California-a few questions and concerns (Los Angeles, Long Beach: crime, living, move to)

[awakenthesun22]

I'm considering a move to California with my brother who is a musician. He wants to get back into the metro LA area for work, but I've never been a fan of urban sprawl or pollution. I can move there and find work as a Registered Nurse, but I'm interested in full time firefighting opportunities. I've only been to LA once, around Bellflower/Long Beach. I didn't really care much for the part of the city that I saw, so we've been considering more around the northern parts like Glendale, Burbank, Thousand Oaks, even further North in San Luis Obispo. Are some of these a bit more out of the sprawl, or are they swallowed up by it? Do firefighting opportunities seem to be plentiful? Also, how is the smog/crime/traffic in the aforementioned areas and around some of their neighboring cites?

[abstrak_tokatl]

urban sprawl has spawned to those areas in the last five years or so. But if you are considering those areas you might as well consider santa barbra. L.A. does have a need for firefighters.

[Nbrakern]

Hello. I'm an RN, and I make $43.00 an hour per diem. As for the fire dept... I have a friend who went through the academy, and even though she graduated, she ended up not doing it for a living. Out here in Los Angeles, they make you spend your days clearing brush because of the fire hazard. Good luck to you.

[susie4]

I live in San Luis Obispo county and there is absolutely no smog here. The crime level is very low. As for traffic, it is nothing compared to the other cities you mentioned. We have been growing here so the people that have been here for 30 years will tell you that there is a lot of traffic. But its really not. Going up the 101 between 4 p.m - 5:30 p.m. slows down to 50 at times between SLO and Paso Robles, but other than that, its great! There is a need for RN's in this area, although I do not know about the need for firefighters.