[Lateralus]

Hey-hey,

Lately, I've been evaluating my situation here in Oklahoma. It has occurred to me that while I may not currently be doing anything with my life (not in school, job sucks, living single... etc), I have no affinity for this state after having been here for 11 years and leaving while I have no strings attached might not be such a bad idear.

So, running down my list of places I'd like to live... I realize I have no list. However, the idea of living on the west coast has always appealed to me. Probably because I have always been a geek and had an admiration for the big companies in tech, most of which seem to be located on the west coast.

And while I know that there is nothing about my current credentials that would warrant applying for a position with any of my admired companies, I see no reason why I couldn't at least relocate to an area that I could see myself working in in the not so distant future.

My basic concerns regarding a move basically all center around finances. In the short term, money is not a problem. Not having a life here in cheaper-than-beans Oklahoma hasn't exactly kept me from banking pay checks. But nevertheless, I am in no hurry to get in over my head as far as living arrangements and drain my meager savings any quicker than I have to.

So, basically what I am looking for input on is where would be a well rounded place on the west coast to move? Decent hourly wage averages, acceptable renting prices, and good educational offerings are pretty much what I am looking for.

FYI: Were I to move, it would probably involve eBaying everything I own and hopping on a bus with a duffle bag and a few day's supply of Doritos and Dasani.

Any input would be appreciated.

[ryaxnb]

Try Sierra nevadas. Not west enough? Go in for Cambria, or Santa Clara- gorgeous country. Santa Cruz is spendy, but nice - I wouldn't recommend it.

[MORT A POTTY]

I am in a similar situation. I'd love to get out of Tulsa as well. in a few weeks that might be a possibility too once this semester is done. I have no direction though, but I do want to get out of Tulsa. Seattle might be nice, because I hear it rains quite a bit, which would be an excelent change of pace from shitty dry, hot as hell Tulsa. and the public transportation there is infinitely better.

I'm also interested in some similar advice.

[sworthy]

The west coast, especially the bay area and seattle are pretty damn expensive places to live. If you come, try to line up a job early or be ready to commute long distances.

[Randman]

Try to find a job first. Otherwise, it could turn out to be an expensive vacation.

[iMOTOR]

The San Diego area is a great place to live, perfect weather, tons of culture and arts, the beach. People aren't stuck-up down here like they are up in the 'oc'. Unfortunately, you have to either make at least about $60,000 or live with parents/roomates just to get by. Unless you live farther north where homes are bit cheaper, but then you will sit in traffic for hours everyday on your way to work.

What job do you have now?

[Lateralus]

I currently work at Lowe's.

I figure I could line up a job by working out a transfer to one of the west coast locations.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I currently work at Lowe's.

We had a few pallets of paving stones delivered here once, the guy told us that he makes *ssloads (i'm quoting him) of money as the Lowes commercial sales rep here. He said the reason he was with this other guy delivering bricks was because the driver only had a class b permit, and needed someone with a class b to ride along

[anthonyvthc]

I don't know if you consider Las Vegas the west coast, but I do (coming from NH). Anyway, when I moved here it took me about 3 weeks to find a crappy job, and two months to find a good one. The crappy one covered the bills. The good one allows me to save. Living a little extravagantly (for a 22 yr old), I spent about a grand before I got a job.

[goMac]

If you don't mind rain, you could consider Seattle or Portland.

Portland is much smaller than Seattle. However, it has a great mass transit system and is very easy to get around. That is.. if you don't drive, the roads here are a mess. It's a very beautiful city though. Some parts are a little shady, but you get that everywhere. Portland is also the next silicon valley if you're looking for a tech job. All the tech companies are moving to nearby Beaverton. Linus himself has even moved to Beaverton. Rent should be pretty good around Portland.

Seattle is a large city. You can find anything and everything there. All the neighborhoods are pretty nice. While the city is growing a bit beyond its roads, traffic is still decent. There's always usually something to do in Seattle. The nothern parts of Seattle should have pretty acceptable rent. There are quite a few community colleges all over Seattle education wise. If you're looking for a well rounded place, Seattle might be it. Rent will be more expensive than Oklahoma obviously, but as long as you get a place in a suburb you'll be fine.

The rain annoys a lot of people though. It's great in the summer, but non-natives grumble a lot in the winter.

[MORT A POTTY]

I love rain!!!

you talk very nicely about seattle (even other than the weather) plus, their public transportation system is getting a lot better within the next ten years with the stuff they're adding. and they have an NFL team and everything.

but ... so much work to do... find a job (maybe in nearby Redmond w/ Nintendo or those people across the street... ... or possibly Google's seattle office nah, gotta be smart to work there... but it would be nice.

probably just a crappy job at Wal*mart... bah. that sucks.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by MORT A POTTY

I love rain!!!

you talk very nicely about seattle (even other than the weather) plus, their public transportation system is getting a lot better within the next ten years with the stuff they're adding. and they have an NFL team and everything.

but ... so much work to do... find a job (maybe in nearby Redmond w/ Nintendo or those people across the street... ... or possibly Google's seattle office nah, gotta be smart to work there... but it would be nice.

probably just a crappy job at Wal*mart... bah. that sucks.

