San Jose or Huntington Beach? Single, 30 y/o woman relocating from MA (Long Beach: real estate, crime)

[BOStoCA]

I currently live in a very small suburban town about 45 minutes from Boston. I have been from MA most of my life, aside from living in Providence for a few years. I have my own business as a financial advisor, teach financial workshops for women (in companies, alum groups, women's groups, etc) and just became a yoga instructor. My plan is to teach yoga within corporate wellness programs. I'm Caucasian, 30, and single.

I'm posting here because I need a change and I've wanted to move to CA for as long as I can remember. I loathe winter, and I have a condition where my fingers and toes go numb in the cold. I've done a lot of research on my own, read a lot of these threads, and still opted to ask for input. My firm has offices in Newport Beach and San Jose (as well as a few other spots, but I think the only other that I'd consider is Ventura or *maybe* Santa Rosa- wine country). These areas couldnt be more different.

I've mostly narrowed it down to San Jose or OC; leaning toward OC. How are these areas for women in business? Would you think women up north would be more grounded / business minded than the south? How about the difference in lifestyle? Every time that I visit Huntingtom Beach, I am drawn to the active lifestyle- running the beach, surfing, yoga. I also found the people to be friendly. How's the hiking in these spots? Farmers markets? concerts? cafes? kayaking? sports? How about the dating scene? I've heard OC is "superficial" whereas San Jose is "sleepy/families." (I don't want to move from suburbia to suburbia, but I also don't need a huge city) I'd be moving alone, so I'd like an area with enough opportunity to meet people for business networking, friendship, and dating. I have friends, and a client in San Fran but no other real connections to CA.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Maybe the generic California forum would give you better answers. My first impression is that southern CA would suit you better.

[BOStoCA]

Thank you; I'm new to posting in these forms. I posted in general CA, SJ, and OC forums hoping to getting opinions from people within the different regions. (Hopefully I didn't make a rookie error and create too much overlap by doing so!)

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by BOStoCA

Thank you; I'm new to posting in these forms. I posted in general CA, SJ, and OC forums hoping to getting opinions from people within the different regions. (Hopefully I didn't make a rookie error and create too much overlap by doing so!)

Oh, sorry, that's not what I meant at all. Get all the info you can :-)

I was just thinking that I don't know southern California, so I can't really give you a comparison.

You could probably find what you like in either area, but southern California would be warmer year-round.

[bigdumbgod]

Huntington would be fun, but the plethora of plastic surgery culture surrounding it might drive one insane (i.e., Newport Beach). Need to look into traffic patterns on the 5 as well (yep, it's SoCal, so it's "the 5").

[ccm123]

San Jose is more educated and has a better job market if you are career oriented. HB is "surfers paradise" amd SoCal would offer a better social scene, but not as good of a job scene. Neither place is perfect, every place is a tradeoff of some sort.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by BOStoCA

I've mostly narrowed it down to San Jose or OC; leaning toward OC.

Easy Choice - Orange County! San Jose has the bad aspects of Orange County like the traffic and high cost of real estate without the good aspects like many miles of fabulous beaches.

Originally Posted by BOStoCA

I've heard OC is "superficial" whereas San Jose is "sleepy/families."

Orange County has plenty of down to earth areas like Tustin, Fountain Valley, Los Alamitos, Fullerton etc. One can avoid the superficial image conscious places are places like Irvine, Newport Beach or the worst of them all - Westside LA.

For a non-suburbia area check out Belmont Shore in Long Beach.

Things to do in Belmont Shore

[BOStoCA]

You guys are great; I really appreciate the feedback.

Work-life-balance is of supreme importance to me and I fear a lack of that among people in SJ, even if the job market is "better." It did seem as though the OC unemployment rate was lower by comparison though.

I truly thought someone would answer this question with "live in Santa Cruz; work in SJ" which was part of my original thought process. I've never visited SJ or SC, but no one has mentioned this idea. I assume b/c of traffic. I have reservations about SC- drugs / crime

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by capoeira

Easy Choice - Orange County! San Jose has the bad aspects of Orange County like the traffic and high cost of real estate without the good aspects like many miles of fabulous beaches.

That's one way to dumb it down: think like a teenager applying to colleges!

BEACH, BRO!!!!!

[thelopez2]

You might want to check the weather at both locations. I was surprised how flat Newport is.