Thinking about moving to Cali

SSteezle

SSteezle

Active member
Just recently took a trip out to Orange County/LA area for work and it was insane. I'm currently living in Boston and studied in Colorado but looking to change it up and Cali seems like a dope spot. What's a good place to move that has jobs (ideally it'd be close to a city), somewhat close to the ocean and close to mountains?

I've only been to Cali for two days so I'm pretty clueless when it comes to the state. I'm 25 and do video production for work if that helps!
 
For what you requested, you are spot on. LA would be your best bet. You've got loads of work for video production, you're close to all the best CA beaches. And you've got Mammoth. Yes, it will be a bit of a drive, but realistically this gives you everything. As to which specific spot in LA/SoCal, I can't help you as much since I'm not an expert in the area. What kind of video production would it be? That matters too.

There are cities up North which would allow you to drive to Tahoe, but it will still be a far drive, the beaches aren't as popular, or activity friendly unless you're really into surfing, and cost of living is high in the bay area. You could look at Sacramento but I don't think thats what you want.
 
13284882:SKI.ING said:
For what you requested, you are spot on. LA would be your best bet. You've got loads of work for video production, you're close to all the best CA beaches. And you've got Mammoth. Yes, it will be a bit of a drive, but realistically this gives you everything. As to which specific spot in LA/SoCal, I can't help you as much since I'm not an expert in the area. What kind of video production would it be? That matters too.

There are cities up North which would allow you to drive to Tahoe, but it will still be a far drive, the beaches aren't as popular, or activity friendly unless you're really into surfing, and cost of living is high in the bay area. You could look at Sacramento but I don't think thats what you want.
Click to expand...

for video production it's mostly corporate stuff, my only concern with LA is that the closest mountain is Bear. Is it any good? I've heard mammoth's like 6 hours away and I'm looking for something closer to a mile away if possible.
 
So are the mountains more important or the beach?

That's going to be tough. To be super close to the mountains in CA, you have to live in the mountain cities themselves, which are relatively small or isolated enough where I think it might be hard for you to find that kind of work. Sacramento is about an hour and 45 from Tahoe, and has plenty of opportunity. But I'm sure if you really wanted to hustle you could do it in South Lake, but with a second job.
 
LA is LA. Lot of traffic. If you have enough reasons to move there do it its chill lots of people live there for a few years then move back.

Northern California isn't going to be too drastic a change from Boston in terms of ocean and mountains. Slightly better beaches in MA due to summers being warmer but in CA you can visit them year round. Skiing is better in Tahoe because the mountains are better and its sunny and generally warmer. But they are the same if not longer of a drive and if the snow isn't great its not that much better than being on the east coast. Great mountains inconsistent snow and warm.

I'd suggest moving closer to the beach in MA if you want more beach that worked well for me Im in Lynn its great nice and close to town and cheap as fuck and has 2 amazing beaches in Nahant and Kings which are way nicer than anything around San Francisco (although not LA obviously with Malibu/Venice/Manhattan.)
 
The biggest plus to Tahoe skiing is the cheap season passes. Don't forget to buy one and if you wait until Christmas time you will have to get one at a smaller mountain.

Remember Tahoe has really high day pass prices but really low season passes.
 
I think you gotta choose mountains or beach in Cali. Living in the middle between the two seems like it kinda sucks - long drives, traffic, hot, and inability to ride or surf often. If you skate, the middle can work.
 
13292025:keenan. said:
I think you gotta choose mountains or beach in Cali. Living in the middle between the two seems like it kinda sucks - long drives, traffic, hot, and inability to ride or surf often. If you skate, the middle can work.
Click to expand...

I live in Sacramento. I see about as many cars topped with surfboards going west as I see skis/snowboards going east. Same goes for the East Bay Area where I grew up. The further south or west you go the more likely surfing takes precedent, and the further north or east you go the more ski racks (and gun racks) seemingly become the norm - as expected.

IF you're going to live in the valley, there's really only one option, and that's Sac. Any other valley town is like living in the 16th layer of hell. Sacramento actually has shade trees galore to keep the heat from being too unbearable and access to multiple CLEAN rivers to swim in while having a severely underrated arts culture. Fresno, Redding, Stockton, and Bakersfield on the contrary are just horrible, and you only go to Chico if you're going to school or want to be perpetually hungover in 104 degrees, floating on a river drinking stones and natty with everyone else.

Living in the Bay Area or LA = traffic galore on an astronomical level - not to mention it costs 600$ a year just to park your car in front of your house in many places in the Bay Area on top of the already psychotic rental cost.

That said, both the Bay Area, LA, and even San Diego are fantastic places to live. Cultural, diverse, interesting, next-level night life, and growing job markets. I live in Sacramento because it's that much closer to skiing, and it's half the cost with most of the other great stuff, but I'd have no qualms if given the oppurtunity to move back to Oakland, or to downtown San Jose, or fuck, even LA sounds more acceptable by the day, and the more I talk to people about it.

**This post was edited on Jan 16th 2015 at 7:41:43am
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top