Oh yeah! Seattle is adding a monorail city wide. It'll actually run THROUGH Northgate Mall.

[SVass]

The Seattle monorail may be operational by 2020 when Jenna is president. Public transportation is lousy unless you live (and work) along the line. Jobs are tight. Lowes does have stores here; but Boeing is the old line major employer. Microsoft and Nintendo are out in the suburbs and hire temps for less than 30 hours per week to get around having to provide benefits to their inexperienced staff. They do have some high paid people with educations. sam

[MaxPower]

++ for another Tulsan looking to move. This thread came along at just the right t ime on my Monday.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by MaxPower

++ for another Tulsan looking to move.

Wow, Tulsa must really suck badly...

-t

[E's Lil Theorem]

Move to the Bay Area. Great schools, many companies around and like most places in the US, there are ghettos around with cheap housing. Unlike many places in the US, however, the ghettos around here aren't that bad. For example, there's great public and somewhat cheap (especially given gas prices nowadays) transportation out of the ghettos, whether it'd be for your job, school or simply going out.

Anyway, for starters, check out craigslist.org.

Good luck with it all, man.

[historylme]

Try B.C, it's beautiful country. Only draw back, the early and long nights during the winter months, but then, in the summer the sets at 11pm! Or close to that.

The Bay Area is great (most of it), but if you want cheaper rents, the East Bay is best. If you can, try to hook up some schooling, that way you have a place to live and things to do to get you started.

I love Santa Cruz, it is amazing, but expensive, but if you feel like free love and great food, check it out.

Edit: Yeah, E makes a great point, start with craigslist.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by SVass

The Seattle monorail may be operational by 2020 when Jenna is president. Public transportation is lousy unless you live (and work) along the line. Jobs are tight. Lowes does have stores here; but Boeing is the old line major employer. Microsoft and Nintendo are out in the suburbs and hire temps for less than 30 hours per week to get around having to provide benefits to their inexperienced staff. They do have some high paid people with educations. sam

Public transportation isn't that great right now compared to Portland, but I don't know about job problems. If anything, it's better than it is everywhere else right now.

[MaxPower]

I used to be down on Tulsa as a teenager. I grew out of that mindset and found that it's not a bad town at all. With the dot com boom we had some insane progress on modernizing the city. However, Tulsa's key to rapid growth were the can't lose trio of American Airlines, Worldcom, and Williams Communications. The dotcom bubble and 9/11 delivered quite a blow to the momentum of the city. Nowadays it is getting back to normal but not really a hotbed of development. I have also been here for 19 years and it's time for a change.


There is also the matter of: Violent crime on the rise, refinery pollution (thanks Sunoco!), exceedingly conservative majority, more churches and convnenience stores than you can imagine, tattoos are illegal and immoral, gambling and casinos are illegal and immoral (unless your civilization was assimilated by invading pilgrims of course), rural legislators introducing bills solely to irk people (IE: cockfighting fencing equipment), etc.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by MaxPower

There is also the matter of: Violent crime on the rise, refinery pollution (thanks Sunoco!), exceedingly conservative majority, more churches and convnenience stores than you can imagine, tattoos are illegal and immoral, gambling and casinos are illegal and immoral (unless your civilization was assimilated by invading pilgrims of course), rural legislators introducing bills solely to irk people (IE: cockfighting fencing equipment), etc.

Don't forget - a bank on every corner too, right next door to the churches and Quiktrips. Tulsa's not bad, but I don't see myself staying here indefinitely. I've been at the same company for some time now, and I'd like to move on at some point. One issue with that is that comparable jobs aren't too plentiful here, but aside from that, I'd like to live in another part of the country for awhile. The west coast would be great, but the disparity in the cost of living is quite large.

[MORT A POTTY]

damn, quite a few people here from Tulsa it seems! strikingly disproportionate.

[Lateralus]

I know I had said west coast originally, but what to y'all think of Austin, TX?

I have asked for suggestions from coworkers on where they would go if they were in my position and most of them said Austin for basically the same reason. Growing city, career opportunities, not too expensive to live in.

[MORT A POTTY]

I've been to Austin, but I'm not a fan cause it's hot there too... possibly Philly or someplace on the east coast wouldn't be bad... I definitely wouldn't mind a cooler place than Tulsa. you can put on a lot of extra layers if you have to, but you can only take off so many.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I know I had said west coast originally, but what to y'all think of Austin, TX?

