Hopefully relocating from NYC area to California... (Los Angeles, San Diego: fit in, salon)

[laure768]

Would appreciate some advice...

Just to give you my background...I'm a 24 yr old college graduate currently working at an architecture firm in Manhattan (I'm not an architect) and saving 70% of my salary while living at my parents home 30 minutes west of Manhattan in New Jersey.

I'll be relocating to Manhattan after the summer and renting an apartment with a friend (to get the whole NYC thing out of "my system"), but would like to start planning for my move off the east coast to California, hopefully for next summer/fall. I plan on attending a graduate school for Urban Planning and hope to work at an architecture/urban planning firm during it.

Would anyone recommend a particular neighborhood/city in California that wouldn't drive me to absolute boredom yet still provide access to many architecture/urban planning/real estate development firms & grad schools???

I don't mind living in a apartment the size of a closet, as long as its in a safe, upscale neighborhood with restaurants/shopping nearby, and in or near a major city (SF, LA, or SD). I've visited all 3 and actually fell in love with each, but as for living there, I would have no idea where to even start/look.

I love diversity, but unfortunately I've been told I have a look to me that screams out "New England preppy" which probably wouldn't fit well in an area like Compton or somewhere similar. So you get the idea

Thank you all in advance...

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by laure768

I love diversity, but unfortunately I've been told I have a look to me that screams out "New England preppy" which probably wouldn't fit well in an area like Compton or somewhere similar. So you get the idea

I grew up on LI... I know the "New England Preppy" look all too well and unfortunately... you won't fit in anywhere in CA with that look. Even the wealthiest young people are dressed down.

You are going to have to give us a better idea of what you want. Sunshine? Job opps? Culture? Beaches? Urban? CA has it all.

[laure768]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

You are going to have to give us a better idea of what you want. Sunshine? Job opps? Culture? Beaches? Urban? CA has it all.

Thank you for responding! Definitely into the beach (surfing), nightlife, museums, shopping, restaurants/bars, hiking, the mountains, airports (I like to travel and will definitely have friends and family from the NYC area and London visiting often), etc... I'm more into an urban sort of feel than a suburban (say Orange County, not sure about how Irvine is though).

I'm really big into nature, the environment, lounging around outside... but I also need to be near city life and everything that comes with it. Growing up in North Jersey, you get accustomed to having everything you need when you want it and unfortunately I have that mindset. So a neighborhood where everything closes down at 10PM is probably not ideal for me.

[metallic07039]

Originally Posted by laure768

Would appreciate some advice...

Just to give you my background...I'm a 24 yr old college graduate currently working at an architecture firm in Manhattan (I'm not an architect) and saving 70% of my salary while living at my parents home 30 minutes west of Manhattan in New Jersey.

I'll be relocating to Manhattan after the summer and renting an apartment with a friend (to get the whole NYC thing out of "my system"), but would like to start planning for my move off the east coast to California, hopefully for next summer/fall. I plan on attending a graduate school for Urban Planning and hope to work at an architecture/urban planning firm during it.

Would anyone recommend a particular neighborhood/city in California that wouldn't drive me to absolute boredom yet still provide access to many architecture/urban planning/real estate development firms & grad schools???

I don't mind living in a apartment the size of a closet, as long as its in a safe, upscale neighborhood with restaurants/shopping nearby, and in or near a major city (SF, LA, or SD). I've visited all 3 and actually fell in love with each, but as for living there, I would have no idea where to even start/look.

I love diversity, but unfortunately I've been told I have a look to me that screams out "New England preppy" which probably wouldn't fit well in an area like Compton or somewhere similar. So you get the idea

Thank you all in advance...

This couldn't explain what want to do more! I currently live in your area too... Livingston, NJ and work in Union Square in NYC. Like you, I am saving a lot of my money to go on to bigger and better things. I love the whole "openness" in California, it seems to me that it is very relaxing. There is just something about this area that eats away at your soul, lol, you know what I mean? I met a few people from California (LA, SF, etc.) and they really left an impression on me.

So, I am also looking for a nice neighborhood (even if my apartment is tiny) with a fun nightlife (and 'daylight').

Anyways, hopefully we can get in touch and share stories?

AIM: zinfern0z

[missionhome]

Los Angeles and San Diego are the two cities that I would recommend. If you surf, the best surfing in water that is not always going to be super cold is in Los Angeles south to San Diego. Everywhere north of that will require a wet suit. Also Los Angeles is close to (within two hours) of the San Bernardino Mountains where you can hike and ski (although Mammoth Mountain in the Sierra Nevadas is bigger and better for skiing). LA and San Diego both have good nightlife so I think they would be good cities for you. The weather is great of course too. The biggest problem is traffic since you need a car to go everywhere. I live in Orange County, but I agree that that would not be a good fit for you. You mentioned Irvine, it is not urban. The tallest building is like 20 stories and nobody walks anywhere. Orange County is great for families and people that don't mind a nonurban enviornment.

[j45m16]

i also am moving in the summer of 2010 from philly pa to sandiego . My wife is from there and its time to go home im a hairsylist who owns my own salon here but would like to change careers her family is pretty well off and are in big bussiness and i think i may have to swallow my pride and start in the mail room scared as hell but it just seems like a better place to raise a family they live in lajolla but are giving us a condo in escondido how is it out htere and how will an italian from south philly be percieved out there oh by the way im 32.I also agree the east coast just eats your soul and no one wants to see you succeed . Common greeting here hey how r you reply ohhh not good i cant take it anymore also im half filipino and it seems that there are more out there

[Charles]

Originally Posted by j45m16

i also am moving in the summer of 2010 from philly pa to sandiego . My wife is from there and its time to go home im a hairsylist who owns my own salon here but would like to change careers her family is pretty well off and are in big bussiness and i think i may have to swallow my pride and start in the mail room scared as hell but it just seems like a better place to raise a family they live in lajolla but are giving us a condo in escondido how is it out htere and how will an italian from south philly be percieved out there oh by the way im 32

Californians really dig on punctuation.

[youngchampion]

San Francisco. trust me.

[j45m16]

im not in cali yet

[j45m16]

and people from philly like helpful ansers not asssholes grammer police and yes i spelt everyting rong jus 4 u