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My girlfriend (29) and I (34) would really like to move to San Diego! We are currently living in the midwest. (It's June 2013 and it will get as low as 42 degrees tonight lol!?)
Here is a little background info on us:
I lived abroad from the age of 17 to 30. I've been back in the U.S. for almost 5 years now. I've never held a "real" job in America except for working at a pet store when I was 16.
Currently, I own my own business and make a decent middle class living (Nice house, car, short work day, and 3 full days off a week).
I'm fluent in Japanese and currently studying Web Design. It is a year and a half certification program. I do not have a 4 year degree.
My girlfriend is also originally from the midwest. She graduated from university abroad and currently works as a Veterinarian. She loves her job and the people she works with.
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I am able to have a business where we are now because, there is not much competition. This is great for business but, it makes it nearly impossible to continue to learn. The opposite is true for San Diego. I would be surrounded by so many skilled people and learn a lot. The downside to that is that it would not be an ideal to relocate my company to.
My girlfriend is playing around with idea of going back to school (paid internship). She'd have to take a big pay cut but, it could be a really good career move for her moving forward. San Diego is one of the few places nation-wide where she can learn these extra skills.
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The plan would be to move to San Diego for a few years. And, then maybe to the suburbs where I would eventually open another company and she would become a specialist. Or, we amy decide move abroad and do the same.
Are we delusional? Would we be stupid to give up the comfortable lifestyle we have now to live in a better location? Is it foolish to give up stability and want to continue to grow and learn as you get older?
Push come to shove, she can find a job anywhere. That is not the case for me.
Would I have a hard time finding part time work as an entry level web developer that is fluent in Japanese?
Answer these questions first which will help with the responses you get.
1) Where do you want to see yourself in 5 years? What are your goals for your career and your life?
2) How much savings do you have? How much debt do you have? How long will the debt, if applicable take to pay off?
3) It sounds like you realize that you can't compete and operate your business successfully in San Diego. What's your game plan of what you will do without a college degree? Are you ok with working at retail or fast food or minimum wage type jobs? Is your girlfriend ok with that as well?
4) Where do you want to see yourself in 10 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 10 years from today?
5) Do you eventually want kids?
6) Where do you want to see yourself in 15 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 15 years from today?
7) You both sound like you want (or more appropriately NEED) to go back to school. Do you have the funds for this? Or will you get loans? And how will you live in the interim? Do you have the savings to afford it?
8) Where do you want to see yourself in 20 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 20 years from today?
9) Please don't tell me you just want to move to San Diego for the weather?? Have you been to San Diego before?
1) Where do you want to see yourself in 5 years? What are your goals for your career and your life?
I see myself ultimately using the skills I learn in web design to help me be more productive day to day running my own business whether we move or not. I also hope to use what I learn to generate sales for the online business we are starting soon.
My girlfriend sees herself working less hours for a same or higher salary if she becomes a specialist.
2) How much savings do you have? How much debt do you have? How long will the debt, if applicable take to pay off?
We have have minimal savings. If we move, we hope to sell our house or rent it out to create a small stream of passive income. This money would then be used to help fund the move and get us on our feet.
With the exception of school debt, we will not have any outstanding loans at the time of moving. My girlfriend has some pretty big school loans from studying veterinarian medicine. But, the payments re income based.
3) It sounds like you realize that you can't compete and operate your business successfully in San Diego. What's your game plan of what you will do without a college degree? Are you ok with working at retail or fast food or minimum wage type jobs? Is your girlfriend ok with that as well?
My game plan would be to work part time in web design, lively extremely modest lifestyle, while studying my trade. (This would not cost much. No need for loans.)
I am not okay working for minimum wage. Been there done that & hated being judged by others. Between the two of us, I am the one who would feel bad working for minimum wage. She doesn't care if what kind of work I do short-term (a few years).
4) Where do you want to see yourself in 10 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 10 years from today?
