Do yourself a favor & move to California over San Antonio CA-BS be damned!

5/29/2012 11:51:24 PM

Africa

5/29/2012 11:51:25 PM

Can anyone put me in touch with someone who has in the past or currently lives in one of those two places?

Since no one reads the last post:

Quote :

"Washington, DC Santa Barbara, CA Tucson, AZ Houston, TX San Antonio, TX Milwaukee, WI St Paul, MN Down to two. Santa Barbara is the leading choice right now. In order to keep the same standard of living, according to this handy cost of living calculator from CNN (http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html, not sure how accurate), my $35,000 salary in Boston would need to be: $33,852 in Los Angeles (Santa Barbara wasn't on their list, but I would assume it would be cheaper than LA) $23,732 in San Antonio The Santa Barbara offer is $38k, the San Antonio offer is $30k. I have no idea how LA is cheaper than Boston but there it is. A similar calculator (http://www.bestplaces.net/col/) gave completely different results: $50,354 Santa Barbara $18, 942 San Antonio"

5/29/2012 11:53:08 PM

Fuck CA. They will tax you to death, its expensive as hell and the people there are nuts.
The state is beautiful though.
Go to TX and visit CA.

5/29/2012 11:57:53 PM

Awww, you're not coming to DC with me.

5/30/2012 12:01:56 AM

Why is Houston out? Houston over San Antonio if the cost of living in CA scares you

5/30/2012 12:08:37 AM

Houston never made an offer. DC was looking for someone fresh out of college that they could pay less and not make a long term commitment to. Milawukee and St Paul were ruled out by climate preference. The group I was speaking with in Tucson was just downright strange.

Swingles, why don't you just come to California with me?

5/30/2012 12:56:02 AM

I couldn't find anyone out there (I did look at UCSD and UC Davis though) who wanted a PhD student! Lame-os.

5/30/2012 1:20:25 AM

I don't know how they can pay less than 30$k. Christ, that's not even livable.

5/30/2012 1:23:08 AM

Santa Barbara now has an official offer on the table. I'm flying out there tonight to look around and if I like what I see I'm going to take it, but will try to haggle with the contract.

6/3/2012 8:28:34 AM

$35k to live in Santa Barbara? What do you do for a living, dig ditches?

Sorry, that was rude, but seriously, no fucking way. 35k per year in Santa Barbara will put you on a ramen noodle packet a night kind of budget. You'll be lucky to be living somewhere that doesn't have bars on the windows.

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 9:17 AM. Reason : asdfs]

6/3/2012 9:14:37 AM

Santa Barbara is beautiful, but there's really not much to do compared to other places in SoCal

and 35k is a really meager salary

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 12:48 PM. Reason : you're gonna be POOR]

6/3/2012 12:47:35 PM

Quote :

"You can go ahead and scratch DC off your list if cost of living is a significant factor for you."

this

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 6:23 PM. Reason : Good luck though!!!]

6/3/2012 6:21:20 PM

do you all know how much traffic there is in Houston....spent last weekend there and the traffic was stupid on some of the highways, not to mention people driving 100mph in 65...

I live in San Antonio, and it's really not as bad as some people here suggest. It's dirt cheap to live here, as cheap as Guatemala, so you can save up a ton of money and travel to anywhere. The economy here is very stable, tourism and some Fortune 500s that won't be disappearing anytime soon...

There are other things to do besides visiting the Alamo and Riverwalk. If we want to judge cities by attractions, what do Charlotte and Raleigh have? (I love and miss NC, but it's not better than Texas)

6/3/2012 6:35:03 PM

if you value your freedom from retarded and oppressive laws, you will not move to california

6/3/2012 6:42:21 PM

^What? Oppressive? California is the most laid back state in the union.

35k is not much but you will either live in the ghetto somewhere else for cheaper, live in a nice area somewhere else for the same high COL or live in SB for that high COL so it all balances out anyway. Grab a roommate. Negotiate the contract by telling them to adjust their offer for your COL difference compared to where you are living now so you won't be taking an essential paycut with their current offer. Everybody lowballs the initial offer.

6/3/2012 7:05:10 PM

I agree with the oppression. I lived in Orange County for 7 months recently (2 years ago, long business trip.) The housing is expensive. My 2-bedroom apartment was $1800/month. Then the government nickels and dimes you everywhere. Toll roads. $5 parking to go to the local park. $25 "recycling" tax to buy a TV. It felt like I couldn't just be free and do stuff I wanted. It felt like I had to be a millionaire to get by. Not that $35k will get you anything in any of the cities you listed, but still.

On the plus side, I drove up to Santa Barbara one time and it was absolutely gorgeous.

6/3/2012 8:01:09 PM

Quote :

"if you value your freedom from retarded and oppressive laws, you will not move to california"

Honestly, I don't think anyone in NC has the right to call CA's laws oppressive and retarded- didn't y'all just pass amendment one?

6/3/2012 8:40:15 PM

yeah, seriously. i met a pot-head last night who got a medical marijuana license because he told his flower-child doctor that he has a hard time eating and sleeping without being high.



can't do that in texas. or nc, for that matter.

you can buy liquor on a sunday at a safeway in california. that's freedom, baby.

socal is fake and anti-urban, though.

