Looking for advice on Cali.

[iccanui]

Just seems the more and more i look around everything im into is going in Cali. Comic-Con, e3, surfing, mountains, etc etc. The list goes on and on lately. So i am going to come out and check it out in the fall for a week and im wondering where to go. San Diego seems to have a lot going on, i think kevin lives in san fran, so im sure ther stuff there. Really im coming out to scope it out, the jobs, the living the people and see if its my bag. Im done with FL ( no offense to anyone from here ) and my passions are drawing me to the west. The prospect of being involved in the industry in a positive and enjoyable way is too much to not at least take a run at.


So any advice as to where to check out or how the jobs and living are like, anything at all. Im a sponge and will soak up anything you have to say and will honestly appreciate it, no matter what it is, as long as its positive, helpful and relivant.

Thnx a bunch gang.

[_sorrow_]

SanFran is where it's at... or so i'm told. But what do i know? :rolleyes:

I live near Seattle, WA and we've got Microsoft and even some Google up here, for what it's worth..

[iccanui]

How is washington? I hear it rains there for like ever.

[_sorrow_]

Meh, the rain is over-rated -- it doesn't rain particularily hard, and in all actuality a lot of the time it doesn't really rain so much as mist throughout the day.

Either way it doesn't bother me, but i know plenty of friends in Colorado who couldn't possibly live here because they need the sun in their lives.

[heyseuss]

Both San Diego and San Fran are good and unique cities. Like any city they have good/bad things that are unique to them. Alot of things that you might take for granted are just like the kind of things you would take for granted everywhere else. Los Angeles on the other hand, while being a 'unique city' like I said about the others, is another planet entirely. I guess it does have that, beach in the morning, followed by mountain slopes in the afternoon thing. You can get from the beach to the mountains in L.A. in an hour or so.

About the surfing though, I don't think there are any great places in CA, some are ok, mainly near San Diego, but if you've ever surfed anywhere else in the world, you'll find CA pretty dissappointing.

I really don't think it matters where you visit man. You can't expect to predict the quality of the experience based on the location really. Anywhere you go, you will probably enjoy yourself if you go without expectations and keep an open mind. A unique experience regardless of where you go. I'm in Los Angeles and I can tell ya my favorite bar if you come here.

[tehcris]

I would like to know smethings to when it comes to rent/buying.....costs of living etc....i currently live in miami
i'll be going to LA in Oct for the video game convention E4All

[heyseuss]

I would like to know smethings to when it comes to rent/buying.....costs of living etc....i currently live in miami
i'll be going to LA in Oct for the video game convention E4All

You going to buy a house while you're here for the convention ? No, but seriously, what would you like to know ? It's expensive as hell. Depends on your standards, for me, what I've seen, the lowest I would go area wise is still a horrible place (the valley) and still too expensive.

[tehcris]

LOL....no im not going to buy just yet....i was wondering if it would be best to buy or rent....somewhere in the bay area dosnt have to be san fran

[tokenuser]

I doubt you can afford to buy ... and that is not meant as insulting, its just a statement of fact. Property in Cali is overpriced for what you are getting.

[heyseuss]

LOL....no im not going to buy just yet....i was wondering if it would be best to buy or rent....somewhere in the bay area dosnt have to be san fran

Well I can't say much for any real esate issue non-los angeles, but I would say buying is better than renting no matter where. Land, whether it has a house on it or not, is valuable, especially in CA. The only bad thing about buying, apart from the extreme hassle, is buying high when the season is up. I don't know about Miami, but I know that it's pretty ridiculous in L.A. value wise. You get a ranch with a mansion in other states for the shack and plot you get here for the same money.

[genericdefect]

Anywhere in the Bay Area would be really nice, since the BART travels through most of it.

