I would appriciate help seeing if SD will be right for me! (San Diego: low income, real estate)

[Tamberine]

Hello!
I live in Gainesville FL right now and I'm trying to decide if a move to SD will be a good idea or one of my many failed ones.

I will be visiting there soon... but am aware of my flightyness and tendancy to get really excited about anything and jump in head first. If I could get some feedback from people that know the city in a more passionate way I would be really happy.

I currently work as an herbalist assistant and am kind of nervous because I havn't been able to find any other like minded shops via crousing the interweb. I know CA is natorious for being the healthy happy granola crunchy capitol of the world and i feel like i havn't found any granola. This saddens me, but i am also sure that I suck at internet hunting.

Also I am a single female and I was wondering how other mid 20's gals feel about living in the city by themselves. I am not one to ever allow fear into my heart or have the anticipation of ill will, but I think it would be smart to figure out how other ladys feel.

From what I have seen Golden Hill seems like a pretty rocking place. Any thoughts? Is it just for junkies pretending to be artistic or is it really fun?

I lived in south florida (above miami... thank god) so i am use to being able to swim at the beach with the only fear being sharks and other big scarys. Are the beaches down there clean and healthy or do i have to watch out for syringes and broken bottles (like miami). Can I sit and meditate without tourists in awkward yellow speedos jammed so close i can hear the slopping of their sun screen?

I ride a bike. I like to stay active so I sold my car and got a bike. Could I easily and safly continue this in SD?

Are people generaly open and friendly? I am nervous leaving a place where I have established a beautiful friend base to go somewhere were I'll have to eat alone. I could go on all the vegetarian web fourms or do something like that but im pretty awkward and trying to meet people over the internet would be too much for me. I like to be friendly and talk to new people and it's really easy to do that in gainesville, but in west palm people have their head up their own butt and are always way too cool for school. I really wouldn't like to deal with that again.

aaaaaand the biggest thing of all. I heard that their is health care for people with low income. I am insulin dependant and not only can't afford it but can't get insurance without $20,000 streight up, or see a doctor without manditory $500+ dollars worth of tests. Is this healthcare system at least half assed? The one in my county woun't take me because they clasify it as disease controll (im pretty much a zombie). It would be awesome if someone who has/knows someone with Juvinile diabetes could let me know. Type two is easily covored, you can even get free meds from the grocery stores here so i put that in another catagory.

thanks for reading... if anyone made it down this far... haha

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by Tamberine

I currently work as an herbalist assistant and am kind of nervous because I havn't been able to find any other like minded shops via crousing the interweb. I know CA is natorious for being the healthy happy granola crunchy capitol of the world and i feel like i havn't found any granola. This saddens me, but i am also sure that I suck at internet hunting.

There are many alternative types of places. Whether any is hiring would be your more important hurdle. Don't come here with no job and not enough savings, or you'll find yourself in dire straits! The economy here is not yet anywhere near "recovered".

Also I am a single female and I was wondering how other mid 20's gals feel about living in the city by themselves. I am not one to ever allow fear into my heart or have the anticipation of ill will, but I think it would be smart to figure out how other ladys feel.

Compared to Miami (or Chicago, where I'm from) there's nothing to fear here.

From what I have seen Golden Hill seems like a pretty rocking place. Any thoughts? Is it just for junkies pretending to be artistic or is it really fun?

It seems to be up-and-coming. It's right next to the area that holds many homeless shelters and other such aid agencies, so there are many questionable people hanging around. But again, this problem is mild compared to big-city issues.

I lived in south florida (above miami... thank god) so i am use to being able to swim at the beach with the only fear being sharks and other big scarys. Are the beaches down there clean and healthy or do i have to watch out for syringes and broken bottles (like miami). Can I sit and meditate without tourists in awkward yellow speedos jammed so close i can hear the slopping of their sun screen?

The water here is cold, compared to Florida. Maybe during July/August it would be warm enough to swim, but probably would be uncomfortable during other months. The beaches here are pretty clean, except down near Tijuana (their sewage system isn't wonderful). The first day or so after rain, the water here isn't healthy to swim in due to runoff getting into the oceans. Beaches here are crowded on holidays, but otherwise not too bad.

I ride a bike. I like to stay active so I sold my car and got a bike. Could I easily and safly continue this in SD?

