Long Beach, Ca is a lot cheaper than San Diego and gives you potential for job search in LA. I didn't read all the answers so don't know if we ever found out your profession, but that's the place to start...with a job.

This thread appears to violate Fodor's new guidelines on Forums since it is not travel related.

That only means it should be posted in The Lounge forum, rather than the U.S.

I live in the Bay Area...I love it...and I make a good salary as does my wife and we could buy a freaking palace in most parts of the country for what amounts to a cottage here. With that said, I love it. It rarely gets hot in SF - when the weather is above 70 degrees and sunny, people pat themselves on the backs about the amazing weather. today it was freezing and windy in the financial district while 25 miles south in the Peninsula it's hot. it's a microclimate thing as others have mentioned.

You need to trade off a few things and figure out your top 3 most important criteria - near the top of that list is access to good jobs and careers, by the way.

I have friends living in Seattle - they looooovvvvee it. It's expensive but more affordable than the Bay Area and has some cool neighborhoods. With that said, I have heard that it is also a bit provincial...there's a whole crowd that grew up there and doesn't necessarily love outsiders. Austin is fantastic...funky, great bars and music and there are very good schools in the burbs when you're ready to start a family. No beach...no skiing...crazy hot in the summer. Like I said, trade-offs. If money was no object, I would live in the Bay Area followed by some of the westside communities in LA.

<I have heard that it is also a bit provincial...there's a whole crowd that grew up there and doesn't necessarily love outsiders.>

Well that's nothing I've ever experienced, and I live here (Seattle). There was a bit of a movement against all the Californians moving up here in the 80's. But that's nothing I've even heard mentioned in years.

I do agree with the post above and my love for the West Coast. Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. I absolutely adore them all.

I also agree there's a reason expensive places are more expensive!!! Because they are nicer (or at least a lot of other people think so too) to live in.

Also...scratch "beach" off the list if you are thinking of San Francisco. No matter what others might say, this is really not a beach town. Maybe SF is an "ocean" town...you walk along the ocean, you hike near the ocean, you drive near the ocean, you breath magic breaths of beauty near the ocean...you don't go for a leisurely dip in this ocean...unless you're wearing a fat wet suit. For the "beach", that's more LA and San Diego.

I went through this situation 10 years ago. I too lived just outside of nyc and moved to San Diego. I couldn't find a teaching job even with being certified in California and ended up as a waitress for a while and blowing through much of my savings. I had been there before but hated living there, everything was so spread out and PB and OB seemed so scetchy. As others have stated it lacked culture. Encinitas and Solana Beach just north seemed pretty cool but a far commute from work in the city.

I also looked into Portland but the job situation was terrible and they were laying off a bunch of teachers and closing schools and this was 10 years ago. Most people I know have left or are in pretty grim financial states out there. It is so pretty out there though.

I love San Francisco and Seattle and would move to either in a heartbeat if I was back in my 20's and not so attached to my job. They are both very manageable cities with tons of culture/food/nightlife and culture. In these times you probably want a job secured before you move all that way. I am back in NY and every winter I hate it and it lasts forever. Get out while you can!

Meant to say PB and OB seemed sketchy.

Forget the humitity and check out Savannah, Georgia!
Great people, a mix of city, history, culture, music, it has it all!
If I wasn't here....I'd be there :)

I just came across your post as I randomly asked Google 'Where should I move?' lol! I'm curious as to where you ended up settling?

anasazii: You may have a long wait for an answer. This was Travelgirl's one and only post - she hasn't been back since May 2010.