I have asked for suggestions from coworkers on where they would go if they were in my position and most of them said Austin for basically the same reason. Growing city, career opportunities, not too expensive to live in.

I've considered Austin, but I've also considered San Antonio. Both are nice cities.

[olePigeon]

Northern California is the best. Except Oakland and Stockton.

[LaGow]

Don't move to the Northwest. I spent 12 years there and it was like a prison. Oregon, in particular, is a bad bet. They have absolutely no commitment to public education (Portland cancelled the last month of school due to the public's lack of interest in financing it) and currently posses the country's highest unemployment rate. The Portland public transit system isn't that great, so you will definitely need a car unless you live downtown. And then you will defintely need a car if you want to do anything. During my final year, spent in Eugene, I did not see the sun from January until March sometime. There is a reason the Northwest hosts the nation's largest suicide rate. Be warned: pretty to look at, but with serious drawbacks. You know, like Sean Young.

[Patrick]

Well, that's not too bad. IIRC during the few years I spent in southeastern Washington I didn't see the sun from November through March, sometimes longer.

And depending on your political leanings, there can be a huge difference as you get farther away from the big cities on the west coast. Not to say that anyone from Oklahoma would be liberal or anything.


EDIT: if you're considering Northern CA, avoid East Palo Alto as well. I've heard its claim to fame is that it was once the murder capital of the nation.

[LaGow]

Originally Posted by Patrick

Well, that's not too bad. IIRC during the few years I spent in southeastern Washington I didn't see the sun from November through March, sometimes longer.

It either rained or drizzled the entire time. Then I moved to New York and was happy. Here it rains for a day, occasionally two, and the next day it's simply beautiful. It took getting used to. And the weird thing is New York gets the same amount of rainfall on average that the Northwest does.

[TailsToo]

I've been thinking about moving too.... there might be a decent job, but I'd have to move to MN! Not sure that I can deal with those winters.

[itai195]

Having grown up in the SF Bay Area, I would not suggest moving here. It's too much of a rat race, cost of living is too high, the state/local government is awful, and it's very difficult to afford a decent home in a decent area. Personally, I wouldn't live in the East Bay, even though it's cheaper. Not just because I think it's a bad area -- though I do think it is, and I lived there for 4 years so I have some experience. I'd mostly recommend against it because commutes out of the East Bay are terrible. And don't even think about a place like Berkeley, unless you like paying obscene rents for apartments that would've been substandard 50 years ago. True, there are 'ghetto' areas in the South Bay and Peninsula that are also cheap compared to their surroundings, but I don't understand why anyone would settle for them when you could live in a great area almost anyplace else in the country for the same money or less.

That said, the Bay Area is beautiful!

Personally, I think Seattle/Portland are much better options. Seattle has gotten more expensive, but it's still a lot more affordable than the Bay Area and equally beautiful. San Diego is also a great place. I'm also a fan of the Phoenix, AZ area and probably will be moving there myself. And there are a lot of nicer, smaller towns to live, especially along the CA coast. Monterey, Carmel, Santa Cruz for example. It really depends on what kind of community you want. You could also find pretty rural areas to live, in farming country or in the mountains. There's a lot of variation.

Lateralus -- I've never been to Austin but I've also heard nothing but praise for the place. Even from my brother, who is a such a yuppy I could never imagine him living in Texas. Beautiful new homes, lots of jobs, affordable cost of living, decent politics, etc.

[Macfreak7]

North San Diego County (La Jolla to Carlsbad) is pretty laid back and relaxed. Great weather, not too crowded either. I'm not sure about the job opps. tho.

[MORT A POTTY]

Originally Posted by E's Lil Theorem

Move to the Bay Area. Great schools, many companies around and like most places in the US, there are ghettos around with cheap housing. Unlike many places in the US, however, the ghettos around here aren't that bad. For example, there's great public and somewhat cheap (especially given gas prices nowadays) transportation out of the ghettos, whether it'd be for your job, school or simply going out.

Anyway, for starters, check out craigslist.org.

Good luck with it all, man.

I accidentally went to craiglist.com OOPS!

[goMac]

Originally Posted by LaGow

Don't move to the Northwest. I spent 12 years there and it was like a prison. Oregon, in particular, is a bad bet. They have absolutely no commitment to public education (Portland cancelled the last month of school due to the public's lack of interest in financing it) and currently posses the country's highest unemployment rate. The Portland public transit system isn't that great, so you will definitely need a car unless you live downtown. And then you will defintely need a car if you want to do anything. During my final year, spent in Eugene, I did not see the sun from January until March sometime. There is a reason the Northwest hosts the nation's largest suicide rate. Be warned: pretty to look at, but with serious drawbacks. You know, like Sean Young.