[tehcris]

Miami real-estate is pretty crazy as well....we are now up there with Cali and New York....for example....my friends parents bought a house in a very good area down here for $187,000 a while back the house is estimated to be around $643,000 now.....its amazing because of how much that area grew in population and the boom form the last few years they made loads of money....i also just bought a house down here for investment about 3 months ago...i was jst wondering about cali because i wanted to go out there when i was finished with school

[tokenuser]

When my wife was in grad school, we bought a 1963 California Ranch style house, 1300sq ft on a private block in reasonable part of Orange County (Brea/Yorba Linda/Fullerton area)back in Jan 1999. It cost us $200K. 4.5 years later we sold it for twice that, moved to the east coast, and bought a brand new 3200 sq ft house on a 1/4 acre block for $335K, rolled over most of what we had into the new house, and got a 10 year mortgage with payments we previously had with a 30 year.

You can do well in real estate if you know what yo are looking for. The Sub prime mortgage rate bubble is bursting, and there are going to be a lot of homes that are going to go up for foreclosure real soon. It *might* be a good time to buy.

[electricalburn]

dont most people rent in cali more specifically san fran? i am from NJ so what do i know... help, there is no more room here anymore

[iccanui]

Meh, the rain is over-rated -- it doesn't rain particularily hard, and in all actuality a lot of the time it doesn't really rain so much as mist throughout the day.

Either way it doesn't bother me, but i know plenty of friends in Colorado who couldn't possibly live here because they need the sun in their lives.

I enjoy surfing and the beach so i guess im one of those guys. I live in FL and im over the rain brother. Back to Cali for my plans. I have heard nothing but good things about washington though :)

[iccanui]

Both San Diego and San Fran are good and unique cities. Like any city they have good/bad things that are unique to them. Alot of things that you might take for granted are just like the kind of things you would take for granted everywhere else. Los Angeles on the other hand, while being a 'unique city' like I said about the others, is another planet entirely. I guess it does have that, beach in the morning, followed by mountain slopes in the afternoon thing. You can get from the beach to the mountains in L.A. in an hour or so.

About the surfing though, I don't think there are any great places in CA, some are ok, mainly near San Diego, but if you've ever surfed anywhere else in the world, you'll find CA pretty dissappointing.

I really don't think it matters where you visit man. You can't expect to predict the quality of the experience based on the location really. Anywhere you go, you will probably enjoy yourself if you go without expectations and keep an open mind. A unique experience regardless of where you go. I'm in Los Angeles and I can tell ya my favorite bar if you come here.


Oh yea no doubt. I have to go someplace to check cali out there, so im just trying to get a idea where to go. I dont wanna live in a warzone which is what i hear LA can be like ( is this true? ), i wanna be in a geek friendly environment where i can find work and grow in my knowledge and work experience. Hopefully get in a field i enjoy working in cause i have slaved myself out here for a long long time trying to find something im passionate about. So this is real exciting for me.

Good advice though, i wont get too excited, ill pull a alex movie review, expect it to suck and be pleasantly surprised :)

Who knows it might not be at all what im looking for, but im leaving FL no matter what, the question is where and so far Cali is looking real good, well cept for the cost of living. How bad is it btw? I know i been getting off easy in FL cause the COL is so low, so i dont wanna be shocked.



Thnx again everyone, this is a big deal to me :)

[ariastar]

I'm in the Bay Area, near San Francisco, in the heart of Silicon Valley. You can say I'm partial to this area because it's where I live, though I live in this particular area after having lived in other places around California (I'm a very rare native Californian still in California). it really depends on what you are looking for. Straight-up partying? Go to San Diego. You're a couple miles from Mexico and TJ. Want techie stuff and partying? Then the SF Bay Area. The biggest difference in feel is that SoCal feels more plastic, while this area feels more yuppie. Seems like everyone in SoCal is in showbiz, or wants to be, while everyone here is involved with tech, or wants to be. Both places are very expensive to live in, though I believe this area clinches it (my $1500/mo 1br apt. is currently under market value, if that gives you an idea). There's a bigger tech buzz here.

You've got beaches in both places. In SoCal, there's more pressure to look like one of the hot people. Here, it's usually cooler, meaning more clothing and less pressure for physical, often artificial, perfection, though beach bonfires are common, so we are out on beaches.

