Here's my story: Ohio to Cali (San Diego, El Cajon: rent, health insurance, house)

[OH619Dreamin]

I just wanted to get some opinions on my wanting to move to the Alpine/ El Cajon/ La Mesa area. I am 31 yrs old, married, and have 3 kids (ages 10, 7, 3). I work at an auto factory in Ohio and make about 60,000 a year. My employer may be offering another round of buyouts which I may take IF I can sell my house. The last round of buyouts equaled out to be about 2,000 cash a month after taxes for a year and about 20,000 cash after taxes. I figure this would be enough to get rent and health insurance for a year in the Alpine area. I also would come with no less than 20,000 cash to pay bills and tide us over until my wife and I can find jobs (I know gonna be hard).
The reason I'm thinking about the Alpine area is that my sis lives in Santee, my 2 step sisters live in Alpine, and my dad and step mom live in El Cajon. My family has lived in CA for about 25 yrs after my mom and dad got divorced. My reason for wanting to move is of course the OH weather, the fact that everything you could ever imagine to do is an hour away in SoCal, and to spend some time with my dad before its too late.

My plan is all in the early stages as of right now but we did just put our house on the market and wanted to get some input...........so please go ahead and fire away. BTW we just got back from SD about 2 weeks ago and you guys who live there just don't know how good you have it, don't take it for granted.

[steel7]

San Diego sure is nice. Some yrs back i had a chance to live in El Cajon but i turned it down. I regret it to this day.

[OH619Dreamin]

Do I wanna regret not moving 10 yrs from now when it's too late.

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by OH619Dreamin

I just wanted to get some opinions on my wanting to move to the Alpine/ El Cajon/ La Mesa area. I am 31 yrs old, married, and have 3 kids (ages 10, 7, 3). I work at an auto factory in Ohio and make about 60,000 a year. My employer may be offering another round of buyouts which I may take IF I can sell my house. The last round of buyouts equaled out to be about 2,000 cash a month after taxes for a year and about 20,000 cash after taxes. I figure this would be enough to get rent and health insurance for a year in the Alpine area. I also would come with no less than 20,000 cash to pay bills and tide us over until my wife and I can find jobs (I know gonna be hard).
The reason I'm thinking about the Alpine area is that my sis lives in Santee, my 2 step sisters live in Alpine, and my dad and step mom live in El Cajon. My family has lived in CA for about 25 yrs after my mom and dad got divorced. My reason for wanting to move is of course the OH weather, the fact that everything you could ever imagine to do is an hour away in SoCal, and to spend some time with my dad before its too late.

My plan is all in the early stages as of right now but we did just put our house on the market and wanted to get some input...........so please go ahead and fire away. BTW we just got back from SD about 2 weeks ago and you guys who live there just don't know how good you have it, don't take it for granted.

Honestly, it sounds like you have a good gameplan in place for the move. You'll have some steady money coming in with the buyout to help get you on your feet out here, and you'll have family nearby, which is huge. We hear from a lot of people here who say "I want to pick up and move to San Diego with the clothes on my back and a dream," so at least it appears you've thought it through. Now, can you sell your house, seems to be the lynch pin.

[steel7]

My chance came in 1989. It was much different then. Now i couldnt afford to live there. Keep in mind the state is going to get you big time on dmv fees & smog. They are thieves !

[coffeelovr]

I'm a native Californian and I moved to WI almost 6 years ago to live with my new husband (he's a WI native). Though I thought things through and planned for a year, I was amazed at how few jobs WI had, even in the larger cities - even before the economy went south! And the type of jobs were not very diverse. Hence, I became a homemaker before I wanted to! And the weather is very very, very cold!!!!!!!!! It's pretty in the Summer (very green) and I loved the cheese and pastries, but if Ohio is anything like WI, then you might wait a long time before getting another job if you stay in Ohio! My husband and I are currently trying to also move back to CA. I hope everything works out for your family! Best wishes to you...

By the way, I agree with you: CA is really an amazing place: Deserts, beaches, mountains, forests, valleys; etc. CA is not a perfect place (I know that cuz I lived there for many years); however, nothing against WI, but I have to say I appreciate CA even more now that I've lived in the Upper Midwest!

[NYSD1995]

You got 20k and family and friends. You're in better shape than 90% of people who move here. Just a heads up Alpine has become very expensive. Good luck.

[Kasey77]

I am from Ohio and have lived many years in Pine Valley (near Alpine). My only negative about being here is not having family here. I think you will love it!

[mysticaltyger]

The one concern that no one has addressed is...what are you both qualified to do? You're not gonig to make 60K per year in San Diego (or anywhere) without a college degree (unless you have your own business or some specialized skill). It's possible it will take 2 of you working full time to make that 60K (maybe a little more) income you had on one income in Ohio. And as you well know, the cost of living here is much, much, higher.

Do you pan on owning a home? Do you plan on living rent free or nearly so with relatives for quite a while?

20K is going to go very quickly, especially with 3 kids.

I know having family in the area could make a big difference. But living in SD for those with families is tough, and that's for those with college degrees, let alone those who don't (I'm assuming you don't but please correct me if I'm wrong).

[OH619Dreamin]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

The one concern that no one has addressed is...what are you both qualified to do? You're not gonig to make 60K per year in San Diego (or anywhere) without a college degree (unless you have your own business or some specialized skill). It's possible it will take 2 of you working full time to make that 60K (maybe a little more) income you had on one income in Ohio. And as you well know, the cost of living here is much, much, higher.

Do you pan on owning a home? Do you plan on living rent free or nearly so with relatives for quite a while?

20K is going to go very quickly, especially with 3 kids.

I know having family in the area could make a big difference. But living in SD for those with families is tough, and that's for those with college degrees, let alone those who don't (I'm assuming you don't but please correct me if I'm wrong).

Thank you, that's the reason I put my current salary and job on the OP. This is one of my top worries about moving to SD, along with leaving family in Ohio and the lack of family on my wifes side in SD. Neither myself or my wife have any sort of special skill or a college education. She will be starting nursing school next month and IF my employer offers the second round of buyouts and we move shortly we both hope to carry on her schooling in SD. I've read a few jobs on Craigslist were I think I could make a decent living in SD (starting pay 14.50 for towlift drivers at a warehouse was one) and my wife has some waitress experience she could use to help make ends meet (Vejas Casino had alot of ads on craigslist). I don't expect to live the same lifestyle I do here in Ohio because of the higher cost of living (nice thing is walking around Balboa park and hanging at PB doesn't cost a dime) but I also don't want to move to the ghetto after my buyout money runs out after a year either. But this is one of my biggest concerns about the idea of moving.