Help me to decide (Sacramento, Riverside: home, schools, college)

[angelnurse]

Hi! I'm a nurse here in florida and is thinking of moving to california. My husband works as a Physical therapist so finding a job there would not be so hard(I guess). My question is where in cali would i relocate? Safety is #1 for us. Nice schools, hospitals n recreations is important too. We are planning to start a family maybe this year or next year in God's will. So we want a nice environment for kids to grow up with. I'm thinking of sacramento or orange county. What you guys think?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by angelnurse

Hi! I'm a nurse here in florida and is thinking of moving to california. My husband works as a Physical therapist so finding a job there would not be so hard(I guess). My question is where in cali would i relocate? Safety is #1 for us. Nice schools, hospitals n recreations is important too. We are planning to start a family maybe this year or next year in God's will. So we want a nice environment for kids to grow up with. I'm thinking of sacramento or orange county. What you guys think?

Why California? Why Sac or OC? Why?
Buy or rent? What is your price range or budget?
Where can you find jobs? What is Plan B if you lose your jobs?

[angelnurse]

Well, Nurses there are protected by law. Here, We dont have union for nurses. They make us work hard n they give us more patients than we can handle. I heard that in cali they have nurse-patient ratio there.The reason why im considering sacramento n orange county because i heard a lot of good things about those places n they have a nice weather too.

[missionhome]

Sacramento area is going to be the more affordable of the two. The Rocklin and Roseville suburbs are nice areas to live. In Orange County, it is very expensive. There are several nice communities in the county and finding a job should not be hard, but you should have employers lined up.
The most important thing is:
Do you know what your budget for a home will be and what your combined salary might be around? For example, 60k combined won't go far in Orange County.

[Cerberos]

Why dont you try out San Jacinto area ???

Its in the Riverside County

Pro:

- Its close to Mt. San Jacinto College about 10 miles away
- The prices are wayyyy cheaper than Temecula, Moreno Valley, and Palm Spring area
- Closer to Riverside and San Bernadino (major cities) than Temecula and Palm Spring
- San Jacinto/ Hemet area has 2 super center WalMart within range of 10 miles of each other
- It sits in between 215, 60 and 10 freeway
- The County is trying to create a Mid-County Expressway to divert traffic from the already congested 60 and 10 freeway (more development?)
- Lots and LOTS of retired people around the area
- You can still see that stars at night - which i think its very beautiful


Cons:

- There's still some stables in the area - heck even lots and lots of COWS
- The smells of cows
- It takes about 20-25 miles to go to a huge mall (the area has a small mall but thats about it)
- Its hot during summer - heck almost all of Inland Empire area are hot during summer (its cooler than Palm Spring though)
- Very high property tax (I think 2%)

[sheri257]

I'm a California RN and, I have to say that Califronia is a great place for nurses. I love being a nurse here.

As far as where to live ... you just have to check out the state to see what suits you best. Maybe you guys could do a travel gig and check out different areas ...

I live out in the desert but, with falling housing prices, I'm now in the process of moving back to the California coast. Specifically Monterey County ... we've been wanting to get back to the coast and it's so beautiful there !!!

[angelnurse]

The main reason why i want to move over there because i hear a lot of good things about nurses over there. They are not too stressed as we are here. I work in PCU n the nurse-patient ratio should only be 1:4 but it's never like that. We usually have 6 patients each plus worse scenario you are the charge nurse with your own 6 patients to take care too. So it makes you pretty much busy n overstressed. How is it over there?

[Snort]

You've chosen two very different areas to focus on. First, determine if you want to live on or near the coast (generally more temperate weather year round) or if you want fields or mountains. Not too many go for the fields one, but that's where you'll find the cheaper housing, of course.
Everyone has their preferences. Some like the desert, others hate it (count me in the latter category), some have to be near the ocean, others want four seasons, etc...
There are too many climatic options, population choices, different politics, among other variables for random choices in CA. Make a slightly more extensive list and you'll get some better answers.

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by angelnurse

How is it over there?

Well ... I don't work in a hospital but, I know travelers who will only work in California because they can't stand going back to higher patient loads in other states so ...

That should tell you something. The ratio law is a great thing.

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by Charles

What is Plan B if you lose your jobs?

Lose your job? Obviously you're not an RN ... I couldn't help but laugh at this question.

There is not an RN in the state California that couldn't work 24/7 if they wanted to ...

RN's are in HUGE demand in California. Any RN who moves here will not have any trouble finding work ... the only trouble they'll have is choosing from the multitude of job choices available ...

Unless, of course, they move way out to the boonies and even, then, there's probably jobs available.