Wanting to move within 1 year. (Jacksonville, St. Augustine: apartment, rent, health insurance)

[vanss3L]

Gosh I hope I"m posting in the right spot. I've never done this before. I'm hoping to move to St Augustine FL in about a year. I hope for this to be my last winter in Wisconsin. I've been to St Augustine area 3 times staying a week in a different condo each time. My daughter and granddaughter live about 1hr 45 min away from St Augustine. My question is, how?? It would probably be just me and right now I live check to check. I need a job that pays the rent for a small place for me to live. Do I move without a job lined up? Do I rent an apartment online? I need a full time job with benefits- I'm in my early 50's and cant imagine not having health insurance. I work full time now as a laboratory assistant at a hospital, for nearly 4 years supplementing my income with a very part time bartending/waitressing server job as well. 4 years ago I worked for a small printing company most of my adult life. It seems most of the jobs I see on line in the St Augustine area are jobs with a needed college degree. Does anyone have any input or suggestions? I really feel the need to move but need a plan for when I get there.

[mawipafl]

The usual advice is to have a job lined up, but that's difficult if you don't have a local address, and the Catch-22 is that landlords prefer a new tenant who has a job lined up or, better yet, is already employed.

Is there any way you could live with your daughter temporarily? That would give you a local address and allow you the time to look for work in the St. Augustine area.

[grayrunner]

A couple of things from what you mentioned. It would be much easier to work as a lab assistant in Jacksonville than St Augustine. It would be difficult to find supplemental work as a bartender in either city. Publix is usually hiring part time people though.
If all temporary housing options fail, it is possible to live in a big van year round and get a membership in a health club for a few dollars a month.

[vanss3L]

Thanks. Well, I just took another position at the hospital I work at, same department, the lab, but now I'm a "biller". I figure the more experience the better, I have almost 4 years in as a lab assistant, and I hope to get a year in medical billing before heading to Florida. Yes, Ive thought about Jacksonville, and if the right job came along I would surely consider it. I can't live with my daughter, she has a tiny house, 3 people living in it, (her family) and no extra bedroom. I'm not really looking for a bartending job, only stated that I do a bit of it now to supplement my income, however, I have it to fall back on if needed. I hear of people packing up and moving all the time, I just can't figure out how they do it!