Where to move to in CA...coming from Chicago (San Diego: apartments, rental)

[ChiGirl715]

I'm hoping to move from Chicago to California in the next year or so...I grew up in Chicago, but as much as I love it, I want beaches and sunshine for more than three months out of the year.

My ideal city would take the culture of San Francisco and the warmth of San Diego and combine the two. I am looking for a city that:
-has more sun than fog
-is close to the water
-has more of a liberal feel than conservative
-ethnically diverse
-has a large 30-40's age population
-has jobs available for therapists/ social workers/ non-profit management
-has two bedroom apartments for $2,000/month

Does such a thing exist? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[jaijai]

Santa Barbara was the first place that came to mind but culturally, i'm not sure if it will suit you or not and i don't know it or the county well at all.

Santa Barbara County, California

santa barbara apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

Santa Cruz county comes to mind as well and may be more of what you're looking for since you said that you want a culture like San Francisco.
I'm not sure what aspect(s) of that S.F. culture you're looking for however.
There is summer fog along the coast and it comes and goes but there are many parts of the county where the fog burns off early and comes on late (if at all) and there are many beautiful sunny days as well and it varies from summer to summer.
But if you want every day to be the perfect SoCal kind of beach day and you're wanting warm ocean water to swim in then you won't like it.

Santa Cruz County, California

santa cruz co apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

I don't know about employment (except that the unemployment rate in CA is very high) but check out craigslist to get a sense of rental prices in both areas and realize that they will be somewhat comparable along the parts of the coast that may be to your liking, ie; quite expensive.

[jw2]

Ventura

[BRinSM]

FYI, anywhere within a mile of the coast is going to have significant fog, especially in the summer.

[Surftown831]

Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz are definitely good recommendations if you like that smaller beach town sort of feel. Although they get much more sun and warmth than San Francisco (what place doesn't though?) they get some fog spells in the summer and they get chilly in the fall and winter. I live in So Cal and its beach weather almost year round. I went surfing on Christmas day.

San Diego really isn't as conservative as its touted to be. Every time I go down there I'm amazed its considered a conservative place. It has a very progressive vibe and is incredibly diverse. Obama actually won the county in 2008.

[jc76]

San Luis Obispo :-) though finding a job there is next to impossible, its a neat little town and very diverse, almost directly between LA and SF. About 15 min from Morro Bay, and other beaches. If I would have found work I would still be living there. Good luck.