SoCal, around LA, does have its warzones, though usually in places like Watts. Much of the rest of it, where it's safe, has a tourist feel. Around here, there are a couple areas in San Jose that are bad, and then there's Oakland/Richmond, but that's on the other side of the Bay, far enough away to not be a concern. If it's any indication, I live in North San Jose, about three miles from Apple in Cupertino, and don't even usually bother to lock my car and will park it with the hood down, and I sleep at night with windows open, unlocked, and the screen door going outside open so my cat can come and go as he pleases (and I'm a woman living alone). I'm at work in Sunnyvale and the front door to my apartment is unlocked and the doors going to the patio are wide open. I'm confident enough that everything will be fine when I get home.

If you're going to only visit the state for a week, then you need to pick one place to visit. San Diego and SF are too far apart. You'll spend a day driving just from here to there. If possible, plan a week in one location and a separate week for the other, and don't have those weeks be one right after the other. Each area, and every smaller areas within the larger scope, has differences. I personally prefer to live in NorCal and visit SoCal.

Don't even consider the valley (Central Cali). Modesto, Fresno, Stockton, etc.. A town near where I was born is so filthy and crime-ridden that there is no longer a police department nor is there even a mayor. Winton has no one capable, and no one wants to lead. I'm not sure if it's even a real town or city anymore, though it's still on the map. Almost anywhere you go you'll see gang activity. This is pretty typical of the valley. It's just not safe, and almost everyone there has a few interesting tales to tell about drugs, gangs, and other forms of illegal activities.

"Up north," you know, the "real" northern California, like up by Redding and such, is very wilderness-like. Time is spent in the woods rather than on beaches. I'd rather visit there than SoCal.

[heyseuss]

I'm in the Bay Area, near San Francisco, in the heart of Silicon Valley. .


I agree with alot of that. But add to the L.A 'warzone' parts also being, downtown, east l.a. and san fernando valley. I'd also prefer to visit true North Ca. Also agree with the central area, don't bother. Los Angeles is very touristy, but it's a thin veil. Even the nicest Bev Hills type area is hiding nasty secrets 1 block off the main drag. This city really sucks. It was poorly designed and is poorly run. Everyone is on drugs and everyone wants to know who you are and what you do. The media/officials/govt are uber corrupt, and will do what they can to make a buck off you. Downtown itself is pointless, there is no reason to go there whatsoever unless you are going to court in the day, or opera at night, or are in a gang. West LA, Hollywood, West Hollywood and Bev Hills are all interesting place to visit and or live. Parts of the San Fernando valley are alright, small parts cushioned by shitty parts. Almost everywhere is expensive to live. Very interesting to visit, expect a freak show. I've lived here about 11 yrs now. That being said, having nothing to do with where you are from, if I had been asked what I thought the 3 worst states are, I would say FL, TX, RI. I've toured america several times and find the most f*ct ppl in those places. Los Angeles has f*ct up ppl, but they aren't quite as dumb and are alot more harmless.

BTW, try not to do the 'Cali' thing. I rarely hear any actual Californians say taht.

paragraphs, I, can't remember, how, to, do, them.

[ariastar]

BTW, try not to do the 'Cali' thing. I rarely hear any actual Californians say taht.


Which Cali thing?

Some things I've known other SoCali-ans to say is not to expect privacy in SoCal. No live-and-let-live mentality. No acceptance for being outside the mainstream.

Here, anyone out of the mainstream is anyone in the mainstream. There isn't much of one. You can be on a bus witha hippie chick next to you who doesn't believe in shaving nor bathing with a guy in a three-piece suit on the other side of you, and it's normal. It's nice, really, to just get to be.

[tehcris]

for the two dudes that said they lived in Fl where in FL do you guys live?

[heyseuss]

Which Cali thing?

Calling it Cali. That's very brochurey.

Some things I've known other SoCali-ans to say is not to expect privacy in SoCal. No live-and-let-live mentality. No acceptance for being outside the mainstream.

