Living on the west coast (San Francisco, Oakland: rentals, crime rates, job market)

[sluze]

Hi, I'm looking into moving to the west coast in a few months. I need help deciding where to move.

I have never lived in a small town, I'm from Columbus, OH so I'm not sure what it would be like to live in a smaller area. I think I would be more comfortable moving to a large city but I am open to something smaller. I just graduated from college and would prefer to live somewhere that has somewhat of a younger crowd. I would like to be able to have a garden and have a long growing season. I would like to be somewhere with good sunshine and a more liberal feel. I am also very interested in holisitic healing. I understand I might not be able to find a place with all of this, these are just my preferences. It would also be nice if I could find a job, any kind of job.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Majin]

Stockton

[Charles]

Originally Posted by sluze

I need help deciding where to move.

Any suggestions?

What did you earn your degree in?
What type of work do you expect to be hired into?
What is your housing budget?
Where do you think you will be working?

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by sluze

Hi, I'm looking into moving to the west coast in a few months. I need help deciding where to move.

I have never lived in a small town, I'm from Columbus, OH so I'm not sure what it would be like to live in a smaller area. I think I would be more comfortable moving to a large city but I am open to something smaller. I just graduated from college and would prefer to live somewhere that has somewhat of a younger crowd. I would like to be able to have a garden and have a long growing season. I would like to be somewhere with good sunshine and a more liberal feel. I am also very interested in holisitic healing. I understand I might not be able to find a place with all of this, these are just my preferences. It would also be nice if I could find a job, any kind of job.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

Consider Santa Cruz county.
If you could see the garden i'm living amidst, you're heart would swell.
The rainy season is from around Nov - April with many sunny days between the rain.
Summer is warm and sunny with fog that rolls in and out (depending on conditions) but basically hugs the coast and comes just a bit inland at times but doesn't stay.
Temps in the non-rainy season are between mid 70's to mid 80's (generally speaking).
We're in the Mediterranean belt ... the growing season is long.
The soil is rich.
Redwoods and ocean and mountains (small ones).
You can live very rural (without feeling isolated and remote), semi-rural, sub-urban and urban (but not in a big city way) and everything in the county is easy access.
Santa Cruz is liberal, tolerant, open, friendly and diverse.
San Francisco is less than 2 hours to the north.
There are many forms of alternative healing modalities in this area.
UCSC is here but Santa Cruz is not a typical college town where the school overwhelms the community.
It is expensive here (it's the coast) and i can't address the job market issue.
Here's a link to S.C. Craigslist just so you can get a sense of the cost of rentals here.
santa cruz co apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist
Beware of scams (it's easy to spot them if you're local) but most adds are legit and you can get a idea of the cost of living here.
(and, i feel safe in saying that you do not want to live in Stockton ... Majin must be joking)

[Merl Elton]

Yes, do not consider Stockton, Oakland, Compton, etc.; if you are used to a quiet, middle class suburban life in Anytown, USA. These places have their nice areas; however, some have areas have very high crime rates and other social problems. You might want to put those places on a been there; done that list.

[Snort]

Stockton just needs a little sprucing up.

[Hawk J]

I used to do a lot of fishin' & booniedockin' camping around Stockton.

The Delta.
Lake Camanche south shore.
Delta/Mendota canal from Tracy to Firebaugh.
California Aquaduct.



Outside Stockton, Grantline Road is a shortcut to hwy 50 to Lake Tahoe.