Perfect Beach town in California (Irvine, San Clemente: utilities, taxes, live in)

[Linzo]

If you can stand some more advice, I am an ex-Calif and have lived in San Luis Obispo, Montery & Santa Monica. Personally I would stay away from So Calif and look further north. How about Pismo Beach or Arroyo Grande near SLO or the Santa Cruz area is delightful. Monterey is wonderful but also pricey. Good luck to you.

[Coldjensens]

Laguna Beach may fit yuo perfectly except the price. You might be abel to share a bedroom for that price.

[orythedog]

So, let me get this straight: You have no degree, no job lined up and don't know anyone out here? And...you want to live in a beachside community where everything is in walking distance in one of the most expensive areas of the United States. This board cracks me up sometimes...

[ocexpo]

La Jolla is to die for at sunset. Totally picturesque.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Aimee11

Ok i have read TONS of posts on moving to California and have been learning the pros and cons and learning about a BUNCH of different beach towns trying to figure out my "dream beach town". It's really time for me to narrow my search down and i really need some help! Maybe my ideal beach town doesn't exist in Cali maybe it does, i dunno. So i need some help.....I'm a 26 year old female looking for a job and apartment in a very small, safe beachtown that has pretty much everything within walking distance(i won't have a car for awhile)-is that possible anywhere in California? I'm still in school so i don't have a degree yet(working on a business degree), and most my work experience is in hospitality/sales/entertainment. Is it possible for me to get a job without a degree that i could realistically live off of?? But i am looking for a roomate because i'm not counting on being able to. I don't want to live in a bad neighborhood. I'm looking for a place artsy and laidback, with a lot of young people. I'm looking for more unique shops, cafes,stores and restaurants than corporate chains, but a target would be nice, since i shop there all the time but it's not necessary. As long as i can easily get to a store for my basic essentials and basics like a bank, pharmacy, and doctors office nearby. I'm into yoga, bellydancing, acting, modeling, and music for hobbies, so if there are places i could practice those or take a class with other like minds that would be great. I like going to the movies and bookstores/library on occasion, and love hiking, biking, and tennis as well. I'm not big into bar hopping but would like a couple cool places to go to on occasion. And i REALLY don't want to live somewhere where everythting closes at 8. I'd prefer Southern California because i do act and model and think it would be easier to find jobs doing that there sometimes, but i think i'd love northern California as well, for other reasons, so i'm open to anywhere. I'm hoping to be lead to the perfect beach town for me. I've visited San Diego and Long Beach before. I loved Seal Beach and have heard many good things about it on the forums, but don't know exactly if it's for me. Is it possible to get rent $900 or lower for a 2 bedroom apt there? Is there a lot of jobs right in Seal beach and could i get to most things on foot or bike there? And is seal beach a safe place for a single female to be living and working and walking around by herself? And if anyone knows of a beach town that sounds like what i'm looking for please let me know! I am basically starting from scratch but i really want to do this! I want to be well prepared and i will be, i just want to narrow my options down to atleast 3 places. Please help! Thanks so much!!!

I would also check out Ocean Beach, Pacific Beach, and Mission Beach in San Diego. PB/MB are more expensive and kind of party beach towns. But I think Ocean Beach seems your style. It's funky, artsy, hippieish, liberal, ect.... Few chains but right next to OB is the Sports Arena area which is filled with every chain store you could need; Target, several grocery stores, Home Depot, ect.... But in OB itself there are nice little local cafes, restaurants, bars, ect... $900 wont get you a 2 bedroom but will get you are studio or one bedroom. Roomates are cheaper of course. San Diego overall is cheaper than LA or Orange County so i'd check that area out.

[ArthursChoice]

Originally Posted by orythedog

So, let me get this straight: You have no degree, no job lined up and don't know anyone out here? And...you want to live in a beachside community where everything is in walking distance in one of the most expensive areas of the United States. This board cracks me up sometimes...

ahhh lol, let em dream. :-)

[Aimee11]

Originally Posted by orythedog

So, let me get this straight: You have no degree, no job lined up and don't know anyone out here? And...you want to live in a beachside community where everything is in walking distance in one of the most expensive areas of the United States. This board cracks me up sometimes...

