Nick_S wants to move to SoCal....tell me things.

[jaywood]

Don't move to a smog exempt county, you'll be in the sticks. Keep your car registered in OH so you don't have to smog it here. What counties are you looking at currently in so cal?


Also, traffic can be worse. People bitch and moan about it, just like when it rains here. Boo fucking who. If you know you're route to work and can supplement a freeway with a shortcut when there's traffic you'll do just fine.

That's not true. Mono county (for example) is smog exempt. Mammoth lakes is part of mono county. Pretty far from "the sticks". I know you want to get away from the winter so that's probably not the best choice for you however.

Traffic can be bad yes. It just depends where you move to. Los Angeles=traffic. Santa Barbara=no traffic.

[blue plates]

I grew up on the border of LA county and Orange County. Mammoth is the sticks to me.


Long beach has good areas but garages are hard to find.
Huntington Beach is much nicer with garages
Anaheim can be good or sketchy depending on the neighborhood. Garages are ample there.
Costa Mesa/Newport Beach are pretty similar, expensive and some garage space.

Nick, where will you be working?

[illest318i]

Move to Whittier where the chicks are prettier!.. JK

But yeah man, you have it made over here in California, mountains, dessert, beaches. The only things that suck is the smog emissions and TRAFFIC which is terrible. Long Beach is pretty cool, Manhattan, Venice, Santa Monica aren't bad either if you really wanna stay by the coast. The OC county is a lot nicer over the LA county IMO. I would also suggest you keep your car registered in OH like someone mentioned above.

[mbonanni]

Smog really is not that bad unless you have future plans to turbo your car, or do some crazy exhaust, motor work, etc. A clean swap is easy to get BAR'd as long as you keep all the stock parts on when it is inspected. after that feel free to do what you want.

I love Cali. I have lived here all my life, and no plans to move away from it. Like said above; Beach, Valley, Mountains, Desert, Snow, Rain, Sunshine, etc is all here. You get the best of all worlds.

[Mr_Tripp]

I grew up on the border of LA county and Orange County. Mammoth is the sticks to me.


Long beach has good areas but garages are hard to find.
Huntington Beach is much nicer with garages
Anaheim can be good or sketchy depending on the neighborhood. Garages are ample there.
Costa Mesa/Newport Beach are pretty similar, expensive and some garage space.

Nick, where will you be working?

+1 This is the post to remember. ^^^
I grew up in Lakewood, spend most of my time in East Long Beach I'd move there if I were you.

...Mammoth is forsure the sticks btw

[Mr_Tripp]

Ohh and as far as smog, there is always a place you can go to pass...

[Nick_S]

I grew up on the border of LA county and Orange County. Mammoth is the sticks to me.


Long beach has good areas but garages are hard to find.
Huntington Beach is much nicer with garages
Anaheim can be good or sketchy depending on the neighborhood. Garages are ample there.
Costa Mesa/Newport Beach are pretty similar, expensive and some garage space.

Nick, where will you be working?

A garage would be a huge plus but isn't a necessity. As long as the area is fairly safe and affordable is my concern.

As far as work, that's my big hurdle. I will have enough money that I could realistically probably last 3 months without work...but I'm not trying to stretch my savings completely thin. I spent 4 years working in the BMX industry and have always been around outdoor type sports and environment. Been looking into about anything in the cycling, skate, apparel, shoes or anything I'm actually passionate about. Lots of good companies are located in SoCal it seems so I've been browsing and updating my resume.

I was laid off my BMX job 2 months ago, left on great terms as it was simply a down turn in the industry..however as part of my 'severance' plan, my boss, whom is also a great friend, knowing I've been talking about moving forever offered me a plane ticket anywhere I want to go to prospect the area and for jobs. Pretty solid offer and will likely be used for this.

[IRON-E]

This is the real truth:

You will likely run your saving dry
Don't plan on making a family here, we got too many Latinos/Mexicans already
The choice of ethnic foods is endless
If you don't want your girl to stray, don't introduce her to too much partying
Night life is abundant
The dream job you want may not come so easy
The pay sucks, unless your career makes good money already (too many people competing for the same job)
Housing is expensive in the metropolitan areas
Traffic blows hard
Beaches are awesome but, some got more than desired sketchy ass bums (who probably came out looking for their dream, just like you)
Car scene is one of the best, bar none
The weather comes at a high price
We got earthquakes up in this bisshh.

Those are some of the reasons why everyone hates california but, wishes they were here.

If you make it here, you'll do just fine anywhere else

Say hello when you're out here, good luck man.

[Nick_S]

Thanks for the real low down. I'm acutely aware of many of the realities however at this point in my life if I stay put because it's the "safe" thing to do I will likely go crazy. I'll take the risk, if I run my savings dry, not to sound arrogant but my family will do what they can to help. If I hate it, I'll move back. What's the worst that can happen? I find a good job, I love the weather and I make a nice fresh start for myself? Or I end up right back where I am with some life experience. Why the hell not?

[illest318i]

This is the real truth:

You will likely run your saving dry
Don't plan on making a family here, we got too many Latinos/Mexicans already
The choice of ethnic foods is endless
If you don't want your girl to stray, don't introduce her to too much partying
Night life is abundant
The dream job you want may not come so easy
The pay sucks, unless your career makes good money already (too many people competing for the same job)
Housing is expensive in the metropolitan areas
Traffic blows hard
Beaches are awesome but, some got more than desired sketchy ass bums (who probably came out looking for their dream, just like you)
Car scene is one of the best, bar none
The weather comes at a high price
We got earthquakes up in this bisshh.

Those are some of the reasons why everyone hates california but, wishes they were here.

If you make it here, you'll do just fine anywhere else

Say hello when you're out here, good luck man.

Oh wow.

This is actually pretty freaking true.
Forget what I said earlier, this is the real deal right here.

[Lake]

All you need to know about California

[IRON-E]

Thanks for the real low down. I'm acutely aware of many of the realities however at this point in my life if I stay put because it's the "safe" thing to do I will likely go crazy. I'll take the risk, if I run my savings dry, not to sound arrogant but my family will do what they can to help. If I hate it, I'll move back. What's the worst that can happen? I find a good job, I love the weather and I make a nice fresh start for myself? Or I end up right back where I am with some life experience. Why the hell not?

I hope I didn't come off as a Deby Downer, I just want to help someone out, to see things for what they are.

Yes, SoCal is pretty bad ass and, as a life experience....... It'll be one to tell your grandkids about. ;)

[accident]

Born and raised in SoCal, abandoned ship two years ago. I miss my friends, but I don't miss California. I don't miss the ridiculous car registration prices, the ridiculous living prices, the ridiculously shitty job market. I miss my friends and family. If I could move them all to Arizona I would.

tl;dr: don't do it.

[D-rock]

Moved from Miami to LA I enjoy it

[IRON-E]

Born and raised in SoCal, abandoned ship two years ago. I miss my friends, but I don't miss California. I don't miss the ridiculous car registration prices, the ridiculous living prices, the ridiculously shitty job market. I miss my friends and family. If I could move them all to Arizona I would.

tl;dr: don't do it.

You didn't have a job and still lived at home., it's a little different when you're already out on your own. But I do understand, it was the better choice for you to part ways with our beloved SoCal.