Young professional woman moving to SJ (Santa Cruz: college, living in, professionals)

[jmsabar]

So, I am moving to SJ from the East Coast and anted to to know where the fun places are to meet some interesting people? I am young, college educated, pretty attractive if I do say so myself. But most of the threads I have seen say SJ is just not the place for young, fun loving people. Advice?

[MtnSurfer]

Well, I posted part of this in the other thread below which you asked the same Q in.

Take a look at Santa Cruz just down the 17 from SJ. I know there has always been a lot of athletic, attractive singles there. Although they tend to be more on the liberal side of things and many live on shoe string budgets while working and going to UCSC for their masters & Ph.Ds. A friend of mine did just that. He earned his Ph.D. in marine biology is now one of the top dolphin researchers living in Tahiti.

Some of the Santa Cruz folks do make the trip over the hill for techie jobs and better pay. But it is definately a different vibe and different lifestyle down there by the coast. It is a more down to earth, what you see is what you get kind of lifestyle. If you haven't visited Santa Cruz check it out.

Maybe there are some swanky hang outs in SJ for singles. But if so they are probably populated with nerdy computer geeks which you may or may not be interested in.

I would recommend joining a social group which shares common interests like hiking, photography, sailing, surfing, skiing, etc... This is usually always a better way to meet people in a more natural setting than the club scene. If you attend a church, syngagoue, or volunteer for certain causes you can also meet people in that way. Basically it is just a matter of getting out and socializing.

Of course some busy professionals use places like eHarmony. My brother-in-law met his wife online and they have been married for at least 10 years now. But it doesn't work for everyone. Personally I think some people just aren't ready for any kind of a quality give and take relationship. They would rather be playing video games, or staring in the mirror, or <fill in the blank>.

I am a software engineer and so I speak from some experience. LOL... Many of the smart single guys I work with have very 'odd' social habits/behaviors/dysfunctions. One had his Ph.d. from CalTech and he had several gfs. But he couldn't maintain a relationship because of his intense love for gaming. But he eventually matured 'a bit' and married another software engineer - kind of a scary thought/combo I know. But she was a nice girl and I think he was finally ready to release his grip on gaming, at least a little.LOL...

- Derek

[hsw]

Most of the affluent, <30yo financiers/tech guys who work in SV live in SF (and those techies who work really deep in belly of SV, like SJ, often have a wkday apt at Santana Row where there's edible daily grub, and get an SF place for wkends)....

SF to SV (on 280 fwy) is perhaps fastest commute in any major urban region in world....not many places where one can traverse some 40-60mis each-way so rapidly....and on such a scenic route....

[EllenOlenska]

Originally Posted by hsw

Most of the affluent, <30yo financiers/tech guys who work in SV live in SF (and those techies who work really deep in belly of SV, like SJ, often have a wkday apt at Santana Row where there's edible daily grub, and get an SF place for wkends)....

SF to SV (on 280 fwy) is perhaps fastest commute in any major urban region in world....not many places where one can traverse some 40-60mis each-way so rapidly....and on such a scenic route....

I don't get this. Why not live in SV and come to SF and play for the weekend instead of commuting all that way on weekdays? They are most likely working really long hours anyway.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by EllenOlenska

I don't get this. Why not live in SV and come to SF and play for the weekend instead of commuting all that way on weekdays? They are most likely working really long hours anyway.

Because then you can't show off your address.