I'm very outside the mainstream. I don't look the part at all. I live in a neighborhood of rich older celebs and the 32 yr old with the long hair and beard wearing the bad clothing is very strange to them. When I walk into a bar, girls run. :D Your car and title is very important on the surface. And I don't match the stereotype. The only time this appearance is socially acceptable is when someone needs drugs from a stranger. I get randomly approached often. I've been pulled over many times for no reason and I honestly think that being a white guy with all his teeth startles them when they see me driving the heap I used to drive. Even worse then being pulled over is having cops follow you and have them pull up next to you to shine a giant light on you, and then drive away. It's not illegal to drive around late at night, but on a weeknight, you'll only see cops. I drove home from work one nigth at 1am on a weds and saw 13 cops and 2 other cars and 1 of them was a guy I worked with.

But looking poor and unkempt is like a filter that strains out the plastic fake ppl. It's a blessing, and I am accepted for who I am by the kind of ppl I would want accepting me. I'd shoot myself if I looked like the other guys on the streets of hollywood.

It's nice, really, to just get to be.

You can be here too, you just will have a large conglomerate of ppl who wouldn't condsider you hip. On the flipside, you'd be able to see past those idiots clearer and see the groups of ppl who don't care about hip because you're hip if you are you.

I had long hair and a beard for years and years and always go to the same bar. One day I shaved my head and face. Suddenly the other half of the room was paying attention. It's good I was still me on the inside, otherwise I would rent a BMW and put gel in my hair and make sure everything I wore clothes out, acessories included, i would have a visible brand name.

if you have any mizness in the music or movies industry then this is a good option. If you want to see freak shows and party with alot of options then that's l.a. too. But if you want somewhere actually nice to live, I'd go somewhere else. San Fran sounds good. ou should try Australia, paradise at a decent price.

[iccanui]

If you're going to only visit the state for a week, then you need to pick one place to visit. San Diego and SF are too far apart. You'll spend a day driving just from here to there. If possible, plan a week in one location and a separate week for the other, and don't have those weeks be one right after the other. Each area, and every smaller areas within the larger scope, has differences. I personally prefer to live in NorCal and visit SoCal.



Great idea. Seems to me my tastes are being directed to either SF or SD. So thats a great idea, 1 week in each. That way i can see how it is in winter too. The rest of your post was very helpful too, thank you.

Which Cali thing?
Here, anyone out of the mainstream is anyone in the mainstream. There isn't much of one. You can be on a bus witha hippie chick next to you who doesn't believe in shaving nor bathing with a guy in a three-piece suit on the other side of you, and it's normal. It's nice, really, to just get to be.

gotta say, that sounds like my kinda town. plus closer to the tech world too. I mean im coming out there to expand into the industry really, not part so much. I mean lets keep it real, im a geek. I was cool when i was a kid, but now im just a 32 year old single geek that does nothing but ingest rss feeds, plays games and loves nature and surfing. Im pretty content with it too.




BTW, try not to do the 'Cali' thing. I rarely hear any actual Californians say taht.

paragraphs, I, can't remember, how, to, do, them.

Awesome thnx again. Now im torn between SD and SF. I was gonna go SD but i dont know now. Much to learn and i got the time to chose.

As far as the Cali thing, thats the first thing im not gonna do, change how i speak or how i am. I like calling it Cali. All the surfers i know call it cali and if snoop dogg calls it that i think ill be alright lol.

But seriously, if i come out and change who i am and how i speak and fit it, its just gonna diminish my uniquness and what makes me valuable to anything i do. I wanna add not take away. Im used to being a complete outcast for the way i speak and am, im a new york geek that got dragged to FL at 15. Not the good part of FL not tampa or orlando or anything, the back woods, mutant pig ... romancing... sick demented part. My best friends my whole life have been drug dealers cause there just isnt anything else too do around here. Thank god for surfing and the internet is all i got to say, literaly saved ... is saving my life.

Thnx again Heyseuss for all your input bud.

[iccanui]

for the two dudes that said they lived in Fl where in FL do you guys live?


Im north of clearwater, west of tampa.

[ariastar]

Calling it Cali. That's very brochurey.

The few natives I know SAY the full name, but usually write Cali.

[ariastar]

You can be here too, you just will have a large conglomerate of ppl who wouldn't condsider you hip. On the flipside, you'd be able to see past those idiots clearer and see the groups of ppl who don't care about hip because you're hip if you are you.

