Moving to SoCal? (Los Angeles, San Diego, Oceanside: rent, find a job, neighborhoods)

[kristyylee]

My friend and I have been more than interested in moving to California, more specifically SoCal. We are aware of the vastly different lifestyle over there than here, but we would like to learn more.

We would like to know what a good location would be for 21/22 year olds. We have decided that anywhere between LA and San Diego would be ideal for us, we have been searching around the Oceanside area.

We want to be within a 10-15 minute drive to the beach, but we don't mind driving up to an hour for work.

Any and all information is more than appreciated! We just want to be in SoCal and know we'll enjoy ourselves no matter where we end up, we'd just like to find a nice area to live in!

Thanks!

[moved]

Where will you be working?

[kristyylee]

Don't have set jobs yet. I have a bachelors in Public Health and my friend is finishing esthetician schooling in June.

[oddstray]

Ideally you'll have jobs before you get here. It's still difficult to find jobs, in every field, in San Diego. Do as much as you can from where you are - research your potential jobs at the very least. If you don't already have jobs, then have six months' or so funds to hold you over. In that case, also have a Plan B in case you use up your money before you find income.

Anything west of I-15 will be 10-15 minutes from the beach.

For people your age, I would think you might like Pacific Beach is party central (in case you like that sort of thing). If you're not so much party-people, then look at the central neighborhoods such as downtown/Little Italy/East village or Mission Hills/Hillcrest/Normal Heights. North County coastal might be of interest - Solana Beach/Encinitas.

North County inland tends to be families, without much night life. That might be boring for you. South County is older, with some questionable areas. It does have Eastlake, which is newer and nicer, but is also family-oriented.

Ask in the Los Angeles forum also, if you haven't already done that.

[tonyinsd]

As someone who's just getting out of school, you're used to being poor. And you will be, until you find a job. You will have to accept taking a low level, dead end job until you can find something better because rent is not free.

Do you have any savings? Help from family? That will cushion the blow.

If not, do a budget, and see if you and your friend can make it on eight buck an hour jobs and how long you can do that for.

I am not saying that you will have to do that forever, just that initially, that's what you'll be able to get.

[Clevelandgal]

Definitely prepare for challenges. I know a women with a bachelors in PH who did an internship from her local university -SDSU at the largest Public Health employer in the county ...that hires almost exclusively local grads. Trust me. She did an amazing job in her internship but there were no positions for FOUR years. She did get hired eventually (and most certainly deserved to) but she had inside connections because of her prior internship, is bi lingual (a near requirment in public health in san diego), is an amazing worker, looks like a runway model....lol I only bring this up because lately posters think looks are important for professional, educated females. I digress...be prepared.