Ever try moving to another state?

[AGWAN]

I am working quite hard towards moving from northern Utah to northern California. (because of romance, And yes. I've already weighed every awful WHAT IF.)

Fact of the matter is, I have no prospects for career here, nor do I really possess work of any quality. If I can do blue collar labor here, I can do it there. but there will have a much more... EXISTING arts community and my girlfriend.

I am left with how to get there. and how to set up an address of any kind once there... I am more than willing to be homeless. And since what I own already fits inside 7 rubbermade totes its not too hard to do. the trick is how I get set up in a new place.

so thats the basic question. how does one set down roots in a new place?

 

[line6man]

I'm not sure I understand why you and your girlfriend are moving to a different state because of your romance?

In any case, I won't go into politics here, but I wouldn't want to do it.  :dontknow:

 

[Updown]

:icon_scratch:  There's nothing wrong with a life change or move.

1st --- You need to head west, by the look of it.  :toothy11: 
2nd --- Do some research as to where you want to go
ie: work / transport / housing / rental market / pubs / lifestyle etc
3nd --- You'll always make new friends etc wherever you go.
4th --- Make sure your near a good music shop.  :icon_biggrin:

I  :dontknow:  your situation … BUT
If I was doing what your doing, I'd rent a place or stay in a hotel / motel in that area,
until I found somewhere suitable.
Or stay with someone I knew in the area.
:sign13:  Could set-up a postal box, for your address until settled in somewhere of choice.

How to get there …. removalists, car, train, bus, plane, donkey, walk ……  :dontknow: 

All the best to you.  :icon_thumright:

 

[AGWAN]

I'm not sure I understand why you and your girlfriend are moving to a different state because of your romance?

In any case, I won't go into politics here, but I wouldn't want to do it.  :dontknow:

Goats are not accepted as brides in Utah.

xD, No. she's moving to northern California for 4 years. she currently lives with her parents in So Cal. I live in Northern Utah. when she moves to NoCal She'll be totally alone. long distance relationships are stressful.

:icon_scratch:  There's nothing wrong with a life change or move.

1st --- You need to head west, by the look of it.  :toothy11: 
2nd --- Do some research as to where you want to go
ie: work / transport / housing / rental market / pubs / lifestyle etc
3nd --- You'll always make new friends etc wherever you go.
4th --- Make sure your near a good music shop.  :icon_biggrin:

I  :dontknow:  your situation … BUT
If I was doing what your doing, I'd rent a place or stay in a hotel / motel in that area,
until I found somewhere suitable.
Or stay with someone I knew in the area.
:sign13:  Could set-up a postal box, for your address until settled in somewhere of choice.

How to get there …. removalists, car, train, bus, plane, donkey, walk ……  :dontknow: 

All the best to you.  :icon_thumright:

Haha! thanks!

 

[Cagey]

I guess I'm missing the confusion here, or perhaps you're reading too much into the whole thing. This is the United States. Moving to another state is no different than moving to another street. You buy/rent some living space, and move your stuff into it. Get the gas and electric turned on, file a change of address form with the post office and let all your creditors and subscriptions know your new address. If you don't have a job waiting for you, take lotsa money along. Especially if you're moving to California. For a lot of real reasons, more people and businesses are leaving that state than moving into it.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

California is bloody lovely though. Jealous.

 

[Cagey]

California is bloody lovely though. Jealous.

That's what I've heard. Never been there. It's one of only 3 states I haven't been to. Lotta beautiful places in this country, though, that don't have ridiculous costs of living and aren't overrun by umm... redistributionists.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Heh. I'm something of a "redistributionist" myself I'm afraid, ironic, given that I work in investment banking. Doesn't mean we can't get on famously though, some of my best friends etc...  ccasion14:

I'm a big movie lover and so of course Hollywood was one of the first places I wanted to visit in the US. My first trip there was actually [long story removed] and I got to hang out with Ron Howard for a day. Now that's Hollywood!

I've only seen LA in California, twice, but I thought it was a really lovely place. Sure it has rough areas but I live in one of the "worst" areas of London, and it's the same thing - you just don't go to those places, or make eye contact with those people. Easy. The other places I've seen are NY, Vegas, Grand Canyon and lots of Florida. You really do have a fantastic country there and it's no surprise that some people never see the need to get a passport. I love it over there.

When our kids are a bit older we might do a coast-to-coast holiday. But before that we'll take them to Disney, under false pretence of it being a boring trip for Daddy's work.

 

[Updown]

I'd would like to get to England & the USA sometime, like to see NASA althou thats a bit quiet now.
But my big fear is your population in the USA scars the hell out of me ….. so many many people !! 

DownUnder population just under 23,000,000 with a vast area of land.
For instance England would fit into one of our smallest states, Victoria.

