Ever re-locate without a job, post 2008 recession?

[Tex?Il?]

I moved from the Chicago suburbs to LA at the begining of this year. I had a job lined up when I got here.

I really wanted to move to southern California because its a region I simply wanted to live in for a few years out of my life. I taught earth science/enivoronmental science/geography, and knew that to know Californias diversity of environments I really had to live here. I LOVE the juxtaposition of wilderness and urban civilization that you find in California, although other parts of the country have it.

I knew about Californias budget crisis was affecting schools, so I figured I would look for a job outside my field, and I can always get back into higher education as opportunities arise while living there. So, the job I had lined up was a phone sales job. It seemed like a great job when I first learned about it, but then I realized that the produce/service I was selling over the phone was a total ripoff. It really sucked because I am not a liar. I looked at the money I had in investments/mutual funds, and realized, you know . . . I can quit, withdraw some money and pay my expenses while I look for something much better suited to me.

Close to two months after I quit, I started working part time (only 8-12 hours a week) as a technician doing surveys and data collection for traffic patterns, parking inventories, etc. Now that it has been close to another two months doing that, doing an outstading dilligent job, I have been given the opportunity only within the last couple weeks to do many more projects to the point now where I am working close to full time. Plus I do tutoring on the side (mostly college students), but just started that, working on building a base of students.

I took a risk, but I like I said I had savings through investments. I would relocate with A job (you can always look for another one) as well as savings of some sort. Enough to get you through several months.