Don't know if it's right for me to move back to CA... any advice? (Los Angeles: house) - California - City-Data Forum

Preditor74 · 09-20-2009, 01:38 AM

I moved to California (Orange County) right after I graduated highschool eight years ago. I stayed there for about a year but ended up getting really homesick and moving back home (to Nebraska). I finished my undergrad there and decided I wanted to be back in a big city. I relocated to Chicago and have been here for almost two years.

I am getting the bug to move back to California though. I just finished a post undergrad creative advertising school and am now in search of a creative job at an ad agency. I know these are VERY hard to come by, but I think I may have a little more luck in CA than I would here in Chicago (CA has many big cities compared to just having Chicago here in IL).

If I did pack up and move back to California, I would definitely take on some serving jobs while I look for my "dream job." I have plenty of restaurant experience, so hopefully a good serving gig shouldn't be too hard to come by.

What do you think? Would it be a safe bet to move to California... or are there other things I should definitely consider that I am not looking at? Thanks!

nmnita · 09-20-2009, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Preditor74

I moved to California (Orange County) right after I graduated highschool eight years ago. I stayed there for about a year but ended up getting really homesick and moving back home (to Nebraska). I finished my undergrad there and decided I wanted to be back in a big city. I relocated to Chicago and have been here for almost two years.

I am getting the bug to move back to California though. I just finished a post undergrad creative advertising school and am now in search of a creative job at an ad agency. I know these are VERY hard to come by, but I think I may have a little more luck in CA than I would here in Chicago (CA has many big cities compared to just having Chicago here in IL).

If I did pack up and move back to California, I would definitely take on some serving jobs while I look for my "dream job." I have plenty of restaurant experience, so hopefully a good serving gig shouldn't be too hard to come by.

What do you think? Would it be a safe bet to move to California... or are there other things I should definitely consider that I am not looking at? Thanks!

What is the unemployment rate in Ca? Have you been following the weekly reports? In a good market maybe things would be different, but right now, you would be lucky to get a job at Micky Ds? There are young and older people on here every week with years of experience in the restaurant business as well as bar tending that can not find jobs in Calif.

Sorry if this sounds like a negative reply, but it is truthful at least. Now, if you have about $10,000 set aside maybe you could swing it.

Nita

Bunny Foofoo · 09-20-2009, 07:45 AM

Being born and raised in So CA . I wanna move to a small town . Im sick of
Los Angeles and the smog . The grass is always greener so it seems

uptown_urbanist · 09-20-2009, 08:43 AM

I think you might have better luck in Chicago. Lower unemployment numbers, plus you have a local address and, I assume, contacts. Might as well apply for jobs in both places, though, and see what happens. I don't think it's a "safe bet" to move to California right now, no.

jc76 · 09-20-2009, 06:13 PM

The whole "Grass is greener" thing is such a downer. People move, people change cars, people buy different types of clothing all for one reason: A CHANGE! Could you imagine not trying new things simply because you live by the grass isn't greener rule? Sorry but this is one of those old sayings that is ignorant and full of gloom. On a January day when we are all stuck in snow and it's negative 20 and your nasal passages freeze, I would say the grass is for sure a hell of alot greener in California!
I think if someone ANYONE wants to move ANYWHERE, and they have enough money saved up and not afraid to work hard, they should do it. Facts are facts, the CA economy is in shambles, as is the rest of the country. If you wait around for CA's economy to "pick up" you are wasting away the best years of your life. Take a chance and do it, but realize it's a risk. Once our home sells and I get my cut I'll be in a UHaul with a one-way road map to Southern California. Life is short keep the dream alive.

nmnita · 09-20-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc76

The whole "Grass is greener" thing is such a downer. People move, people change cars, people buy different types of clothing all for one reason: A CHANGE! Could you imagine not trying new things simply because you live by the grass isn't greener rule? Sorry but this is one of those old sayings that is ignorant and full of gloom. On a January day when we are all stuck in snow and it's negative 20 and your nasal passages freeze, I would say the grass is for sure a hell of alot greener in California!
I think if someone ANYONE wants to move ANYWHERE, and they have enough money saved up and not afraid to work hard, they should do it. Facts are facts, the CA economy is in shambles, as is the rest of the country. If you wait around for CA's economy to "pick up" you are wasting away the best years of your life. Take a chance and do it, but realize it's a risk. Once our home sells and I get my cut I'll be in a UHaul with a one-way road map to Southern California. Life is short keep the dream alive.

you said it yourself: if you have the money. When your house sells, you will have money, but for anyone to move anywhere, especially right now with little or no money and no job is insane!!! You know that!!! Many people are not afraid to work hard but there has to be jobs to for people to work hard.

Nita

uptown_urbanist · 09-20-2009, 07:11 PM

I agree; it's the "if you have the money" thing that's the problem. I'm all in favor of making changes and taking risks (and have done so myself in the past), but the reality is that California's economy is worse than most of the country (in other words, it's not "just like the rest of the country"). If you have some savings and can run the risk of a significant amount of time of unemployment then maybe it's worth making the move; otherwise the OP might still choose to move, but needs to realize that it's going to be tough, very tough.

And as far as jobs for people who are willing to work hard, I know plenty of people in California (in multiple cities) who are more than willing to work hard but are still having trouble finding jobs.

The OP wanted to know if it's a "safe bet" to move to CA right now; no, it's not, at least not without a job lined up. It's a gamble, but unlike just a couple of years ago the odds are no longer in even the most ambitious jobseeker's favor, and people should at least know what they're risking before they pack up and make a move without a job.

FresnoFacts · 09-20-2009, 07:12 PM

Nita is exactly right. Now is not the time for someone with no resources, no support system, or no professional network to move to California.

If there are funds to live on for 6 to 12 months or more, yes try it.

But when someone expects to find a low level job to live on after they get here, well that sends up red flags. Too many others are competing for those same jobs these days.