Goin' ta California, with an aching...

Spunkie

.

Anon

take lots of money, its expensive!

sponger

Unless you are a die-hard catholic, avoid the OC at all costs.

Ok...here's a good story of a girl starting fresh out here. She was a co-worker of mine some years back. She came to San Diego from Maine. I think it was because her brother was a Marine stationed in San Diego. San Diego has one of the country's largest Marine bases. In fact I think it might be the largest.

Anyhow, the cost of living hit her enormously hard. She was working two jobs, which amounted to a 7 day work-week just so she could rent a filthy rat-trap apartment out in the ghetto section of San Diego.

During her first couple of months here, her car got smashed into during the night while it was parked outside her apartment complex. The insurance company covered it, but replaced her honda accord with a hyundai accent. So, in other words, she got screwed.

I remember her telling me that she saved up many months salary to buy that Honda.

Anyhow, it just so happens that she was very, very attractive. So, I offered to take her out to dinner, but she declined.

So, I asked a close friend of hers what her problem was. And she was like well she's into the "Marine" type of guys.

Anyhow, she's back in Maine now, lol. I guess she got tired of working 7 days/week and waiting for a Marine to hit on her.

edvedder913

tish wrote:

I'm about to throw it all away: the job, condo/pool, west-end lifestyle, week-end lover. Any good stories of starting fresh out there?

I'm jealous...wish I could join you! I love Cali. So where are you thinking about?

acoustic guy

tish wrote:

I'm about to throw it all away: the job, condo/pool, west-end lifestyle, week-end lover. Any good stories of starting fresh out there?

Dive into a bottle of red wine and sleep on it.
You will feel better in the morning .

sponger

To give you a realistic assessment of what you can expect, I'm going to need more information.

Do you have money in the bank?

Do you have adequate transportation?

What is your work history like?

What kind of education/vocational training do you have?

Do you have a good rental history w/ references?

Do you know anyone out here who can help you out if you need help?

SENROCK

tish wrote:

I'm about to throw it all away: the job, condo/pool, west-end lifestyle, week-end lover. Any good stories of starting fresh out there?

Do it. Take the risk and just get out here. This is the land of opportunity. The more you think about should I or shouldnt I, YOU WONT!!!

journeyman

You're Canadian? If so why be American?
No offense to Americans, it's just, why?

sponger

journeyman wrote:

You're Canadian? If so why be American?
No offense to Americans, it's just, why?

Yeah, really. Say goodbye to health coverage unless you can find an employer who's willing to provide it. Even then, you might end up with some crappy HMO plan with all kinds of loopholes and fine print.

Spunkie

Uh, sorry guys. The "Going to California" part was a metaphor. For the last week I've been trying to figure out where all the Cali talk was coming from. Well, the rest you can take per verbatim (I'm sure I spelled that wrong, Anyone? Anyone?)

Thanks sponger, for offering to help if I were to run into trouble there. I keep my nose pretty clean these days, though. Nice pic too.

So how about this for accuracy: I'm going to Canada's California, with an aching...

eyedclaar

sponger wrote:

Yeah, really. Say goodbye to health coverage unless you can find an employer who's willing to provide it. Even then, you might end up with some crappy HMO plan with all kinds of loopholes and fine print.

Totally. That is like leaving Oz to go back to Kansas. Why in God's name would anyone do that?

Swan

Going to california with an aching in my heart.
Someone told me theres a girl out there
With love in her eyes and flowers in her hair.

sweet adeline

i moved out here back in 1997, haven't looked back since. i love it. don't let people discourage you, if you want to do it, its worth a try. its not like you couldn't move back to wherever you are from if you hate it.

AmentsChick

sponger wrote:

Unless you are a die-hard catholic, avoid the OC at all costs.

Ok...here's a good story of a girl starting fresh out here. She was a co-worker of mine some years back. She came to San Diego from Maine. I think it was because her brother was a Marine stationed in San Diego. San Diego has one of the country's largest Marine bases. In fact I think it might be the largest.

Anyhow, the cost of living hit her enormously hard. She was working two jobs, which amounted to a 7 day work-week just so she could rent a filthy rat-trap apartment out in the ghetto section of San Diego.

During her first couple of months here, her car got smashed into during the night while it was parked outside her apartment complex. The insurance company covered it, but replaced her honda accord with a hyundai accent. So, in other words, she got screwed.

I remember her telling me that she saved up many months salary to buy that Honda.

Anyhow, it just so happens that she was very, very attractive. So, I offered to take her out to dinner, but she declined.

So, I asked a close friend of hers what her problem was. And she was like well she's into the "Marine" type of guys.

Anyhow, she's back in Maine now, lol. I guess she got tired of working 7 days/week and waiting for a Marine to hit on her.

Yup, it's wicked expensive here. And, for the record, avoid the Marines at Pendelton. NIGHTMARE

Hawkshore

tish wrote:

So how about this for accuracy: I'm going to Canada's California, with an aching...

Don't you already live in Vancouver?

Spunkie

.

eyedclaar

tish wrote:

Is Vancouver what you consider Canada's California, Hawkshore?

Well, isn't it? I mean, minus the drive by shootings and everything...


Tish, love the quote. Tied for my all time favorite writer.

Cosmo

California is expensive. Southern California is expensive.
But, personally, I love it here. I love the ocean and the same, temperate weather all the time.

Spunkie

Well, I'm moving to where BC's Golden Delicious Apples grow. We'll have to trade apples for oranges all you stateside friends!

Hawkshore

tish wrote:

Is Vancouver what you consider Canada's California, Hawkshore?

Not really I think Vancouver is more like Seattle ......but by default I think it is more like CA than any where else in Canada.

I see your moving to the OK nice lifestyle .....my brother moved to Kelowna a few years back and loves it!

HailHailVitalogy

im thinkin the same once i graduate college, but i only wanna go to huntington beach area, san diego, or san fran...all of which are soooo much money....its like moving from the midwest to nyc, haha

Spunkie

Is he hot? j/k!

Ya. It'll be like going back home in a way, if there ever was such a thing for me. My Mom's up there. And a dozen of neices and nephews. Maybe I won't be so lonely. I've done alot of reflecting about what I've accomplished in the last 6 years here.

-I became a successful West-End 9-5 who commutes/pollutes.
-I lived with and let go of a long-time love.
-I faced a couple of denied issues, saw their impact on my psyche, changed and grew.

But I never grew in love although I became more capable to love another. In the last 7 months, I have tried to love my partner in way that would be healing for his last hurt/dump. I have been nothing but kind, and loving, have pointed out his great characteristics, we've had only fun/good times. I sometimes wonder if he'll know that I'm gone. (I doubt it.)

EvilMerlin

HailHailVitalogy wrote:

im thinkin the same once i graduate college, but i only wanna go to huntington beach area, san diego, or san fran...all of which are soooo much money....its like moving from the midwest to nyc, haha

You can actually find places in Huntington Beach for cheap. Well compared to the prices out here. It's one of the cheaper areas.