Hey Gay Long Beach CA !!! (Palm Springs: foreclosed, renting, find a job)

[Bill.searching]

Any Gay Bloggers in Long Beach CA,

51 yo (middle aged but not dead at all) gay SINGLE male planning to move to Long Beach CA this fall ? Currently in the rust belt due to family illness/death -- Cant find professional employment here. Now Im ready to move on withy my life.

Researched lots in your area. I have lived many places in my life and know I dont want the seasons to EVER change ! There's only one for me.

Whats Gay Life there like ? I love a bar where everyone knows my name Single here Arts History Museums Ethnic food ?

I dont necessarily have to live in a gay ghetto - but want to feel accepted/comfortable whereever I go !

Any thoughts -- parts of the city ?

Would appreciate any response ! My pre move visit will be in mid Sept '09

CIAO

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Bill.searching

Researched lots in your area.

Why Long Beach?
Have you ever visited Southern California for an extended period (months)?
What line of work are you in?
Where will you be working?
Renting or buying? What do you expect your housing budget to be?

[Bill.searching]

thanks for your reply-- are you in Long Beach ? Yes I have traveled there many times but not for an extended period of time

My goal is to live in Long Beach CA but buy small foreclosed property in Palm Springs to prepare for my later years.

Im in healthcare-- I know it will be a problem my license has no reciprocity with CA -- but I am quite educated - great work ethic -- great attitude

Why So Cal ? Its got it all nearby mountains beach and desert !!!

Having lived in the Virgin Islands DC and Europe ? I want urban -=- walk bike -

Again -- arent you in Hunstville AL ?

[NaplesRes]

most of the gay community lives just north and east of downtown I think along broadway. could be wrong but that's what I hear.

to be clear, while there is a gay element in parts of LB, if you're looking for west hollywood you're not going to find it in LB.

[Bill.searching]

No way am I looking for WeHo !!!

Good god no ! Laid back here

I am looking for information on the friendly quotient not the FABULOUS quotient !

Middle aged here -- like bars but not all the time

Is it safe TO BE GAY ? Ive read where LB is very gay !

You know places in this country in the new millenium are still very homophobic !

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by Bill.searching

No way am I looking for WeHo !!!

Good god no ! Laid back here

I am looking for information on the friendly quotient not the FABULOUS quotient !

Middle aged here -- like bars but not all the time

Is it safe TO BE GAY ? Ive read where LB is very gay !

You know places in this country in the new millenium are still very homophobic !

In the good parts of LB (which is everything but central and parts of the north) it is safe to be anything. regarding being gay specifically, like I said there are parts that have a large gay contingent. I was just making clear that there are also many moderate, conservative, etc areas of Long Beach and while they are accepting of gays it's not like the gay scene dominates the city like it does in west hollywood.

In net, LB is a welcoming place.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Bill.searching

Any Gay Bloggers in Long Beach CA,

51 yo (middle aged but not dead at all) gay SINGLE male planning to move to Long Beach CA this fall ? Currently in the rust belt due to family illness/death -- Cant find professional employment here. Now Im ready to move on withy my life.

Researched lots in your area. I have lived many places in my life and know I dont want the seasons to EVER change ! There's only one for me.

Whats Gay Life there like ? I love a bar where everyone knows my name Single here Arts History Museums Ethnic food ?

I dont necessarily have to live in a gay ghetto - but want to feel accepted/comfortable whereever I go !

Any thoughts -- parts of the city ?

Would appreciate any response ! My pre move visit will be in mid Sept '09

CIAO

Bill, I can't answer you about the gay life in Long Beach, but have heard it is pretty good. My question? Why would you even consider coming to California is you can't get a job where you are? If you have done any research you must know the employment situation throughout the state?

Yes, there are great bars and ethnic foods and good weather, but it does change some...All this doesn't mean squat if you can't find a job...

Nita

[Bill.searching]

Temporarily moved to Cleveland (rustbelt) due to family illness/death -- 18 months -- cant find professional work here but now I am not looking because I am not staying There is a huge brain drain here -- the weather is awful too. My original plan 2 yrs ago was to go to CA ! I lived in the Virgin Is. (St Croix) working for a national health care company out of Boca Raton

So I am picking up where I left off Have 4 degrees social work and paralegal -
currently waiting tables !

My research tells me that the LA area does have some unemployment but less so than the rest of the state.

I think I can find something decent to live in for under $1000 Part of my plan is to buy in Palm Springs for eventual retirement

Thanks for your input -- Should I not find some work immediately Can always rely on waiting tables -- Any high end restaurants you'd recommend ?

[Bill.searching]

Oh and the state budget crisis has anhilated govt jobs here in Ohio So I see what can and will occur in CA with the same crisis

CA has the infrastructure and educated labor force to bounce back more than the rustbelt states

[AnUnidentifiedMale]

Originally Posted by Bill.searching

CA has the infrastructure and educated labor force to bounce back more than the rustbelt states

I hate to tell you this, but California now ranks 49th out of 50th in the percentage of adults over 25 with a high school diploma. Things have changed rapidly in this state. In the late 70s and early 80s, California was #1.

http://www.postsecondary.org/archive...attheEdge1.pdf (see page 3 for reference)