Another So Cal native here...let me introduce you to my best friend, Sigalert.com:
http://www.sigalert.com/map.asp?Regi...er+Los+Angeles
if you're lucky enough to be able to have several routes to/from work, checking the site out before you leave can save you some serious time.
As for getting from Laguna to Long Beach in an hour, as a few others have said, it just depends...there is no rhyme or reason to the traffic patterns here.
I have a neighbor that commutes from downtown Long Beach (about 6 miles SW of LGB) to SNA and she doesn't take the freeway at all and opts instead for Pacific Coast Hwy and then just a couple miles up Newport Blvd to SNA. Even at rush hour she can make the trip in an hour. I'm not sure how much additional time the drive up PCH from Laguna would add to your trip though. Anyway, welcome to CA!