Can I get a job in CA with 1.5 years experience?

I am finishing out my first year as an RN on a busy oncology unit at a major hospital in Washington DC. I am interested in moving to the Bay area or Northern California with my boyfriend for a few years (he is self employed and from the West Coast).
My question is.......with this economy and apparently the difficulty for new graduate nurses in California to find a job, what are my odds of finding a job in these areas? I would ideally like to move into emergency or ICU so that I can go to NP school in a few years, probably for acute care. I know the rent is horrible, but I would like to try the city out for a while and I can afford a one bedroom with my boyfriend, so that's not a huge problem.
So what kind of reception do you think I can expect if I have some actual RN experience, am applying for a CA license, and would like to move to Bay area or northern cali? I also like Berkeley, Napa and Santa Barbara, but that is my wishlist.
Thanks!