For education, Portland isn't that great admittedly. However (warning: shameless plug follows) the Shoreline School District in North Seattle is one of the nation's best (I used to work for them). Technology wise, they are far ahead of the curve, working very closely with Apple. They are starting 1 to 1 laptop deployment next year. They're at http://www.shorelineschools.org

Portland mass transit is great. You must not have been here recently. There is a huge light rail system that goes everywhere. I have no problem getting anywhere in the city without a car. This is Seattle's only fault, but hopefully they will get the Monorail after the dust settles (to clarify, I go to college in Portland, home is in Seattle).

And yes, the rain has been mentioned. Seattle summers are GREAT, but winters will be wet.

Originally Posted by LaGow

Don't move to the Northwest. I spent 12 years there and it was like a prison. Oregon, in particular, is a bad bet. They have absolutely no commitment to public education (Portland cancelled the last month of school due to the public's lack of interest in financing it) and currently posses the country's highest unemployment rate. The Portland public transit system isn't that great, so you will definitely need a car unless you live downtown. And then you will defintely need a car if you want to do anything. During my final year, spent in Eugene, I did not see the sun from January until March sometime. There is a reason the Northwest hosts the nation's largest suicide rate. Be warned: pretty to look at, but with serious drawbacks. You know, like Sean Young.

Sorry, bub.

It's Michigan for the second quarter going (I believe) and getting worse http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm . Portland used to have that distinction but seems we've got more jobs here that can go overseas than they do now.

Portland public transit system not that great? Huh? Compared to New Yuck and Chitown, probably not, but it is much better than many other locales in the US. And, you don't need a car - Portlander's ride bikes. You were there, right?

Portlander's love to bitch to people about how crappy it is there because they don't want any more people showing up - they want it for themselves.

[LaGow]

Originally Posted by screamingFit

Sorry, bub.

It's Michigan for the second quarter going (I believe) and getting worse http://www.bls.gov/web/laumstrk.htm . Portland used to have that distinction but seems we've got more jobs here that can go overseas than they do now.

Portland public transit system not that great? Huh? Compared to New Yuck and Chitown, probably not, but it is much better than many other locales in the US. And, you don't need a car - Portlander's ride bikes. You were there, right?

Dude, I grew up there. I remember when the light rail went in--oh, the bitching and moaning. Now they have it and it's decent. But all my friends who still live in Portland still have cars.

Portlanders love to bitch to people about how crappy it is there because they don't want any more people showing up - they want it for themselves.

That's yet another problem I have with Oregonians in general. It's been that way forever. Who do they hate now? It used to be "Californians."

Ha! I just realized. look at me: an (or former) Oregonian bitching about Oregon in an effort to keep people from moving there!

Edit: realized my true self.

[MORT A POTTY]

I think I'll pass on Oregon

thanks for the help with that one.

[olePigeon]

I'm telling ya, Norcal is the way to go. The best weather in the country. 65 in the winter, 80 in the summer, with an occasional "cold" and "hot" trends. But when it gets too hot, you just go to the beach and the friggin' cold ass Pacific is waiting for you.

Not to mention that California has every single ecosystem. This is something unique to California, and extremely rare in the world. You can go from a desert to a rain forest within a few hours, or go skiing or to the beach. It's great.

[Randman]

Rain forest? Where's the rain forest in Cali?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Not to mention that California has every single ecosystem. This is something unique to California, and extremely rare in the world. You can go from a desert to a rain forest within a few hours, or go skiing or to the beach. It's great.

Washington has rainforest, desert, mountains, and snow covered mountains all within decent range of Seattle.

[Garage81]

i used to live in nebraska, so i feel your pain. i headed the opposite direction tho, i headed to florida. good colleges, cheap.

[LaGow]

Originally Posted by Garage81

i used to live in nebraska, so i feel your pain. i headed the opposite direction tho, i headed to florida. good colleges, cheap.

I spent 9 years in Nebraska. The weather's a killer--cold and snowy in winter, brain-sucking humidity in summer. But the people are fantastic--when you can get them to talk. They're also a little fanatical about their football team. We haven't lived there in years, but my brother is still nuts about the Cornhuskers, maybe even moreso than the Ducks--which is where he went to college. Go figure. Housing's cheap there, too.

[MORT A POTTY]

I know a few people from nebraska, they're nice.

I definitely wouldn't want to live there though.

[MrForgetable]

i like north san diego, maybe sacramento area?, and maybe suburbs in orange county for california.

[iMOTOR]

Originally Posted by LaGow

They're also a little fanatical about their football team.

A LITTLE?!?

Every time I visit Lincoln, it seems like everyone has a red car, wears red sweatshirts, etc.....