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 8:47 PM. Reason : ]

6/3/2012 8:42:45 PM

SoCal definitely ain't NorCal, but it still has its charms (weather, beaches, scenery)

people who spout off shit about California being 'oppressive' have probably never even visited it though

expensive and a poorly managed economy =/= oppressive

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 8:53 PM. Reason : asdf]

6/3/2012 8:52:29 PM

35k isn't livable? I mean yeah it ain't luxurious, but it's sure as fuck livable.

6/3/2012 8:54:48 PM

I lived on less than $30k as a grad student/undergrad in the Bay Area, and it's one of the most expensive places to live in the country. It all depends on what your priorities are. If you want your own place in a nice neighborhood, good fucking luck though

6/3/2012 9:04:44 PM

Quote :

"California is the most laid back state in the union"

not when it comes to guns

6/3/2012 9:42:05 PM

and isn't that what really matters?

6/3/2012 9:42:37 PM

to folks who enjoy recreational shooting and defending themselves, yes, it is.

enjoying defending themselves isn't the right way to put it. i don't want to have to defend myself and i certainly wouldn't enjoy having to use my weapon in defense, but i do like having the right to defend myself.

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 9:46 PM. Reason : adsf]

6/3/2012 9:44:29 PM

plenty of people own guns in CA

coastal and liberal mega cities in California might not celebrate gun ownership, but there are PLENTY of people who live in rural areas all throughout the states that own guns, shoot, and hunt

6/3/2012 11:02:36 PM

true

but i've got guns in my safe that aren't legal to own in CA

6/3/2012 11:03:57 PM

the general philosophy in California is that you usually don't get hassled/punished by law enforcement if you're minding your own business and not bothering anyone else. this attitude runs deep.

nobody would ever find/punish you for owning a gun that wasn't legal in CA- unless you were doing something that would warrant people caring

6/3/2012 11:06:27 PM

you are way wrong

i suggest that you refrain from discussing topics which you know little to nothing about

6/3/2012 11:07:37 PM

Do you actually live in California and own a gun there?

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 11:10 PM. Reason : Have you even been to CA?]

6/3/2012 11:09:23 PM

nope, too many angry gun owners on http://www.calguns.net for me to ever want to set foot there

i do hope you enjoy any time you spend there

6/3/2012 11:12:26 PM

6/3/2012 11:19:10 PM

California is great, but it's a little over-crowded. It's a good thing that people who are too afraid to visit stay home- it helps keep away the gun-loving Republicans.

[Edited on June 3, 2012 at 11:21 PM. Reason : asdf]

6/3/2012 11:20:18 PM

gun thread in chit chat

i'm done

6/3/2012 11:22:00 PM

who brought it up?

oh that's right...

6/3/2012 11:23:10 PM

^^ LOL! That's the second time you've done that shit today.

6/3/2012 11:24:27 PM

to folks who enjoy recreational shooting and defending themselves, and fantasize about legally killing a minority, yes, it is.

6/3/2012 11:55:17 PM

is it the bible or the constitution that guarantees the right to bear arms?

i totally forget

6/4/2012 12:02:19 AM

It has been decided. I'm going to Santa Barbara. I asked for more money and they're giving it to me, as well as full creative control over my program (I work in youth engagement...kind of like being a teacher but done entirely outside of the classroom). Thanks everyone for your input!

How could I say no to all of this?




(I'll be able to see the mountains AND the ocean from my office).

[Edited on June 7, 2012 at 7:04 PM. Reason : -]

6/7/2012 7:02:09 PM

Weird. I heard about this t-girl that raped and murdered a jewish guy just a few days ago in santa barbara. Wonder if they ever caught him?

[Edited on June 7, 2012 at 7:21 PM. Reason : Frank white]

6/7/2012 7:20:28 PM

I have the exact same question but with a few more constraints

I'm a very avid motorcycle racer and access to tracks is a big deal for me and I also need enough room to store my gear (trailer, big truck, bikes). Would prefer good nightlife. Also looking for good corporate culture, heavy in innovation, preferably with folks that look like me (more than just and 20s/30s vs all 40+).

won't rent no matter where I go

6/7/2012 7:40:06 PM

go west, young man.

6/7/2012 7:41:47 PM

Dude, good choice! I got here wayyyyy too late but Santa Barbara would be my first choice.

California is like God's golden jewel on the earth. I love that state

6/7/2012 9:04:13 PM

Did I mention I also might get to privately tutor Rob Lowe's kids?

6/8/2012 12:11:13 AM

can i touch you?

6/8/2012 12:46:38 AM

who is rob lowe?

6/8/2012 8:42:08 AM

to me, he's "that guy", to me

6/8/2012 8:51:47 AM

Can I get in line to touch you?

My aunt and uncle lived in northern california. They hated it and the state in general, especially taxes.

6/8/2012 8:55:54 AM

Maybe the state hated them

6/8/2012 5:46:38 PM

4 years later and no regrets on my decision. I still haven't become much of a beach person, but the hiking trails here are incredible and I have met awesome people (including my now fiancee). People are chill, nightlife is great and easily accessible, never any traffic, and there's so much more to do here than I thought there would be.

Cost of living has definitely been an issue, but since my fiancee is a PhD student we'll be moving into family student housing at UCSB next year for nearly half the cost of what we collectively pay now. I'm not excited to live closer the university but it will be worth it.

4/17/2016 2:17:38 PM