California Dreaming - beginning to plan my move westward, need r3v's input

[Joe G]

Hi r3v,

After growing up in Long Island, NY (18 years), bouncing around the country during college (Ohio, Washington State, Kansas) and landing in Kansas City, MO for the past 3 years, I've finally decided to head west.

I miss the ocean, I'm sick of winter and I want the ability to drive an 'impractical' car everyday while enjoying warm weather, hiking, fishing, surfing, driving roads and all that the great state of California has to offer.

I've spent a lot of time in the Manhattan Beach/LA area, Orange County and have done long weekends in SF and other parts of NorCal. I've also driven Seattle to LA via the PCH, so I like to think that I've seen and experienced a good portion of Cali.

So, my fiance and I are planning to move to Cali next fall, following our wedding in Kansas City.

We've been considering San Diego, Orange County and the LA area, but here is what we're looking for:

-Strong job market
-My fiance is a Graphic Designer (Art Director title), and will be looking for
something similar (BA in Graphic Design)
-I spent 2.5 years with Grant Thornton as a consultant working in
compliance/bank and now work in the gift card industry
(I have a BS in finance, open to consulting, compliance, sales and just
about anything in between)

-Reasonable-ish rent (~$2k/mo)
-minimum requirements are: 1 bed, 1 bath, pet friendly, safe neighborhood
W/D, etc

-15 to 20 minutes to the beach (MAX)

-Younger area with plenty of fun and outdoor things to do

-Reasonable commute to work (45mins MAX)


Since so much of r3v lives in Cali, I thought you guys would be a good starting point. Nothing is set in stone and we are very open to suggestions.

I think the most important thing is the job market, but we also want to LOVE where we live.

ready, set, go!

[brickwhite]

Hope you like taxes... oh you lived in NY

[2mAn]

PM incoming

[cheffy30]

it rains here in seattle every day...

[MrBurgundy]

Long Beach

-affordable rent
-good job market
-close to the beach
-close to OC and LA
-MrBurgundy
-younger population


I'm a big outdoors person. In 40 mins, you can be somewhere where you can hike, fish and camp.

You can also hangout with me, and that is the biggest perk.

If you have any other questions about LB, PM me. IMO LB is the best place in SOCAL

[2mAn]

it rains here in seattle every day...

lies

[MrBurgundy]

my buddy just sent me some pics over the weekend, it's actually snowing a bit up there!

PNW is overrated IMO ;)

[Joe G]

I like the PNW, but I like sunshine and the beach more.

[reelizmpro]

Long Beach/Signal Hill and the associated area like Bellflower, Lakewood, Seal Beach/Rossmoor etc comes to mind. It's pretty central where you can get most places in 40 minutes like MrBurgundy stated. It's close to OC and the coastal cities without having to pay the rent of a coastal city. Long Beach covers a wide area so I'm sure you'll be able to find an area you'll like. I live in Coastal San Pedro and it's awesome but it's a bit out of the way which can be good or bad.

[flyboyx]

I'd pick the Carolinas if I were you.

[cheffy30]

game on...

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

[2mAn]

game on...

If you have LSD and decent tires an E30 is fine. I know people who put snow tires on and rocked it!...

My favorite picture of my 1st E30

IMAG0061 by 2mAn

notice the other vehicles Im surrounded by haha

[decay]

have you thought about the bay area?

rents will be higher than what you've indicated here, for your desired commute, but that goes with the pay scale.

i've worked technical operations in a finance company and have friends at 2 others, and there are design jobs as well.

did you go through pacifica on your road trip? great little city, right on the beach, a few minutes from SF (where all the jobs are).

[McGyver]

I moved to Oakland a little over a year ago and now work up in Richmond. It's definitely pretty, tons of sunshine, nice weather, good people, and plenty to do. That being said, the roads are beat to hell, traffic is really bad, rent and other costs are unreasonable, and the pay does not keep up with the increased cost of living.

I do like it here, but I also miss the east coast a lot. I don't think it'll be my forever home, but I'll enjoy it for another couple of years. My biggest problem is the cost of housing here. My GF and I essentially throw away $24k a year in rent, but buying a 1 bedroom in decent spot around here would be $600k+. For comparison, I spent $1100 a month on rent in Richmond, VA and a nice 2 bedroom with a garage would be ~$200k.

If you're considering the bay area and want to keep your commute down, where you live is going to be dictated by where your job is. I'm not trying to dissuade you, just to tell you the reality of living here if you're not making bank at a tech job. It is definitely a grind and crazy competitive.

[bikerbill2021]

I know its not cali, but I moved from upstate NY to Phoenix AZ about 6 years ago, I ain't ever going back, AZ is awesome, good luck :)