: Coworking (Highland Park), Fireside Chat (Mid City), and Standup (Virtual)
Ngl, in college, I kinda scoffed at people who were in Greek Life.
The notion of paying for your friends was something I couldn’t stomach. To me, they were complete clowns.
But as I look in the mirror in 2025, I see it is, I, who is the clown - mostly because I’ve realized that I’m doing the same exact thing. Just in more subtle ways.
No, I’m not cutting checks to my treasurer or buying matching shirts with acronyms stitched on. But there are costs to finding people I want to spend time with.
This is something I’ve had to reconcile.
Take last month, for instance. That $28 brunch with my close friends at Liu’s Cafe was fire, yet costly. The $60 hit I took with that new group of friends at Hummingbird stung but the fish was worth it. The two $14 aperol spritzes with my neighbors at Capri Club might have been my highlight of the week - it still stung tho.
And let’s not forget about the cost of time. That’s arguably my most valued expense. The hours for catch ups, brunches, happy hours, lunches, coffees, etc. Don’t even get me started on LA traffic. And the emotional bandwidth to stay connected, especially in a city like LA - it can start to weigh on you, if you’re not careful with managing it.
All this to say, I’ve come to realize - I kinda am paying for friends.
And, you know what, it’s all good. Coming to this realization has actually freed me up a bit.
My expenditures are loose but helpful validation points to guide me on how and where to invest in friendships.
I’ve always believed that I value what I put my time, energy, and resources towards. And grabbing time and eating with people are definitely values of mine.
With all this said, I think we can sometimes mystify the art of finding our people.
Oh, it’s their vibe.
It just wasn’t giving the friend energy I was looking for.
I’m busy.
But sometimes the simple fact of the matter is that you just don’t value activities, people, or experiences in the same way. You don’t spend money on the same things. You don’t invest time in the same hobbies. You don’t gain energy from the same places. Not that you can’t enjoy people with different values - but having similar values sure helps build a friendship.
Find the people who value time, money, and energy in the same way that you do, and I think you’ll find that you’ll be in good company.
If you’re newer to LA in Common, we are a community of the best people you know in LA. And all with a similar value for our time, energy, and money. Hopefully this newsletter gives you a glimpse of what we’re building. If you’re looking to plug into a community of highly motivated yet absolutely genuine people - this is it. Reply ‘interested’ and I’ll share next steps for how to get involved.
Tell me your favorite moments or even gripes with finding community in LA - I read every reply.
Glad you’re here,
Daniel