:icon_scratch:  Tipping I just don't understand, never have understood …. 
Sure I do that here in OZ in a decent restaurant that dished up great food. (no not Macca's)  :laughing7:
But that's all !!
Must be something to do with your Taxs or Amount you get Paid there.

Oh well one can dream of a decent Holiday  :icon_biggrin:

I've still got many places here to see too .....

 

[Cagey]

It's not as bad as it would seem from watching movies and such, although it is about 10 times what you're used to. We have roughly 32 people/Km, where you have 3/Km. If you want dense, go to Japan. They have 339/km, and a lot of their land is mountainous and not suitable to habitation. So, it's even denser than it sounds from just raw numbers.

 

[clearerphish]

California is an amazing state, Northern California is better than Southern California, and your life is about to be changed since your beer is limited to what, 3% alcohol in Utah?

Utah's gorgeous, but get outta there bro. The rules in that state are JACKED UP.

 

[vic108]

I lived in California for a little while back in the early '90's. I had gone out there a few times on vacation to visit friends in Big Sur, so I thought that after I got laid off from where I worked, I'd try my luck out there.

I got there just when the economy tanked and finding a job was tough. All I could find was a retail job that paid minimum wage. The cost of just about everything is sky high there. Nearly all my money went to pay the rent. I lost 30 lbs when I had to live off of rice and locally grown veggies for 7 months. Many nights, I went to bed hungry.

Between starving, the fires, the mudslides, the riots, the earthquakes, bobcats, rattlers, etc... I had enough of California and moved back east after almost 2 years. California is a GREAT place to visit but it's TOUGH place to live.

Good luck. Really think hard about how you want to plan your future, take a sober look at your options!

 

[crash]

I would have to agree with Vic.  Cali is a great place to visit, but would not want to live there.  Visited there at least 20 times over the past 15 years.  The traffic alone is enough to keep me away (both in the Bay area and LA).  Then add on the cost of living, I don't see how it is possible to live out there unless you are making $100k+ per year.

 

[AGWAN]

I'm trying to move to Humboldt County, Near Arcata.

that's REALLY far north in California. If I fart too hard Oregon can smell it. I am only concerned with making it there for the duration of her college career. I'm a visual artist, meaning I'm USED to working horrible blue collar jobs for beans. no real upset for me there. I also live on very little, which is why when I do get money I tend to blow it on expensive bicycles or... guitars.

So I have no money now. I'm looking for work here to save up a bit, buy an old van... drive it up there and live in it until I settle down. not having a phone is making this tricky. as the jobs I'm applying for THERE all wish to call me. (silly gooses!) But I don't need much money.

I'm well aware of all the opinions on California. I've been there enough times to form my own. If not for the fact that my girlfriend lives there, I'd not be too keen on moving there. but my career in art follows me whereever I go, and my the level of work I generally get is not too hard to get.

its the getting there, then getting enough set up to get that work. that's the trick.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

Well if you are living in/near the bay area, yeah you need a big salary.  However, as you migrate into the central valley, it is much slower, dominated by farms and cattle.  There are lots of towns that are quite a bit easier to live in.  Not that many people as you head away from the bay, So Cal, or I80.  Sacramento has been sprawling, but the 2008 crash stopped most of the expansion.  There is a lot of empty houses and places looking for people.  Therefore it is a market where you can pick and choose.  Can be hot in the summer 106 F/41C, but it passes and the humidity is low.  The winters are mild, seems like it drizzles for a month on end some years.  Gas is expensive, food can be had reasonably cheap, and there is generally work somewhere.  I am not saying it is the easiest place to get by, but it can be done.
Patrick

 

[AGWAN]

yeah, not moving to THE Bay, but there is a bay there... so far housing seems a bit muddled... Its a town full of hippies and college students. Not owning a car I do have to live close... but not owning a car means I can also devote a bit more to rent. finding work in or around it is still a bit daunting.  but not impossible (possibly easier 3 miles away in Eureka) historically the weather seems to sit between 55 and 70 degree's year round (which tells me the bugs must be MONSTROUS. In Utah our long hard winters keep bugs to a minimum)

My biggest hurdle right now is getting enough money saved up to move there, with no phone, car or address (I'm currently homeless, carless and phoneless (yet in possession of a laptop full of the software I need to do the Design side of what I am skilled at.) Its hard to get work. which is funny, as I got rid of most of my worldly possessions in order to be able to enjoy life instead of suffocating in debt. now I find that the phone was the one thing I should have kept. Google Voice is just not the same to potential employers.

I honestly don't want a car. but may be getting one to move there/live in.

I'm not always the best at organizing my thoughts anymore... college does that... at least if you do college right...

