Sanctuary (San Diego, El Cajon, Santa Barbara: rentals, hotel, home)

[quest06320]

I currently live in NC by way of CT and PA. I want to move to San Diego before the spring of 2009. I do not come from an affluent family nor am I highly educated. I earn a living in the window washing/ pressure washing business, as well as lawn care. I only earn 50k but I am just starting. I visited your BEAUTIFUL city in 1994 and fell in love. It has always been my dream to comeback permanently to the only place that I ever felt happy. However, I hear it is incredibly expenses. But I figure you can struggle anywhere why not do it somewhere beautiful. Is there a market for my profession, and can a person find a very inexpensive weekly hotel or apt to live in upon arrival. And where can I put my profession to the best use. I know this is long and vague but any info would be appreciated no matter how meager. Thanx

[sunshine7793]

One thing to consider is that SD is an area with a large hispanic labor force. Perhaps you can utilize them to compete with other window washing and landscaping companies (legally I would hope). But if you plan to do the work yourself you will find that you are competing against very cheap labor (and hard workers for the most part). We have a second home in Colorado and were surprised to find when we first needed landscaping and other manal labor that it was being done by whites at appropriately higher wages. Not sure how it works where you are coming from but you need to think about how it works in CA.

[leighland]

You will be competing with a lot of legal and illegal immigrants who do the same job for dirt cheap/cash only. I think you would have a very difficult time in sd. But, you speak English so maybe you could become a supervisor really quick. I feel bad that this sounds like a putdown on immigrants- I really don't mean it to be, but reality speaking I could drive over to Panchos Supermarket on El Cajon Blvd and find a bunch of guys to do that work for practically free.

[kettlepot]

The previous two posters have laid out the reality quite accurately. I have relatives in the landscaping business in the Bay Area and had to inform them that if they moved to San Diego they would have to cut their rates nearly in half to compete for business. While San Diego is less expensive than the Bay Area it isn't THAT much cheaper, maybe 20% cheaper.

[Woof]

I believe there are fewer illegals now to compete with, because of the border fence and perhaps a little more difficulty for them getting jobs.

The cheapest decent place to start out that I know of would be the Peachtree Inn at 901 F st, they have little SROs (single room occupancies) that have a shower, there's tv with cable, and a microwave. They have weekly and monthly rentals.

[nobodyspecial08]

Originally Posted by quest06320

I currently live in NC by way of CT and PA. I want to move to San Diego before the spring of 2009. I do not come from an affluent family nor am I highly educated. I earn a living in the window washing/ pressure washing business, as well as lawn care. I only earn 50k but I am just starting. I visited your BEAUTIFUL city in 1994 and fell in love. It has always been my dream to comeback permanently to the only place that I ever felt happy. However, I hear it is incredibly expenses. But I figure you can struggle anywhere why not do it somewhere beautiful. Is there a market for my profession, and can a person find a very inexpensive weekly hotel or apt to live in upon arrival. And where can I put my profession to the best use. I know this is long and vague but any info would be appreciated no matter how meager. Thanx

If you have the drive and the determination I'm sure you will be able to achieve your goals. San Diego is a beautiful city indeed and although expensive is well well worth it. Your line of work is competitive to say the least but retain your integrity and I'm sure you'll make it!

[azadehbd]

Originally Posted by leighland

You will be competing with a lot of legal and illegal immigrants who do the same job for dirt cheap/cash only. I think you would have a very difficult time in sd. But, you speak English so maybe you could become a supervisor really quick. I feel bad that this sounds like a putdown on immigrants- I really don't mean it to be, but reality speaking I could drive over to Panchos Supermarket on El Cajon Blvd and find a bunch of guys to do that work for practically free.

Honestly, you may get a chance for superviser, but that would take you from earning $7.50 to $8.00, at least that has been my experience. I'm also having problems getting a job in a healthcare setting because I'm not fluent in Spanish. I would look farther north in CA. Try Santa Barbara County.

[kimmer]

Wow, quest06320,
you make more than I did when I was working a supposedly "professional" job...