Don't waste my time and bother posting if your an idiot, like you are! This is an old post and i've been educating myself a lot and my plans have changed a bit, but i am still moving to CA and still moving to a beachtown. There is craigslist with lists of jobs and a responsible person knows they need a job to live in a place. I'll probably be working for Green peace, which is IN Santa Monica. I've been saving money and planning for a long time now, i'm a pretty practical person with lots of common sense! Your town isn't the only place in the country that you have to work and make rent on time. Don't talk to me like i am stupid, i have been on my own long enough to know how to work and take care of myself and pay my bills. You are not more capable than anyone else. I do know people out there but am not going to be living with them. I am going to have a roomate maybe 2. Unlike you, who appears to have the charm of a dead animal, i actually know how to network and make friends. I've done really well up till now. Now if you don't want to help me, why would u even post THAT?!!! Why are you even on here?!! To say condescending things to people, to make yourself feel smart???

I'm in school to GET a degree! I WORK to make money and thats exactly what i'm going to do there! If no one could make it out there, so many people wouldn't be there! Don't worry about me(not that u really do), i'm not going to be homeless! There are pros and cons everywhere. I live in a very depressed area where jobs don't come easy and pay sucks, but i still live good, because i know how to make it work! My situation will be different there and i'll make it work too!!! Maybe you can't live how u want in an apartment with some roomates in a beachtown thats near your work, but i can. And i know other people doing it! Obviously my rent will be higher than $900 but thats fine with sharing a small space with a roomate or 2. Human beings move ALL the time, what makes my situation so different???? I know how to get jobs, keep jobs, to plan, save money and network. I have a car and i'm going to be visting in a couple months, what else do u think i should be doing??? You live there, so i really am not too worried about me. As much as i like Southern Cal i wouldn't move there if i wasn't so involved in the entertainment industry, but i am so i'm going to do it and make a go of it and enjoy my life while i'm there. I might stay 1-2 years maybe permanently, we'll see. But i've lived in the same area my whole life, up till now, and if i want to move somewhere, anywhere, i am well capable of doing that and adjusting to new places. I've traveled enough to know not every area is the same. I am the type of person that accomplishes "unrealistic" things, and i don't even include me moving to to CA to be one of them! Thats a more practical goal of mine! And i've never been rich or just handed things and i've still been able to have and do what i wanted. Maybe you couldn't do it, but don't judge me based on your capabilities! I'm an adult not an irresponsible teenager! If other people are ok with you talking down to them, then go do it to them! I'm not ok with it in person or online. And would say exactly the same thing to you if u said it to my face, which u probably wouldn't.

[Aimee11]

Originally Posted by lifeasisrael

ahhh lol, let em dream. :-)

READ my last post! I'd say the same thing to you!!! You also would not say that to my face, so why are you saying it here??? Don't waste my time! How are others managing, if it's so impossible??? The only REASON i haven't already done it, is because my boyfriend and i got a puppy and i wanted to wait until she is older before i leave. I'm not going to "line up" a job a year in advance, i don't even think that i COULD do that! Alright, i'm not going to waste a second more of my time on such low grade people.

[_Charles_]

I just to want to be sure I'm reading this thread correctly:

Someone plans to live in southern Cal with no car.
They also plan to live near the beach and have everything including their job within walking distance?

And all of this on a salary from a non profit like Green Peace?

Well as the song goes All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey....California dreamin'......

[Aimee11]

Originally Posted by _Charles_

I just to want to be sure I'm reading this thread correctly:

Someone plans to live in southern Cal with no car.
They also plan to live near the beach and have everything including their job within walking distance?

And all of this on a salary from a non profit like Green Peace?

Well as the song goes All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey....California dreamin'......

Please quit bothering me. The job i'm looking into makes 12 dollars an hour and i've researched it. I'm not expecting to be an executive at this point in my life, while still working on my degree. I'm not certain that is exactly what i am going to do, but it IS an option. And with one or 2 roomates in a studio or rented room space, it's doable. I know someone who make less than that and lives with someone in SM. So whats your point??? Did you not read my last 2 posts??? Do you want me to tell you off too??? Leave me alone and don't bother responding to me again. If you want to be helpful, then do it, if not don't waste my or your time! You apparently have no life outside of this board!