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I wouldn't say it's like moving right down the street.  Funny things do happen when state lines are crossed.  Sales tax or state income tax differences, change of state vehicle registration, etc.  Sometimes moving expenses can be deducted too.  And...if it's far enough away, accent differences and state stereotypes will come into play.  Does Utah have any stereotypes....? 

 

[bbl4ck]

Funny things do happen when state lines are crossed.  Sales tax or state income tax differences, change of state vehicle registration, etc. 

Now that you mention vehicle registration, I have not personally checked it out, but it seems like a friend told me there was a nice hefty one time fee for registering a vehicle not purchased in California related to all the vehicle emission requirements.  Not positive about what it is, but check it out.  I wish you luck; Northern California certainly is a nice slice of Gods country...
:rock-on:

 

[Dan025]

back years before i was born my father moved around the country. as he tells the story it was the late 70's he had a fight with his gf who kicked him out. he had $200 in his pocket and a full tank of gas in his harley, while drinking with his friends he spontaneously decided to visit a friend in so cal. (my dad was leaving from queens ny!) still buzzed he headed first south (i think he was headed for route 66 in Tennessee. he stopped for the night in virginia where he called his gf who told him he better not come home!.  he worked off rent and probably stole whatever fuel he needed. after a year or so he returned to ny. back then being a ny'er he was untruseted and had trouble finding jobs. sometimes i think about hopping on my bike and leaving the area. i dont think i'd go anywhere too rural. i've lived in the south and they are a different kind of people. it seems normalcy in southern states is only near major cities like atl. midwesterners seem ok and i've never been to the west coast, but i wouldn't want to be too far removed from everything. simple living might sound appealing but i'd be board to tears in most of the country, i'll stick to college towns and areas within easy reach of cities.

well it will be an adventure you have ahead but i can't see the legistics of it if you are currently jobless and homeless. you have nothing to lose but it sounds like you may need to hitch a ride, i dont recommend buying a cheap car, good chance it will leave you somewhere you dont want to be especially of you dont have some mechanical or diagnostic abilities, think you have probles now, wait till you have to pay a tow bill in th middle of the nevada desert! but obviously hitching is more dangerous though. find out how much a bus ticket is, or train ticket if that's an option. i'd get a prepay cell phone if i were you, it'll help employers contact you and it's good for emergency calls.  if you get a dumbphone with no data plan the minutes are dirt cheap. even the fully featured tmoible plans and plans that run under sprints networks such as boost and virgin are reasonably priced if you want a data connection and a slightly dated android phone.

look around and see if anyone is looking for roommates in the area. you may be able to find listings on line. especially if it's full of hippies and college students. a friend of my sister went to cali and was able to room with someone like herself and pay her share of the rent on a part time waitress gig, i think she eventually found a gig as a dance instructor as well. it's always easier with a roomate. i have musician friends in the low income areas in buffalo. some of them squat, some live 6-7 people to a house and split the rent. it's not always easy but atleast they have a roof over their heads and with 6 people the rent boils down to peanuts every month.

 

[hannaugh]

My best friend did graduated from CSU Humbolt a few years ago.  She lived in Arcata, and she loved it there.  It's a nice laidback place to live.  Plus, if you like the area, but don't want to live in California, you could just hop over the border and live in Oregon.  It's a little cheaper there because there's no sales tax (or is it no property tax?  I can never remember.) 

Anyways, as a resident of California who has lived in both the North and the Southern parts, I can tell you that NorCal is a slightly easier place to get by.  Rent and gas are not as bad on the wallet up there.  The public transportation is a little better up there too, so if you don't have a car, you can actually get around.  Most people in CA have a car though, just because it's a big state and things tend to be very spread out, especially in LA. 

You just have to REALLY be have a high tolerance for hippies up there because they're freaking EVERYWHERE.  I can't remember how many times we would be driving and the person in front of us would be going 5 mph in a 30 zone, and upon passing them, it would suddenly be obvious that they needed to just put the joint down and drive their car.  I remember when I got back down here being so happy to be around people who used actual deodorant instead of freaking mystical crystals to fight their BO, and to not see as many white guys with scraggly dreadlocks trying to get you to join their drum circle. 

One thing that is nice about living in crazy hippie land is the businesses and the art culture though.  There are a lot more quirky, independent businesses, and a lot more local art and music to get int (of course, quantity doesn't always equal quality, but at least there IS art there).  I remember when I lived up there that the restaurants were fantastic!

Keep in mind one thing though, this state is more screwed economically than most of the country at the moment.  The state is pretty much broke.  We're about 16 billion in the hole.  Unemployment is a tiny bit better than it was a few years ago, but it's still pretty bad.   

Good luck! I hope you get here okay and everything works out.