So I just got laid off...

[deutschman]

I had thought of NorCal. I don't know much about it. I do know of ramp rats, i used to ship stuff to them at my job as they used to carry our products. What's the cost of living, weather etc up there?

Living in NorCal is expensive and getting more expensive by the day. So many well to do .com people moving here for Twitter and all the other big tech ferms. So unless you plan on making good money, I wouldnt move here.
Dont get me wrong I love it here but its not easy when you make regular money. I live in San Rafael right on the boarder with Navato because rent is cheaper out here, even though I have to drive into SF every day for work.
The GF and I are planning on moving to WA in 2015.
I would consider WA or OG.

[rturbo 930]

Living in NorCal is expensive and getting more expensive by the day.

I gotta say, I've tried to figure it out, and I still don't see how anyone middle/lower class could live out there. When a shitty 1500sqft home is 700k+ (give or take), how the hell can anyone afford to live there, and still stay within their means? Seems like everyone but the rich would be priced out of the area.

[CabbE30]

Norcal is awesome but I think you would be miserable if you don't have a hefty source of income (I still live with my parents for that reason). I went to Portland over the winter break, and I'm not gonna lie, it is the first place I've been to where I felt like I could actually move to. I love the SF Bay Area but it's definitely overpriced.

[Bimmerista]

Don't move to Libya. I hear its a crazy place.

[dirtbag30]

or you could always move to michigan with turbojake and i, go to michigan tech, and shovel snow. the summers are nice, bmx scene is tight.

[P33G]

try to get out to california even if it's not for long the riding scene is huge and it is warm haha, if joyride wasn't close to me i would be there..

[Swanny]

So I just got laid off...

Upstate NY so someone can hang out with gear so he can get the sand outta his vag. Get a job ya bum :)



Serious note. What work did you do for the bike company? Anything that you could set up some per diem gigs and just travel? Figure you might have some good contacts from the previous spot. Something I wish I always did when I was a bit younger with less responsibility.

[e30austin]

I rode BMX for years. It was fun while it lasted, but you really aren't going to go anywhere.

Good luck on what you choose to do. You sound pretty young, so do something you really like and stick with it.

[Nick_S]

I rode BMX for years. It was fun while it lasted, but you really aren't going to go anywhere.

I've ridden since I was 10 and just turned 28. It's taken me more places and met more people than I can possibly imagine. I do it for fun, it's the only thing really makes sense to me.

[flyboyx]

I've ridden since I was 10 and just turned 28. It's taken me more places and met more people than I can possibly imagine. I do it for fun, it's the only thing really makes sense to me.

thats all cool.....you need to do whats right for you, i guess. most people seem to out grow that sort of thing by the time they are in their early/mid twenties. maybe its time for big boy pants? it sounds like you aren't ready to leave that lifestyle behind yet. you'll figure it out....in time.

[Nick_S]

thats all cool.....you need to do whats right for you, i guess. most people seem to out grow that sort of thing by the time they are in their early/mid twenties. maybe its time for big boy pants? it sounds like you aren't ready to leave that lifestyle behind yet. you'll figure it out....in time.

Why on earth should you ever give up something you love doing? I have friends in their 40's who are married with kids and professional careers who still ride. Time for big boy pants? Seriously? You think because I enjoy doing something that most people " grow out of" that I'm incapable of having a successful, fulfilling life? Maybe I'll stop riding and pick up something just as exciting and more age appropriate and fun like golf, or binge drinking.

[accident]

Glad to see that a balls situation turned out to be not so balls.

Also: I recommend Arizona. Lots of people will tell you not to because of the summer. Air conditioning was invented for a reason. I moved here from California two years ago, and I have to say once you get used to the heat Arizona is actually pretty fucking cool to live in.

[flyboyx]

Why on earth should you ever give up something you love doing? I have friends in their 40's who are married with kids and professional careers who still ride. Time for big boy pants? Seriously? You think because I enjoy doing something that most people " grow out of" that I'm incapable of having a successful, fulfilling life? Maybe I'll stop riding and pick up something just as exciting and more age appropriate and fun like golf, or binge drinking.

wow! i really love the sarcastic humor. however, there is more defensiveness than funniness in your statement above. no one is saying that you should give it up. however, its pretty safe to say by what you have written that playing with bicycles is interferring with the progression of your life. shit, i about fell out of my chair when you posted you are already 28 years old! i am immediately picturing mark wahlberg in the movie "ted" (minus mila kunitz). i figured maybe 22 or 23 at the most. you asked for advice. sometimes it may come in ways you don't want to hear. thats cool. do what you want. what i am saying is that by your age most people grow up and get on with their lives.

do you have any education beyond high school? do you actually have goals? you might as well share. what are they? are they important to you? how are you going to achieve them? do you have a retirement plan or a 401k that you are contributing to on a regular basis? what do you have to show for your accomplishments so far? is your plan to just wander around the country riding your bicycle hoping to win the lottery or marry a rich cougar? everyone is a lost puppy at some point in their lives. i have been there too. i am sorry i struck a nerve/sound like your parents. from an objective point of view, you need to know that they are right.

so, yes...it might be the time in your life to put on your big boy pants. being an adult and making adult decisions doesn't mean you have to stifle your dreams. you just need to find a balance so your dreams don't leave you stuck in a dead end life which is what is sounds like you are headed for. its fine to move to another part of the country if you have a career goal in mind. to do it because you want to ride your bicycle is-well, no offense...pretty fucking stupid. have you noticed everyone here is pretty much trying to come up with plan that involves work/career? don't listen to me if you don't want to. i am just a guy on the other side of a computer screen who was in your shoes at one point in my life but has my shit together now. thats all.

carry on!

[ParsedOut]

I've met so many people that have moved from OH to AZ, they all seem to love the change of environment. If you're not a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles, the summers aren't that bad. The women are insanely hot (some are just insane), especially if you move to the ASU area and assuming you're college age(ish). Plenty of skate parks. Awesome roads. No snow, no ice. 300 days of sunshine. Job market is strong. There are nice areas and some not so nice areas, just like anywhere. Off the top of my head, I'd suggest Scottsdale, Gilbert, some parts of Tempe and Chandler are nice. I considered moving to Portland about 7 years ago, got very close to pulling the trigger but the job market isn't great nor do I handle liberal leaning locales very well. So here I stayed and I'm thankful every day that I did.

[Thizzelle]

I had thought of NorCal. I don't know much about it. I do know of ramp rats, i used to ship stuff to them at my job as they used to carry our products. What's the cost of living, weather etc up there?

don't come to the bay unless you want to pay. But what is budget because there is always a price to work with. Like pants said Petaluma and RP are affordable, that's where I'm at. But buying a house, the price is way high, I got in when shit crashed so it's good for me.