Mt High, Bear Mt, Snow Summit, Snow Valley and Mt Baldy, all within 2 hours of LA. I think theres another tiny resort or two as well, but nothing I've been to.
Mammoth is 5 hours (4 and a half if you keep it at 80mph), but its a really chill drive. Lots of dank places to eat and whatnot out there in the desert.
As for living here its pretty much chill as long as your into cruising around in your car and just wandering around high as fuck in like 90 degree weather wearing sunglasses. If you don't smoke weed or like the heat or the beach then its probably not worth it. And remember in the middle of the summer there's about 2 weeks where it'll just straight be 100 degrees the entire time. Its pretty relaxed though and the night life is pretty crazy.