I had long hair and a beard for years and years and always go to the same bar. One day I shaved my head and face. Suddenly the other half of the room was paying attention. It's good I was still me on the inside, otherwise I would rent a BMW and put gel in my hair and make sure everything I wore clothes out, acessories included, i would have a visible brand name.

if you have any mizness in the music or movies industry then this is a good option. If you want to see freak shows and party with alot of options then that's l.a. too. But if you want somewhere actually nice to live, I'd go somewhere else. San Fran sounds good. ou should try Australia, paradise at a decent price.

But to be yourself here doesn't brand you as uncool. It's respected.

[ariastar]

gotta say, that sounds like my kinda town. plus closer to the tech world too. I mean im coming out there to expand into the industry really, not part so much. I mean lets keep it real, im a geek. I was cool when i was a kid, but now im just a 32 year old single geek that does nothing but ingest rss feeds, plays games and loves nature and surfing. Im pretty content with it too.

Then this is your area. We've got nature as well.


But seriously, if i come out and change who i am and how i speak and fit it, its just gonna diminish my uniquness and what makes me valuable to anything i do. I wanna add not take away. Im used to being a complete outcast for the way i speak and am, im a new york geek that got dragged to FL at 15. Not the good part of FL not tampa or orlando or anything, the back woods, mutant pig ... romancing... sick demented part. My best friends my whole life have been drug dealers cause there just isnt anything else too do around here. Thank god for surfing and the internet is all i got to say, literaly saved ... is saving my life.

If you change who you are, then you're not liked. Be yourself and you're awesome.

[tokenuser]

Awesome thnx again. Now im torn between SD and SF. I was gonna go SD but i dont know now. Much to learn and i got the time to chose.

As far as the Cali thing, thats the first thing im not gonna do, change how i speak or how i am. I like calling it Cali. All the surfers i know call it cali and if snoop dogg calls it that i think ill be alright lol.If it surf you want, then you want SoCal (not southern cali, not south cali). The stretch from Irvine/Newport Beach (Orange County) through to San Diego is often called the Silicon Coast (and not just because of the boob jobs). LOTS of high tech in the area - both hardware and software.

I LOVE SD. Its a great city. Also has lots of Aussies. Cant turn a corner without hearing the accent :). I worked for a .com startup in Orange County for a couple of years, and now work for a software developer based in Pasadena. There are a lot of jobs out there if you know what you are looking for (indeed - PM me, if you have the right skills I can make a referal for you at my company).

[iccanui]

Thnx a lot guys. You helped me move from .. omg where the hell am i gonna go, to having 2 solid places to check out. Looks like i get to take 2 vacations this year ;)

Ill PM you token, im in fear that im a little dated on my knowledge, but im into learning new things and who knows, i might be useful by the time i get out to Cali.

*edit*

You know, i was just thinking whats really important here. Job. If i had a job out there i would pack my shit up and move tonite. No joke, i hate it that much here. So if anyone at all has a lead by chance, toss it my way, ill do anything i have to just to get out of here. OK well not ANYTHING but just about .

[rroethel]

well cali is awesome. my uncle was an aspiring actor that didnt do to well. so he ended up moving up to oregon with his then fiance now wife (closer to her family). but from what he tells me san fran, sanamonica (not sure wether its one word or 2 or 3 w.e), and he says la is cool to. it all depends upon what u want to do. me im more into the theater aspect of things. and believe it or not im not a gay. i know a shocker. but if thats what ur into the theater i say NYC. only the greatest city in the world.

[ariastar]

You know, i was just thinking whats really important here. Job. If i had a job out there i would pack my shit up and move tonite. No joke, i hate it that much here. So if anyone at all has a lead by chance, toss it my way, ill do anything i have to just to get out of here. OK well not ANYTHING but just about .

Depends on what it is you do.

[ariastar]

well cali is awesome. my uncle was an aspiring actor that didnt do to well. so he ended up moving up to oregon with his then fiance now wife (closer to her family). but from what he tells me san fran, sanamonica (not sure wether its one word or 2 or 3 w.e), and he says la is cool to. it all depends upon what u want to do. me im more into the theater aspect of things. and believe it or not im not a gay. i know a shocker. but if thats what ur into the theater i say NYC. only the greatest city in the world.