In ten years, we see ourselves having more free time. She sees herself working 3 or 4 days a week as a specialist. I see myself hiring a few staff members to lessen my own work load.
5) Do you eventually want kids?
We are undecided but, leaning towards traveling regularly > children? However, that could change...
6) Where do you want to see yourself in 15 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 15 years from today?
Her 10 year and 15 year plans are identical. In 15 years, I hope to have little to do with the day to day operations of my business. Maybe that's wishful thinking lol.
7) You both sound like you want (or more appropriately NEED) to go back to school. Do you have the funds for this? Or will you get loans? And how will you live in the interim? Do you have the savings to afford it?
We will not need extra money for school. We just need to be able to take care of our normal day to day expenses.
8) Where do you want to see yourself in 20 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 20 years from today?
Growing old abroad in a country where the dollar goes further and living off our online business?!
9) Please don't tell me you just want to move to San Diego for the weather?? Have you been to San Diego before?
The weather in San Diego is a bonus. San Diego is the mecca for my chosen field. And, the place she hopes to intern at is located 1 mile from where I want to be. So, we are hoping we would only need one car and could possibly get buy using it only on the weekends.
I have been to San Diego twice. My girlfriend will be going for the first time next month for a friend's wedding. We have also scheduled a trip there together early next year.
I think thats everything. Thanks for the questions. It helped me visualize it in my mind as well.
Last edited by Maipenrai; 06-02-2013 at 11:11 AM..
... I am able to have a business where we are now because, there is not much competition. This is great for business but, it makes it nearly impossible to continue to learn. The opposite is true for San Diego. I would be surrounded by so many skilled people and learn a lot.....
I question this statement. The web, by its nature, has no particular location or boundaries. As early as the 1990's I created a website for a business in Sweden in collaberation wtih people from the UK. You don't need to be physically near someone doing web development to learn from that person.
So don't move with this as a rationale. It doesn't warrant moving from a comfortable situation.
Quote:
My game plan would be to work part time in web design, lively extremely modest lifestyle, while studying my trade. (This would not cost much. No need for loans.)
This is, perhaps, delusional. Why will it cost you any less to study your trade right where you are, versus in San Diego? If there are many more highly-skilled web designers in San Diego than elsewhere (which I doubt is true, itself) then why do you imagine they'll be providing you with a learning experience at no cost?
Web Design is something I got into recently for fun. If we move, I will have to work. So, I thought web design would be something I could do while I am pursuing my main focus.
When I said, San Diego was the mecca, I was referring to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I fought professionally for over a decade abroad and own a school. Now, I am getting more into BJJ, the sport. San Diego has many of the worlds highly regarded BJJ competitors and instructors.
1) Where do you want to see yourself in 5 years? What are your goals for your career and your life?
I see myself ultimately using the skills I learn in web design to help me be more productive day to day running my own business whether we move or not. I also hope to use what I learn to generate sales for the online business we are starting soon.
My girlfriend sees herself working less hours for a same or higher salary if she becomes a specialist.
2) How much savings do you have? How much debt do you have? How long will the debt, if applicable take to pay off?
We have have minimal savings. If we move, we hope to sell our house or rent it out to create a small stream of passive income. This money would then be used to help fund the move and get us on our feet.
With the exception of school debt, we will not have any outstanding loans at the time of moving. My girlfriend has some pretty big school loans from studying veterinarian medicine. But, the payments re income based.
3) It sounds like you realize that you can't compete and operate your business successfully in San Diego. What's your game plan of what you will do without a college degree? Are you ok with working at retail or fast food or minimum wage type jobs? Is your girlfriend ok with that as well?
My game plan would be to work part time in web design, lively extremely modest lifestyle, while studying my trade. (This would not cost much. No need for loans.)
I am not okay working for minimum wage. Been there done that & hated being judged by others. Between the two of us, I am the one who would feel bad working for minimum wage. She doesn't care if what kind of work I do short-term (a few years).
