Should I move to California? (Los Angeles, Orange: unemployment, school, university)

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I guess those of us in Ventura County are even more so than LA county. I never knew that. Nice list.

[LizzyNola]

Originally Posted by locoindio

I'm a musician and considering moving to California from the South. Is it really as snobby as people say it is? And what parts of California are the least image-conscious and more about substance?

No, I would not come here if I were you.

We are waaaaaaaaaay to snobby, and in fact we already have waaaaaaaaaaay too many struggling musicians, and don't need anymore to take up space.

Try someplace else~

[BayAreaHillbilly]

The Bay Area is the worst of both worlds. Outside of the "bohemian" subculture (which also obviously exists in the Southland as well), and the underclass, what I note is image consciousness about degree / pedigree / etc (due to the Ivy League / Back East carpetbagger culture inclusive of natives who're traitors and have "gone over") plus, as well, image consciousness about car / clothes / physique / home decoration / outdoor kitchen / pool / "artistic" landscaping.

[urnotashley]

im 20 yrs old and have a 15 mnth baby and am also married we currently live in miami fl we want to move to cali somewhere safe and we pay 850 for a one bedroom apt here would it be the same there? we want something near the beach but mostly want to live in the woods or by mountains where could this be...? we need all the help we can get

[Charles]

Originally Posted by urnotashley

im 20 yrs old and have a 15 mnth baby and am also married we currently live in miami fl we want to move to cali somewhere safe and we pay 850 for a one bedroom apt here would it be the same there? we want something near the beach but mostly want to live in the woods or by mountains where could this be...? we need all the help we can get

Assuming you are the baby's mother, What line of work is the baby's father in? (Your husband, right?)
Where is he going to work?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by urnotashley

im 20 yrs old and have a 15 mnth baby and am also married we currently live in miami fl we want to move to cali somewhere safe and we pay 850 for a one bedroom apt here would it be the same there? we want something near the beach but mostly want to live in the woods or by mountains where could this be...? we need all the help we can get

My questions are similar to what Charles is asking? What will you do for a living? I don't know know too many places that woudl be in the woods, and on the ocean or even near the ocean. Woods and mountains are in one direction, the ocean in another. Are you aware of the unemployment rate in California? With a young child, if your husband has a job, I would suggest you stay where you are. If he doesn't you may want to look into a few other states, but no matter where you choose, the economy isn't strong.

I think the first thing you need to do is either use the computer to do research about California, the geography of the state and check rentors.com for prices on apartments. I would think a 1 bedroom would be pretty crowded with a toddler.

Nita

[sarahkate_m]

Originally Posted by US-Traveller

I think Greater Los Angeles and much of Orange County has a reputation for being very image concious, but from my experience Greater Los Angeles is no more image concious than other more affluent areas of other major cities like Chicago or Atlanta.

I think in general the Bay Area is less status or image concious. It has a similar "social feel" to Greater Boston. People are very concerned about where you got your degree as supposed to what car you drive and how much is in your checking account. I think it depends on what you feel is more tolerable.

Interesting comparison: Bay Area/Boston. The cost of living is astronomical in the Bay Area, though. I'd love to live in Boston, if I could. To replicate that by living in the Bay Area would even be better. Except I can't afford SF nor do I want to live on the east coast.

I grew up in LA & currently live in Oregon. I think Oregon is way more laid back than LA. If you just drive through Oregon, you might not get that impression. But if you lived here, you'd see what I mean. It's like the '70's here in many respects.

Couples walk down the street holding hands. People make eye contact & smile. People SMILE while they're driving! At fast food drive throughs, it's not uncommon for the person on the other side of the microphone to first say "hi, how are you?" in a sincerely friendly voice! Friendliness rules here in Eugene. I love it.

Men & boys don't have their guards up with an old gal like me. They are relaxed & smile & make small talk easily. Women are more friendly than I remember in CA, too. Appearances aren't a big deal here.

From my experience, having moved away from LA, I'd say LA is pretty uptight. I worked in retail pharmacy for years in CA. Here in OR the customers are much more relaxed & panic less at the counter when they don't get their way.

Parents I've observed here tend to be more relaxed with their children & hold the kids' hands & smile at them more than I remember in CA.

My worst experience with the general public, as a retail servant, was in Manhattan Beach, CA. Those people are just so reactive & easily angered, because they seem to have so much stress. The best I observed & experienced in CA was in Escondido, where there was more of a retiree clientele & they were pretty kicked back. When I worked in Temecula, the clientele were relocated OC'ers, LA'ers & SD'ers - they were pretty uptight & their kids were ultra uptight.

More antidepressants, sedatives & sleep medications goin' out the door in LA & Temecula than anywhere else I ever worked.

[stuffavail]

Is LA snobby? Nah!
Having been born and raised here, and having lived for 11 years in the South, it just depends on who you hang out with.

You will make your own friends. Don't pick snobby ones. Most of all, don't let anyone disuade you from following your dream.

People in the arts here are a vital part of the community. We love our dancers, actors, musicians, voice overs, sculptors, painters, etc.

[sarahkate_m]

locoindio, i think you would love to visit Arcata.

[RobE]

Originally Posted by locoindio

I'm a musician and considering moving to California from the South. Is it really as snobby as people say it is? And what parts of California are the least image-conscious and more about substance?

So let me see if I get this straight: you are a MUSICIAN, an image driven business, and you are concerned about not living in a place where folks are image conscious? Sorry, but if you're going to me a muso in CA you will also have to be concerned with your image as part of how you sell yourself to an audience (or even to bands who you might want to play with).

It appears to me that you need much more of a plan as to how you will approach not just living in SoCal, but how you will live and market yourself.

Look into apartments in Hollywood or Silverlake. You will also need a car and insurance, which is expensive. And then hustle your butt off.