West Coast Relocation Adventure (San Francisco, Pasadena: to rent, how much, job market)

[westcoastwanderers]

My boyfriend and I (late 20s) are currently living in Thousand Oaks, CA, but are thinking of moving in September. His job allows us to live anywhere west of the Rockies. The only problem is, we're not sure where to relocate to.

What we're looking for in a city:
- mild winters, more sun than clouds
- lots of outdoor activities (we like to hike, run, bike, etc.) One of the things we love about SoCal is the geography: beaches, mountains, and trails all nearby
- ability to walk places/decent public transportation
- cultural activities: museums, libraries, art, etc
- ski areas nearby a plus
- cheaper rent...we want to scale down to a 1bdrm for <$1500
- nice people who aren't snobby or too superficial (we like nice things, but sometimes it gets a little crazy here)

I like where we are now, but most social things (aside from beaches and trails) are an hour away in LA, and we don't want to live in LA because we like our lungs.

One of our choices is Portland, but there are a few problems with that: 1. I'm concerned I won't be able to find a job, and 2. the lack of sunshine. We're also considering Northern California, but have no clue where to begin searching there. Any input anyone could provide would be a big help!

Thanks!

[dropheadcoupe]

San Fransisco for sure!

[lucero32]

Portland would be a great fit, except of course the weather would be a major issue. You basically described Portland to a "T" regarding outdoor activities, walkable, nice people, cheap rents, cultural options, etc... That being said, the weather can be an issue. We certainly have a string of three months in winter where is it definitely gray and wet out. There are some sunny days mixed in, but it will be gray for long stretches. Oh, and if you ask Portlanders for their opinion on this, you'll get a different answer from each person running the complete spectrum. It really all comes down to how much you value some things over others. Plus, if you have the financial mean, it really helps to take a vacation somewhere warm and sunny during winter. I lived most of my life in L.A. (Pasadena) and moved up here two years ago and am very happy with my decision. The winter and rain did get to me at first, but now it's worth it so I can live in a green city and breathe clean air.

San Francisco also sounds like a good fit, but you'll have a tough time finding a nice place to rent in your price range.

Regarding jobs...what is your career field? Maybe I could give you an idea what the situation is like. You''ll hear lots of different opinions regarding the job market up here which I think are by and large overblown. Still, salaries are significantly lower than L.A. (20%?) and there is fierce competition for jobs. That being said, I don't find the competition any greater than any other metropolitan area.

Good luck on your search and your new adventure.