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Old 08-18-2011, 01:42 AM
 
Location: San Gabriel/Arcadia, CA
399 posts, read 1,549,559 times
Reputation: 244

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Ok, so I need some advice. I am thinking of relocating from West Los Angeles, as it's just gotten too crazy for me. I have a good job in Santa Monica. (13/hr)

I also am not from here nor do I have family here. I have been thinking of relocating further north as I love the feel of the smaller towns of Malibu and Santa Barbara but would like to leave the crazy of LA. I just want to experience the whole state and not limit myself to just SoCal.

I have heard good things about SLO and that there is a good Psych program up there as well. I have also heard great things about the town and area. I have enjoyed the beach and mountain cities of my past but also preferred the smaller towns when I lived near them. So what do you think?

Goals:

1. Good paying job for area. 33 with excellent resume experience and prior military.

2. Great school to finish up Psych goal and also GI Bill use. They pay rent for one more year. UCLA is just looking less appealing as time goes on.

3. I love the mountains and hiking, but want the ocean accessible. People have told me to check out Santa Cruz as well.

4. I pay $750 for a 190ft2 studio, no kitchen, with the 405 as my ocean. Can I do better on comparative income? Also, my experience is in CS but also Hospitality...so would I be ok there? I am not worried about competition, unless there are just NO jobs available, (Why I cannot live in Flagstaff)

5. Eventually, I would like to acquire some land and maybe build a small cottage or build a bus RV. how is that sort of thing accepted out there? I am talking, clean-off-grid living, not "trashy."

6. How is traffic? Road flow and ease of getting around? Walkable? Should I visit first or just wing it? Should I move in a certain time of year?

7. What is the mood of the people? Coming from several beach cities and towns in my life, laid back is the key...am I barking up the wrong tree?

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS I HAVE IN MIND...

1. Back to IN (LOL)
2. Santa Cruz
3. San Diego (probably share place with friend)
4. Other UC cities
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Old 08-18-2011, 01:51 AM
 
Location: California
10 posts, read 20,168 times
Reputation: 27
San Luis Obispo...hmm...yep, there's a great school (Cal Poly), excellent weather, mountains all around town, ocean 8-10 minutes away. Traffic...what's that? SLO is highly walkable...its pedestrian-friendly nature is part of what makes it the happiest city in America. Acquiring land is "acceptable". As for the people...try one of the most laid-back towns you've ever seen. Get ready for the SLO life.
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Old 08-18-2011, 01:33 PM
 
168 posts, read 554,143 times
Reputation: 133
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghostgecko View Post
Goals:

1. Good paying job for area. 33 with excellent resume experience and prior military.

2. Great school to finish up Psych goal and also GI Bill use. They pay rent for one more year. UCLA is just looking less appealing as time goes on.

3. I love the mountains and hiking, but want the ocean accessible. People have told me to check out Santa Cruz as well.

4. I pay $750 for a 190ft2 studio, no kitchen, with the 405 as my ocean. Can I do better on comparative income? Also, my experience is in CS but also Hospitality...so would I be ok there? I am not worried about competition, unless there are just NO jobs available, (Why I cannot live in Flagstaff)

5. Eventually, I would like to acquire some land and maybe build a small cottage or build a bus RV. how is that sort of thing accepted out there? I am talking, clean-off-grid living, not "trashy."

6. How is traffic? Road flow and ease of getting around? Walkable? Should I visit first or just wing it? Should I move in a certain time of year?

7. What is the mood of the people? Coming from several beach cities and towns in my life, laid back is the key...am I barking up the wrong tree?

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS I HAVE IN MIND...

1. Back to IN (LOL)
2. Santa Cruz
3. San Diego (probably share place with friend)
4. Other UC cities
1. Without a degree there aren't many good paying jobs here, and finding a good paying job here is hard to come by. They pay on most jobs do not match COL

2. Cal Poly does have a pschy major, however it is in no way up to par compared to a UC, mainly because you can seek a doctorate at UC, cannot at Poly.

3. Mountains we have. Ocean 15 minutes away. Can't beat that. Hiking a plenty even just in town.

4. Jobs are hard to come by. Housing is expensive unless you live outside of San Luis, which people do. $750 can get you a decent studio apartment near downtown, its how you pay for it will make the difference.

5. Yes, but would need to look at other cities in the CC, not San Luis. Try Paso Robles or Atascadero. Land a plenty, cheap, and the ocean is only 30 minutes to 40 depending on location.

6. Traffic is non-existent in San Luis compared to LA. Very walkable community. Visit 1st to see if you like. Try subleasing a place to get the feel of the town (subleases can be easy to find).

7. Very laid back.

Also look into: Santa Barbara (same housing/col story), Santa Cruz, San Diego and if you just want your education with a cheap col but a nice little college town, try Davis.
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Old 08-18-2011, 04:43 PM
 
Location: San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties
6,390 posts, read 9,679,297 times
Reputation: 2622
You can work at Atascadero State Hospital for the criminally insane as a psych tech, or other. Pay is pretty good, conditions.... well. Atascadero State Hospital: Human Resources (http://www.dmh.ca.gov/services_and_programs/state_hospitals/atascadero/Human_Resources/default.asp - broken link)

A little land, a little bus/RV etc. There are county building, zoning codes, you will need to follow them. Cheapest land is in California Valley, some people like it out there, some don't.
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Old 08-19-2011, 01:04 AM
 
954 posts, read 1,280,430 times
Reputation: 384
If thinking about Santa Barbara, look into TSA, with military history you should get in no problem.

USAJOBS - Search Jobs
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Old 08-23-2011, 11:15 PM
 
Location: San Gabriel/Arcadia, CA
399 posts, read 1,549,559 times
Reputation: 244
Thanks for your help everyone! I will write back more when I get off of vacation visiting family in Indiana. In the meantime, I am pretty assured about building the bus RV while I finish school to save on ridiculous rents, and to own a "home"- any suggestions of a good place here in CA where I can do that and live without trouble like in West LA (Where they hate RVs and buses because of limited parking)

Thanks again, great forum- been a member since 2008!
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Old 08-24-2011, 10:50 AM
 
168 posts, read 554,143 times
Reputation: 133
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ghostgecko View Post
Thanks for your help everyone! I will write back more when I get off of vacation visiting family in Indiana. In the meantime, I am pretty assured about building the bus RV while I finish school to save on ridiculous rents, and to own a "home"- any suggestions of a good place here in CA where I can do that and live without trouble like in West LA (Where they hate RVs and buses because of limited parking)

Thanks again, great forum- been a member since 2008!
Just a quick FYI... most municipalities here do not allow permanent use of a bus/rv as a home. Check with each city or county on their rules or regs.
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Old 08-24-2011, 12:55 PM
 
Location: The Triad
34,088 posts, read 82,920,234 times
Reputation: 43660
Quote:
Originally Posted by .highnlite View Post
You can work at Atascadero State Hospital for the criminally insane as a psych tech, or other. Pay is pretty good, conditions.... well...
uh huh

Sarah Connor's Escape - YouTube
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