I'm technically in L.A. or "Hollywood" because I'm in the biz... but I live way up north in Westlake Village, directly across from Zuma Beach. It's green and hilly/mountain-ey up here, so different when you're driving north on the 101 and pass Las Virgenes (which is Malibu Canyon Rd. when it hits the PCH at Pepperdine).
If anything, I'd like to get even further out. I've learned to appreciate the natural beauty and ease of living enough to endure the drives.
Oh, and the direct canyon roads to the beach (meaning Malibu) are actually worth the 10 miles. Amazing beauty, like driving through the middle of Oahu.