Where to move to? (San Diego, San Francisco: real estate, rental, neighborhoods)

[wackydesigner]

Hey Guys,
I have the opportunity to move to anywhere in California! I'm a graphic designer, so jobs are available anywhere. Im looking for an apt.

I love being outdoors and nature, at the same time love the inner city activities. I don't like upper class neighborhoods or those type of preppy, conservative folks. I don't like loud cities (LA, NY, yuck!) and prefer the smaller quieter towns. And I hate traffic! And cars for that matter.

I'm looking at two places so far:
1. San Francisco: Why? I love culture and the abundance of activities and the vegetarian restaurants and green lifestyle. I don't like the muggy weather, the bums or expensive prices.

2. San Diego: Why? I love the perfect weather, the ocean, the laid back lifestyle and cleanness and relatively lower cost of living.

Where to friends? Also any other cities in CA I should consider?

[RandalR]

Originally Posted by wackydesigner

Hey Guys,
I'm a graphic designer, so jobs are available anywhere.

California leads the nation in graphic designers settling for careers as Starbucks baristas. Every third person here thinks they can do that for a living. One of the best I know of recently moved to Cape May, New Jersey because she couldn't afford to make it here.

San Francisco and San Diego are not smaller, quieter towns - they are every bit as noisy and congested as L.A., just on a smaller scale. It sounds like what you want is a smaller coastal city like Santa Barbara, Monterey, or La Jolla. Research the real estate prices and rental rates in those places before proceeding further...

[Unkllars]

Carlsbad, Huntington Beach, Monterey/Carmel, Capitola/Santa Cruz are smaller towns that would have options for you. They are all coastal cities too. Look them up

[cleosmom]

I would heed RandalR's advice as they seem to be in the know.

However, if you're still determined why not try the Tower District in Fresno? The rents will be lower than the twocities you mentioned and it's near enough to all sorts of places within walking distance. Bonus, not too far from Yosemite Nat'l Park or Kings Canyon.

[100%Michigan]

You might like Sacramento, but hey why not come to Michigan?

[Caliguy2007]

Despite L.A being a large city,the area really isn't loud compared to NYC in my opinion.

I"m kinda confused you say you want to live in a smaller quieter town and hate traffic,but yet you have San Franciso and San Diego on your mind

Originally Posted by wackydesigner

Hey Guys,
I have the opportunity to move to anywhere in California! I'm a graphic designer, so jobs are available anywhere. Im looking for an apt.

I love being outdoors and nature, at the same time love the inner city activities. I don't like upper class neighborhoods or those type of preppy, conservative folks. I don't like loud cities (LA, NY, yuck!) and prefer the smaller quieter towns. And I hate traffic! And cars for that matter.

I'm looking at two places so far:
1. San Francisco: Why? I love culture and the abundance of activities and the vegetarian restaurants and green lifestyle. I don't like the muggy weather, the bums or expensive prices.

2. San Diego: Why? I love the perfect weather, the ocean, the laid back lifestyle and cleanness and relatively lower cost of living.

Where to friends? Also any other cities in CA I should consider?

[radraja]

San Francisco has better public transportation and is more walkable.

[wackydesigner]

I AM IN MICHIGAN!
And it blows. lol.
Looks like Ive decided on S/F. Not quiet but with the vast amount of things to do, its hard to be dissapointed!

[rubyskye]

Originally Posted by wackydesigner

I AM IN MICHIGAN!
And it blows. lol.
Looks like Ive decided on S/F. Not quiet but with the vast amount of things to do, its hard to be dissapointed!

Good choice!!! San Francisco is a wonderful city. If i wanted to do city life again, i'd be there without hesitation.
And you're situated in a great place to access the best of California.
Tahoe is close, wine country, you're on the coast and in the most beautiful city in the country imo.
Happy Trails.

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

I would heed RandalR's advice as they seem to be in the know.

However, if you're still determined why not try the Tower District in Fresno? The rents will be lower than the twocities you mentioned and it's near enough to all sorts of places within walking distance. Bonus, not too far from Yosemite Nat'l Park or Kings Canyon.

Aren't you the one that is always bashing Fresno and the Valley????

OP- if you hate traffic, I'd avoid LA, San Francisco, and San Diego. There are lots of smaller cities along the coast or in No Cal that might be better for you.