Santa Monica.

And the "aspiring actor" is the story of damned near everyone in SoCal. :)

[tokenuser]

Santa Monica.

And the "aspiring actor" is the story of damned near everyone in SoCal. :)You meet a lot of aspiring actors in SoCal. They are easy to spot by the way they practice their lines like ... "Split shot triple vente extra foam", and "Do you need ketchup with your fries", or a personal favourite "That will be $5.39 proceed to the second window".

The Macaroni Grill we used to go to was great though - it was a known location for people to be recruited to stage shows, so a lot of the waiters/waitresses sang there. One particular waitress had awesome lungs, and sang opera in the restaurant.

[heyseuss]

The Macaroni Grill we used to go to was great though - it was a known location for people to be recruited to stage shows, so a lot of the waiters/waitresses sang there. One particular waitress had awesome lungs, and sang opera in the restaurant.

Where was that? I know an italian place in the valley where the waiters sing sinatra and stuff but can't remember the name.

[heyseuss]

Santa Monica.

And the "aspiring actor" is the story of damned near everyone in SoCal. :)

my real estate agent had headshots in his trunk.

[tokenuser]

Where was that? I know an italian place in the valley where the waiters sing sinatra and stuff but can't remember the name.THere were two we went to. One was down Irvine way (the talent was nowhere near as ood there ;) ), the other was out in Ontario. Since I lived in OC, and worked in Rancho Cucamonga and Pasadena I didn't get to the valley - no reason to go. Valley girls, like, you know, scare me.

[heyseuss]

I didn't get to the valley - no reason to go. Valley girls, like, you know, scare me.

Oh yeah, like totally.

[ariastar]

my real estate agent had headshots in his trunk.

HAHA! I'm not surprised in the least!

[tehcris]

my real estate agent had headshots in his trunk.
ahauhauau.......thats great.....

[marcomc2]

[QUOTE=iccanui;161421]Im done with FL ( no offense to anyone from here )QUOTE]

Hey. Im from FL. And its a nightmare. You know what FL stands for?

Fear

and

Loathing.

**** florida. Miami sucks.

[iccanui]

Well its like everyone comes here to die. So they are old and crabby and it infects everyone. Thnx for letting me know its not just me. I got this plan all laid out to get out of here and just thinking about the time its gonna take to do it alone, unless i get a good job offer in Cali, makes me cry tears of blood lol.

Ahh well. Wish i thought of this 10 years ago, cause i love to surf and i love tech and i could have a nice career going by now and surfing a heck of a lot more. I would be content with that. But who knows, maybe i would have died in a earthquake if i moved sooner .... ill just keep telling myself that... ;)

[heyseuss]

Well its like everyone comes here to die. So they are old and crabby and it infects everyone. Thnx for letting me know its not just me. I got this plan all laid out to get out of here and just thinking about the time its gonna take to do it alone, unless i get a good job offer in Cali, makes me cry tears of blood lol.

Ahh well. Wish i thought of this 10 years ago, cause i love to surf and i love tech and i could have a nice career going by now and surfing a heck of a lot more. I would be content with that. But who knows, maybe i would have died in a earthquake if i moved sooner .... ill just keep telling myself that... ;)

I really think you are putting too much pressure on yourself over finding work. In any of the 3 cities you've talked about (sd,la,sf) there are buttloads of jobs in your field, every square foot. You'll find one the first day you get here, and then find one or two better while working the first one.

[iccanui]

True thnx man. One thing im definetly guilty of is putting too much pressure on myself. I know i need to ease up, but its been such a rough few years and i have had to fight so hard to get things back, i guess i need to realize that im almost back to where i want and its ok to ease up a little.


Your right, who knows. I might get out to Cali and find a job that will cover the rent right away. Till then ill just keep the nose to the grind stone and save up so if it does happen i can float on my savings to get into a place and setup there.

Say hi to god for me.

[popltree2]

I am in a small town called Santa Barbara. It is worth a look-see.