Security Check: Shira is a Strategic Account Manager at Magento, an ebay company, who also happens to love burgers, cupcakes, and hiking.

What’s your historical Los Angeles and New York connection?
I moved to NYC at age 19 for school and then life, it was a long trek from NJ.  I never imagined living anywhere else in the US.  I had been to LA a few times and said I would never live there but alas “Johnny” came along and  after some time he moved back to CA.  I followed 6 months later. Yadda Yadda Yadda; you know the story. We broke up.   I’ll say this- he was the best mistake I ever made. Due to the nature of my work, I travel back to NY several times a year and maintain strong ties to the city.  To sum up my relationship to NY- I love NY like an ex-boyfriend;  I have some great memories and a quickie every now and then is ok but I don’t want to get back together.

Describe your experience in LA.
I love waking up to sunshine except no one told me about June gloom, not cool! LA has a lot to offer in terms of hiking, great food, and culture.  I have a good quality of life out here mostly because my commute to work is 25 minutes and though I’m always connected to the office, everyone leaves by 5:30pm.  I live in a walkable part of town.  I can run all year round in a tank top. I have not seen a rat in almost 6 years!

Describe your experience in NYC.
NYC was a fantastic place to spend my 20’s and half of my 30’s.  I lived in different parts of the city and have watched various neighborhood change.  I don’t think all for the better.  New York has lost a lot of its charm and character.  I couldn’t keep up with all the changes and the rent.

What was the biggest challenge of moving from NYC to LA?
I miss NY1.  This week is rough being a New York Ranger’s fan…..

How can NYC and LA best engage with each other?
I’d like to see more collaboration and less competition.  NY and LA can’t be compared.  We should leverage the different talent and resources to innovate and complement one another.

Favorite LA secret spot
Running along the beach, it’s my paradise

Favorite NYC secret spot
My favorite Saturday morning ritual involved a cup of coffee and reading a good book at the Peace Fountain at St. John of the Divine

What’s on your playlist right now?
Weird mix of music- I’m obsessed with the Inside Llewyn Davis soundtrack– it’s terrible for running though!

From the 2462 Miles newsletter: connecting NEW YORK CITY + LOS ANGELES