Moving to California - suggestions needed

I will be graduating next May from ASU and looking to move to Marina del Rey or nearby area. I was going to move with a friend but that has fallen thru as she owes me some money and hasn't paid me a dime back. I call but get no response so we are off to small claims court. It's good job I suppos I found out the hard way before moving in with her. Anyway I am 43, single, have dog and will not know anybody in California. Does anyone have ideas on where I could live that's somewhat affordable. I would get a roomate but have lived on my own for a long time. What's best way to get to know people etc out there? I want to volunteer with AIDS patients so will get to know some people that way but any ideas...I will have some money as I will be selling my house in Arizona.