We certainly have bike weather, year-round (except maybe when it rains). You might have to avoid some areas that aren't bike-friendly (heavy traffic, horrible or no bike lanes) but otherwise biking is quite do-able.

Are people generaly open and friendly? I am nervous leaving a place where I have established a beautiful friend base to go somewhere were I'll have to eat alone. I could go on all the vegetarian web fourms or do something like that but im pretty awkward and trying to meet people over the internet would be too much for me. I like to be friendly and talk to new people and it's really easy to do that in gainesville, but in west palm people have their head up their own butt and are always way too cool for school. I really wouldn't like to deal with that again.

I'm not that sociable myself, but I've heard others on here complain that people here are difficult to get to know. That might be snobbery, or might just be transiency.

aaaaaand the biggest thing of all. I heard that their is health care for people with low income. I am insulin dependant and not only can't afford it but can't get insurance without $20,000 streight up, or see a doctor without manditory $500+ dollars worth of tests. Is this healthcare system at least half assed? The one in my county woun't take me because they clasify it as disease controll (im pretty much a zombie). It would be awesome if someone who has/knows someone with Juvinile diabetes could let me know. Type two is easily covored, you can even get free meds from the grocery stores here so i put that in another catagory.

I know that there are programs for kids. For adults, I've not heard of any such arrangement. But then, I haven't been looking for it.

thanks for reading... if anyone made it down this far... haha

Kudos to you for being careful enough to look before you leap. Good luck!

[tonyinsd]

I would check out whether or not you can get public assistance for your health issues before you do anything. Going without insurance and having a serious medical condition like you have is not a good combination to say the least.

People here are pretty friendly and open so meeting people shouldn't be a problem. However, given your constraints, you really need to do your research first.

Good luck to you.

[Tamberine]

Thank you so much! I really am thankful of how much of an effort you put into responding!

as for the healthcare I have family there and they have told me about it. Fortunitly they are not in the economic state to qualify for any government programs so the details are not known to them. Also I have called enough places there to know what costs $264 in FL costs ~$60 there. Our gov rick scott has his hand deep into the pockets of major drug companies. Regardless it would be a huge improvment.

insurance is impossible. Even when it was offered through my employers they found a loophole to dismiss me. Pretty much because I was diagnosed after falling into acoma they consider me high risk even though i have had perfect managment since.

I am personaly not worried about finding a job. I have worked steadily since it was legal for me to be working. Plus i live in a college town and there is nothing but the college and i can still rock out. I dont think the economy was ever good here.

[moved]

I am personaly not worried about finding a job. I have worked steadily since it was legal for me to be working. Plus i live in a college town and there is nothing but the college and i can still rock out. I dont think the economy was ever good here.

If you choose to move here without one, just make sure that you have a large savings to hold you over until/if you find one -every city is different. Just because you've worked steadily since it was legal, and live in a college town, doesn't guarantee you a job here.

[Tamberine]

definitly noted.

I am a massage therapist (graduated from top school in the us), a professional barista, herbalist, and becoming a realesate agent as soon as i get to CA to work for a company i have imidiate entry into. Getting a job is not something I'm stressed about. =)

[moved]

Like I said, and others will too...

Make sure you have a large savings before you come. You say that you have a guaranteed job here? What type of salary will you be making? The cost of living may also be higher than where you live now, so you'll still need to plan accordingly.

[AADAD]

Hundreds of real estate agents have gone under here recently. The ones who are surviving have umpteen years of professional experience,work day and night and have uber connections. I would recommend that you stay within your comfort zone. You sound a sensitive person. Real estate is more like roller derby these days elbows and all.

[MovingAloha]

Originally Posted by Tamberine

definitly noted.

I am a massage therapist (graduated from top school in the us), a professional barista, herbalist, and becoming a realesate agent as soon as i get to CA to work for a company i have imidiate entry into. Getting a job is not something I'm stressed about. =)

Have you checked to see if California has reciprocity with the state you're leaving. I've found that very few states accept a Real Estate license from another state, so that will have additional cost for school/classes leading to a license.

Good luck on your move.

[ace77]

It's great here.

I would avoid: National City, El Cajon East County San Diego, Mira Mesa and Linda Vista.