4) Where do you want to see yourself in 10 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 10 years from today?
In ten years, we see ourselves having more free time. She sees herself working 3 or 4 days a week as a specialist. I see myself hiring a few staff members to lessen my own work load.
5) Do you eventually want kids?
We are undecided but, leaning towards traveling regularly > children? However, that could change...
6) Where do you want to see yourself in 15 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 15 years from today?
Her 10 year and 15 year plans are identical. In 15 years, I hope to have little to do with the day to day operations of my business. Maybe that's wishful thinking lol.
7) You both sound like you want (or more appropriately NEED) to go back to school. Do you have the funds for this? Or will you get loans? And how will you live in the interim? Do you have the savings to afford it?
We will not need extra money for school. We just need to be able to take care of our normal day to day expenses.
8) Where do you want to see yourself in 20 years? What are your goals for your career and your life 20 years from today?
Growing old abroad in a country where the dollar goes further and living off our online business?!
9) Please don't tell me you just want to move to San Diego for the weather?? Have you been to San Diego before?
The weather in San Diego is a bonus. San Diego is the mecca for my chosen field. And, the place she hopes to intern at is located 1 mile from where I want to be. So, we are hoping we would only need one car and could possibly get buy using it only on the weekends.
I think thats everything. Thanks for the questions. It helped me visualize it in my mind as well.
JMHO, but just reading between the lines, you aren't a good candidate to move to San Diego. You can take my post with a grain of salt and it's worth as much as you paid for it. (nothing).
But San Diego is NOT the place for someone without a college degree (there are exceptions to the rule if you have some crazy mad skills....which it doesn't sound like you do). (No offense intended so I hope none is taken). Nor someone with "minimal savings" to move with no college degree and no real skills or work experience.
I don't think you realize how competitive the job market is and people competing against you will not only be here in San Diego but pretty much all over the world! Oddstray made GREAT points about this.
Maybe I'm wrong but your post comes across as an individual that doesn't like working too much. I won't offend you and say lazy..... but that's how it comes across. It sounds like you want to do the least amount possible and work the least amount possible.
As a serial and successful entrepreneur I can tell you that your thinking is VERY flawed. It sounds like you've been reading one too many books like "4 Hour Work Week". I'm afraid that doesn't really exist. Those that are the most successful business owners are hard workers.
I think your girlfriend being a Vet could obviously get work but someone with no college degree, no track record ("never having a real job in the USA") is going to end up with some severe problems in San Diego. Read some of these past posts about the same topic. But think further out...what happens if your girlfriend dumps you. It sounds like you'd kind of be freeloading with her since she would be the breadwinner. What happens if she dumps you and where would you live or work? You said working minimum wage makes you feel bad but I'm afraid that's probably one of the only alternatives with someone with no college degree and no work experience in the USA.
Sometimes in life you have to realize and acknowledge when you have a good situation. Personally, I think you would be nuts if you have a successful business, making enough to live and have a house you seem like you can afford. All with no college degree. Possible that you will excel in San Diego? Yes. Probable? No.
Good luck.
Last edited by earlyretirement; 06-02-2013 at 11:38 AM..
Web Design is something I got into recently for fun. If we move, I will have to work. So, I thought web design would be something I could do while I am pursuing my main focus.
When I said, San Diego was the mecca, I was referring to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I fought professionally for over a decade abroad and own a school. Now, I am getting more into BJJ, the sport. San Diego has many of the worlds highly regarded BJJ competitors and instructors.
Forget about any serious professional Web Design for income. Especially if you're just "doing it for fun". Serious companies that want a good site can turn to a number of different firms outside of the USA. I just redid one of my corporate sites and I employed a company in South America. No need to even use someone from the USA.
Ah, ok....that Brazillian Kiu-jitsu sounds like the motivation for getting to San Diego. But again, my advice above would stand. Not too many people with no college degree and NO work experience are going to excel in San Diego.
