TX or CA or...? (living, best, cost, state)

[greenblue]

I'm in my twenties, female. I'm looking for a job (full time; I'm currently a freelance technical/medical writer/web developer) but am flexible as to the location. I have some semi-strange requirements maybe but am hoping I can get some insight as to where to start to narrow my search.

I have family in TX and really liked the LA area when I visited, so that's why TX and CA are on my list, but beyond that, ??? I have friends who say I should move to the Bay Area, but I have doubts.

I am...
-from Chicago (being in a big city is important to me)
-interested in public transportation although it's not a deal-breaker
-want somewhere more temperate (Chicago winters suck and I just realized that)
-not too liberal (I'm a big fan of voting in my tax bracket)
-I hate the humidity/heat as much as the cold it seems....Oh, right, I already put temperate on my list
-someone who has a revulsion for large insects (Ok, I can kill them, but I am a little nervous about living in the south because of this)
-looking for a permanent or contract job (am not opposed to moving around)
-wanting to apply to medical school in a few years (med school is much easier to get into in TX than CA I hear)
-need to take a couple premed prerequisites (ok, all of them) so being within earshot of a decent university would be great.
-need sunshine!
-want friendly, genuine people

The midwest is populated by people who are arrogant in the way they express their humility. I am so over that. It's a special breed of passive-aggressiveness and I don't like it and find it hard to understand/read.

Should I just move somewhere and then try and find a job, because it seems less likely I'd be able to get something so far away? There are suddenly WAY too many options.

I'm into my bike and I need some new friends, but I have an aversion to bars and concerts--I really could care less about either. I want a good medical library (I told you I had weird requirements). I'm educated-ish and have pretty good skills (BA + all but thesis on a Master's...finishing that now in my spare (ha) time...) and have 6+ years of editing and writing experience. I have a bike and a car and a dog. I'd give up the car if necessary although if I have a contract job I might keep it in case my next location is not so hot. I'm financially stable (currently freelancing but it's lonely sometimes; I would love to be in a new city and have different coworkers (my dog doesn't count) so I can mix it up a little).

Ideas, suggestions, advice?

I love:
-the LA flower market
-the Norton-Simon museum in Pasadena
-the Art Institute of Chicago
-Nordstrom's
-bike friendly places
-occasional rainstorms
-public transport
-golf

I'm also pretty practical/pragmatic when it comes to money, so I want to feel like the place I'm ending up in is "worth it" if that makes any sense.

Thanks in advance!

[californio sur]

You have a very thorough criteria that I think can be accommodated in both Texas and California. The other variables such as cost of living and school admission may need to be strongly considered. Aside from "bugs" and "humidity" Texas may be a good fit. But if single-life excitement is a priority than I would go with California.

[OyCrumbler]

I think with all your requirements, I would move to somewhere close to a mass transit stop in Los Angeles. It is cheaper than the Bay Area in general, but more expensive than places in Texas. It has two specific things that you want and fulfills almost every requirement on your list save for the occasional rainstorm (VERY occasional in Los Angeles) and perhaps the job. Look for the job first if you can, and hope you find one that is close to mass transit.

[justme02]

It sounds like the Bay Area in California would be your best fit. However, it is very expensive so you would have to be able to afford it.

[greenblue]

justme02-I forgot to add, where I live is a little more expensive than SF for housing, more expensive for utilities, and less expensive for groceries, so I think it balances out to be about the same in SF vs where I currently am.

What makes you think the Bay Area would be a good fit?

[DANNYY]

Originally Posted by greenblue

justme02-I forgot to add, where I live is a little more expensive than SF for housing, more expensive for utilities, and less expensive for groceries, so I think it balances out to be about the same in SF vs where I currently am.

What makes you think the Bay Area would be a good fit?

Well to be frank, and to put it soundly, the mass transit in both states sucks with the exception of the Bay Area which utilizes more Mixed Use Development along the lines of the mass transportation systems.

You are coming from Chicago, I can relate, its where I am from. And you prefer a big city atmosphere. Yes Los Angeles, Houston, & Dallas are big cities. But I know you're talking about a more cohesive dense atmosphere and in which case I strongly suggest San Francisco with the rest of it's Bay Area.

San Francisco actually has the healthiest economy in California right now, please take advantage of that opportunity, but I would suggest applying to jobs there before making any actual moves.

And to all your criteria the Bay Area most certainly meets 99% of them.

You can do all of the following there:
-the LA flower market
-the Norton-Simon museum in Pasadena
-the Art Institute of Chicago
-Nordstrom's
-bike friendly places
-occasional rainstorms
-public transport
-golf

You can find all of them to be in San Francisco & Bay Area. And if you ever decide you want a more spacious area to live and a not so dense city, South Bay with San Jose which is apart of the Bay Area will offer you with a more spacious lifestyle and a tad bit more affordable too as compared to San Francisco.

San Francisco is the most walkable city in the country, it is one of the most bike friendly cities in the country, and you will find any kind of upscale shopping there as much as possible. There isn't an Art Institute of Chicago there, but San Francisco is known to be a big advocate on arts and trendy things. Museums, Art Galleries, Theaters, Symphonies, & the likes are in abundance in San Francisco.

With reliable public transportation and a lot of walkable destinations. It almost meets your criteria by the full 100%.

[MikeandIke27]

I would say California

[choosing78]

Out of the 2 I would say CA. you should also consider Denver, Colorado.

• great public transportation
• yes there'll be snow/cold but nothing like Chicago. It's been high 50s/60s all this week
• little to no humidity
• one of the sunniest places in the country
• medical school
• very bike friendly. one of the best places to live for biking.
• great museums and one of the largest performing arts centers in the world.

[greenblue]

I hate Denver, sorry, so it's not an option. Thanks for your input otherwise.

[grapico]

Originally Posted by greenblue

justme02-I forgot to add, where I live is a little more expensive than SF for housing, more expensive for utilities, and less expensive for groceries, so I think it balances out to be about the same in SF vs where I currently am.

What makes you think the Bay Area would be a good fit?

so you are in NYC currently?

If you go to Bay Area and want med school, if you already have a degree, and going back for the prereqs, you have about a 1% chance of getting into UCSF or Stanford. they are both top 10 med schools. With your track record, no offense, but I would be willing to bet it is just not happening. Just don't want to see somebody move with big hopes and dreams to have them unnecessarily crushed b/c they didn't plan it out wisely.

You might want to look more at LA Area... it gives you UCLA, USC, UC Irvine right there... And if you want to move a tad, you still have UCSD... All of which are easier to get into than Stanford or UCSF. UCSF competing with Harvard/Johns Hopkins/Columbia as the 4/5th ranked med school in the U.S. and Stanford with Cornell/Yale... certainly no slouch.

Your best chance of getting in anywhere is USC as they are private and would love to take your $, might favor more life exp, more so than the UC's which are extremely competitive and more egalitarian, better have a 3.9/4.0 GPA. If you want to go the UC route your best shot is probably Irvine.