Hells bells... we're practically neighbors! I'm in Westlake Village. We'll have to compare notes. I always avoided 101 & 405, and commuted south via Malibu Canyon and PCH. Worked reasonably well unless there was an accident... construction... wildfire... mudslide... etc. Previously drove to El Segundo daily -- usually an hour and 15 in the a.m., an hour and 30 in the p.m., so I could easily handle a 45-minute or so commute in Phoenix!

If you're fixin' to put a hole in something,
make it a hole to remember.