Also, again no offense but 34 years old isn't really some 'spring chicken'. Being 34 years old and having "minimal savings" isn't a good idea. Everyone thinks they will be young forever but that isn't the case and time flies. I'd probably focus more on working and figuring out a work and life plan vs. spending time on the jiu-jitsu.
Thank you for posting your honest thoughts. No offense taken. I can understand why you feel the way you do.
I do not like working...for other people. Never have. That said, when I returned to America, I worked 24/7 to build my business and have done a pretty good job. It took a lot of work to get it to the point where it would allow me the amount of free time I currently have.
I'm not a stranger to hard work. My intent was not to post about my past achievements. (I have many?)
I have no clue what the job market is like in San Diego. You bring up a good point about having to compete not just locally, but with others willing to do the job for cheaper in other countries. This has crossed my mind numerous times as I have occasionally hired designers aboard to create websites before I started school. It's hard to compete with their prices.
That said, I am hoping there might be options available to someone that is bilingual, even if it is just part time?
Yes, my motivation for wanting to move is for Jiu-jitsu. I think this is in part due to the post-competition-blues.
I originally came back to the midwest to create a stable life. And, I've done this. I was used to traveling a lot, seeing a lot of new places, etc.
Stability is nice but, recently, I have come to think:
So, this is life? Have stable income.... Wait till your 60 to retire? That's it? I know that sounds like I read it in a book (which I have) but, coming from the life I was living a few years ago (not a rich one; but, a well-travelled, outside of the box lifestyle)...
There has to me more imho.
I love what I do but, being in a location where it is difficult to grow and learn makes it challenging.
This is what brought about this idea to move to San Diego. I guess, we will just need to decide how much; for how long we are willing to sacrifice...
I wonder if there are job opportunities there for English / Japanese speakers?
Hey you are totally welcome. I'm glad you didn't take offense to my post as that wasn't the aim of my post.
Yes, it doesn't sound like you have a clue about the job market here so it would be good to do some further due diligence on the economy and job market here. As mentioned, it's not ideal for someone in your position.
That is great about past achievements. That can make all the difference in the world. You always have to keep in mind some of the most successful and brightest minds of our generation never got a college degree. Still, for most people in San Diego's job market, they are no Steve Jobs or Bill Gates if you know what I mean. Their situation will be MUCH different.
I don't know what the possibilities are of bi-lingual Japanese speakers but I've met a few people here that were bi-lingual and they aren't utilizing that language here in San Diego.
What I appreciate about your post is that you came back and gave us more details and also you are quite honest about your main motivation for moving here which is Jiu-jitsu. I really admire that about you. So many one post wonders that never post back more information or that are honest with themselves.
Congratulations for creating a more stable life. That's quite an accomplishment and the location you selected was a wise choice by the sounds of it. My only point is do you want to possibly undo that stable life? Yes stability is nice. I do understand your desire to move somewhere more exciting. I've done the same thing before.
But I think you have to pick and choose your "battles" and much of it comes down to being prepared and timing.
I don't think anyone is saying wait until you are 60 years old to make a move. All some of us are saying is bank up more savings. Typically when people that want to use terms like "minimal savings" that is code for almost nothing. Maybe your situation is different.
I agree sometimes it's difficult to gauge one's personal situations based on messages on a blog. But still, based on everything you wrote (unless you give me more details or facts) I'll still maintain that San Diego isn't a good idea at this stage in your life.
Now that could change if you tell me things changed, you have built up savings, you've gotten a degree or another skill set or some other information.
To answer your question, "so this is life?". I'd answer. YES, this is life. Sometimes you just have to be patient in life and work hard, save up and do things at the appropriate time. I'm all for living life to it's fullest but doing it intelligently and calculated and thought out and looking at the risk/reward ratios.
I wish you the best with everything you do.
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