Move to Arizona.

I've lived in So Cal (OC) all my life - it's too damn crowded, too damn expensive and is just getting sh!tty!

I want to move to Fiji, but I don’t know if the locals will let me (unlike So Cal, we let everyone move here).

Anyway, not trying to discourage you... OC is probably your best bet (south OC). But San Diego has a football team, so... flip a coin.

 

I have heard a lot of good things about Arizona, especially Phoenix. It seems to be really booming right now, and housing I heard is so cheap. You are right, it would be a nice move 'if' I was married, and looking to start a family, buy a house, ect(the way most people seem to do it when they finish college). I just have way different goals.

Im just too young right now. I won't be married any time soon for sure, definantly not starting a family or have kids any time soon. I HAVE to be by the ocean and love warm weather and nice scenery. And thats the type of warm weather where I can drive during the mid day and have my window down w/out having a heat stroke) or even go biking during the day.

I grew up all my life in Virginia Beach then came to Texas for college. I did not realize how much I value the coast and how it makes me feel until I was without it for a while. There is just so much things that come with the beach, a whole different culture that can't be replicated with a river or lake. Plus women are usually the best by the coast and also in better shape.

I would gladly pay double what I pay now for my apartment in Texas (which is probably what I will be paying or close to it in CA) to have a better quality of life (to me that is). California is probably the best place I have come to. Yea, I heard its crowded, expensive(supply and demand) but I am more than willing to deal with that at this point of my life to live there.

 

Civil/Architecture = Irvine area...heck, this is the only city I know still under construction and will be for quite some time as the population increases.

 

Born and raised in Irvine, I wouldn't want to move there straight out of college. Raise a family, sure, but I like other cities around it better for that anyway.

I have also visited SD a lot and love it as well. Were it my choice coming out of college, I would go for SD, or some of the LA area beach communities (Redondo, Manhattan, etc.). Add to that your "I just loved SanDiego!" and your "I'm just too young" comment and OC is not right for you.

BTW, I currently live in Aliso Viejo and love it (even though I am a couple streets away from the recent shootings). It is close to PCH/Laguna for those coastal drives, and really quiet -- great for starting a family (have a 2 mo. old son). But, there isn't much to do (not that I would have the time anyway....).

 

Lived in the valley for 15 years. It was once called the armpit of California. If you can stand hot weather and bad traffic the standard of living is not quite as high as some areas, but still up there. Close enough to everything, but again the traffic. If I could give you one word of advice, that would be to live close to your work. The time/money/stress you save will be well worth it. Good luck.

 

If you think SD clubs are sausage fests, Then I am thinking you are going to the wrong clubs, LOL..............stay out of "Montage" and "The Brass Rail" HAHAHA! LMAO!! (just kidding) I have lived here all my life also, most of my friends are promoters for A list clubs in the area. Not sausage fests at all, Just gotta know people and where to go and when!!

 

Yeah......true..........about San diego................+1

 

Architecture:
San Diego has a small industry
Irvine has a few companies working on single family home construction.
So if you're interested in cookie cutter architecture, you may want to try
those firms. When Flour Corp moved out, that about did it for any really
large firms.
L.A./Valley has more firms that actually do any real construction. If you're
looking to get into larger, commercial projects, I would head up towards LA.

I have a nephew graudating BS Arch from USC this coming May. He already has an offer most people would not shy away from. But he's waiting for something else.

good luck