Vanity: I'm moving to California

8/3/2005 | Me

[DesignerChick]

I'm considering getting transfered from my job and moving to San Deigo or Los Angeles (where my company has offices.)

Any Freepers want to give a Jersey girl some advice?

I've never been to Ca. but I've had it with Jersey. I know there are at least five Conservatives in Califorina (thats three more than NJ)- help me out people!

[Pukin Dog]

I've got an ex-girlfriend living near the park in a huge 2 bedroom apt for $1300 a month, and she says her place is one of the expensive ones.

[12chachacha]

I have lived in the L.A. area my whole life. The weather is wonderful. Three or four nights a week I get off work and surf for an hour, even in the winter. If you have a good head on your shoulders and plenty of $ it is hard to beat.

[wizr]

Best advice that I've seen so far, except I'd rather change occupations than move to California. I live on the central coast. Anything below Ventura is a rat race. Above, or east of, San Jose, likewise.

[TexasTransplant]

Bring lots of Money.

[Clemenza]

STAY AWAY from the Antelope Valley and the Inland Empire. The houses may look nice and new, but you will still be surrounded by transplants from Compton and East LA, particularly in the rental communities. Besides, a new house for a slightly lower price IS NOT WORTH A TWO HOUR COMMUTE.

I would recommend Orange County, particularly Newport Beach, Irvine, and San Clemente. In LA county, you can live very well in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and Burbank provided you either earn seven figures or could tolerate a small condo.

I should let you know that I am speaking as a native New Yorker (who's parents are from Newark and Jersey City!) who is now living in the hellhole that is Seattle, but who travels frequently to California on business. All I can say is that if you think life in Jersey is crazy, wait until you spend your first few months in southern California. May I recommend taking a drive on 405 before you decide to move?

[12chachacha]

I am exactly where you are pal

[Clemenza]

Compton is the only place in LA county where you can get a sizeable house for $250,000.

[Clemenza]

Compton is the only place in LA county where you can get a sizeable house for $250,000.

[Chena]

Why don't you move to Alaska? Maybe you could design some fashionable bunny boots for all of us bush bunnies? ;)

[Clemenza]

Fresno: Gateway to Bakersfield. ;-)

[Eva]

I think that how much you enjoy California depends a lot on your age and what kind of income you make. For instance, the WSJ ran article (over a year ago) that compared the cost of living in different cities. $43,000 in California was roughly equivalent to $13,000 in Phoenix. New Jersey, of course would be a closer comparison, but I'm sure that the cost of living in Jersey could not be as bad as California unless you are very close to NYC.

[newfrpr04]

where are the compton visuals? was that the home of Rodney King? Why can't we all get along?

[fire and forget]

Thank you. I've lived in Newport and Laguna Beach my entire life and in my experience, having seen much of the world and most of the country, these towns are about as good as it gets on balance.

[D_Idaho]

Ventura Rules!! Yeah!

ps: What do you design?

[pointsal]

As a Californian, go to South Carolina...you will be happier.

[MinorityRepublican]

Don't travel in groups of less than ten in L.A.

Is that because it's really violent with gangs?

[wizr]

I lived in Costa Mesa in the 70's. Just driving across town was a commute. Could see Catalina from my back yard on Goat Hill, but couldn't find a parking place at the beach in Newport. Had enough.

[Nea Wood]

WOW. That's a lot cheaper than LA. Hmmm. Maybe I should move to San Diego.

[Conservative4Ever]

Sorry to hear of your upcoming transfer. I myself live in CA and if not for getting my business off the ground, I would move to Texas or the Midwest in a heartbeat. If you have the choice of LA or SD..take San Diego, it is still somewhat conservative. LA is an armpit. Learn Spanish, cause you will need it here. Expect sky rocketing housing prices, gas prices and taxes. It will leave you breathless and gasping for air. The state legislature is lib run even though we have our rino gov. The weather is good, no bad winters to slog through, except when the hillsides give way due to the heavy winter rains that have been denuded due to the wildfires in the fall. The flora is backwards here...green in winter and brown in summer. If you have children the schools overall are poor. Some pockets of good schools in counties. CA economy is circling the drain due to the illegal aliens feeding frenzy at the public trough. Clinics and emergency rooms are closing weekly due to no money. Other than all of that..not a bad place to live.

Red

[Lazamataz]

What's a "Laz"?

It's a me.