From Seattle to San Diego... (San Francisco, London: Valentine's day, 2014, for rent)

[Brad__Pitt]

Me: Male, 30, single, no kids, Navy Veteran, bachelor's degree, bartender.

Lived here in the Puget Sound region for a decade. Been thinking of relocating to San Diego for obvious reasons, mainly lifestyle. I struggle with depression during the winter months and I'm not happy here. So I figured I'd put my SD plan in motion and save up some cash ($7,000+) and relocate to SD maybe in January 2014, which is typically the most depressing month here for me. I've been bartending down town, saving money and doing well with San Diego in the crosshairs which has been a good feeling knowing that I might be living a happier life in SD in the future.

But recently something happened...I got laid off! Just after Valentine's Day I got a pink slip. Valentine's Day marks the start of the slow season in the fine dining industry and labor reduction has me unemployed. Now I'm thinking my plan to move to San Diego may happen a little sooner, rather than just pounding the pavement and working at another place here in Seattle. As one friend put it, by getting a job here in Seattle, I'm just postponing the inevitable move to San Diego.

I have a little cash saved up ($2500) and will have unemployment checks to the tune of $600 a week coming for the next 6 months which will provide a decent cushion for me while I deal with the transition and find a job. I'd like to rent out a furnished room in PB or somewhere in that area for $600/month to start off with and upgrade from there once I landed a job. I'd like to continue bartending in the Gas Lamp or PB as I got acclimated to the city. Long term, I'd like to pursue an MBA at SDSU and go from there.

For some reason, this move has me dealing with copious amounts of anxiety. I know I'll be fine, but I'm scared that I might fail miserably and have to come back to Seattle. I've bounced around here in the PNW, but moving to San Diego is a big thing for me and I really want it to work. I think I could potentially be a lot happier bartending and finishing up graduate school in San Diego but I'm scared to take the plunge. All my friends and family are in support of me testing the waters in San Diego. My best friend is even driving down with me. I have a decent network of people established in SD. Friends from high school, the navy, college, former co-workers that have recently relocated, and a girl that I'd be interested in dating. For the most part I have a plan!

I've never been afraid to do anything! Why am I so scared of this?! It seems like the Matrix is obviously telling me it's time to leave Seattle and go to San Diego, however I'm kinda scared.

[ucctgg]

"30, single, no kids". This is the best chance to make the move in your entire life.

[mongozx]

Not that being scared is a great thing, but the fact that you're scared (or is cautious a better word to describe?) and that you have plans for the distant future shows a good level of maturity you'll find in successful people. You'll make it work. Think positive.

Good luck with your move!

[tonyinsd]

Well, if you've got $2,500, and unemployment coming in at $600 a week, that means essentially have $5K to work with for the first month you are here. It is possible to blow through that in a month, but if you're smart, you can do it for less a lot less.

If you get a room for $600 a month, that's one of your unemployment checks. If you are frugal, you can make it on the rest of those checks without having to dip into savings.

The key word is frugal. Because even though you're not having taxes taken out of those unemployment checks, you owe them. And you're going to have to pay Uncle Sam and that is money you need to set aside.

As something to tide you over until you get a job, and then go to grad school, I 'd say, yeah, you can do it. Be prepared, though, to have to apply to a lot of places to get a job.

[Cardiff Kook]

you don't sound like Brad Pitt

[supac]

I say rally up. I moved here last january from Seattle. I moved my whole family as well (3 kids), just this month. We are very happy. You are single, you can make it. Rally up buddy...

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[oddstray]

I'd say since you're having anxiety there and you'll have anxiety here, move here, and deal with it in a sunnier place. (And, BTW, having to move back to Seattle wouldn't be "failing miserably". Losing this opportunity to try living in San Diego would be "failing miserably".)

What's the worst that could happen? You might have a harder time of it than you had hoped, and have to rely more heavily on your support network than you had hoped. That could happen just as easily in Seattle as here. You have a solid plan B, and that puts you in a pretty good position compared to lots of folks who move to San Diego.

[Bill23]

Honestly man...you can do it. It's the 22 year olds with no education, and no training who move here and don't succeed. You seem to have a really good head on your shoulders. I moved here 11 years ago from the Pacific Northwest (Humboldt County). I am a public school teacher (so I probably make a few thousand more a year than a bartender) but I have never struggled financially here. The social scene is amazing and you will make friends really quickly (especially if you join something like VAVI). You are In your 30's, and have no kids. You honestly may never have a better opportunity. Give it a shot.

[mandasand]

I'm not concerned about your prospects of finding a job at all. You'll get hiring preference because you're a vet and there are plenty of places to bartend. This guy I know in SD has made a nice career for himself in the restaurant/bar industry.

Also, my husband recently looked into the housing stipend in SD for the GI bill. He's finishing up 20 years in the AF next year and then will join me in SD (I'm moving for my job in a few weeks). He plans on going to law school on the GI bill. In SD, the housing stipend is $2200 a month as long as you go to class full time. I am clueless when it comes to military, so I am not sure if that is because of his rank or years of service. But you can easily find that out.

Go for it and good luck!!

[Brad__Pitt]

Wow! This post hasn't even been up for a week and I'm getting all sorts of positive feedback which makes my heart happy! I've had considerable amount of bad luck in the last decade here in the Seattle area and I think I'm nervous about San Diego because I really want it to work out. And I think everybody on this thread is right, what's the worst that can happen? Now is the time since I'm single with no kids. March is the month I pay forward on my bills (car payment, credit card, cell, insurance) so I can ease into a new lifestyle in San Diego. I've found several places that have rooms for rent so I'll come down with the minimal in hopes that things work out with my bad luck in the rear view mirror. I've had my eye on the Executive MBA program at SDSU as a second choice since my MBA in London didn't work out due to funding (private student loans). So in April, I'll say good bye to the Space Needle and drive South, stopping in San Francisco for the first time to see some friends. Then San Diego, where I'll collect unemployment for the first couple months (estimated time to get a job) until I find a solid job making drinks hopefully in the Gas Lamp. Sell my car, and buy a motorcycle and zero in on graduate school. A big thank you to everybody that has provided positive support. Nothing says "just do it" like a bunch of strangers online supporting the new idea!

Cheers!