Is it possible?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 4, 2006

The northern suburbs of Los Angeles County in and around the San Fernando Valley are safe and somewhat affordable. Also, many young adult professionals live there without problems. Look into the communities of North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Van Nuys, Reseda, Granada Hills, North Hills, Mission Hills, Panorama City, Sylmar, Lakeview Terrace, Valley Village, Panorama City, Chatsworth, and San Fernando. Hopefully this will be a starting point. Also, the San Fernando Valley has many hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Work is a great place for busy people to meet and become friends.

luv2shopp85 · Mar 4, 2006

How is the weather in the Northern suburbs of LA county? My whole thing is that I want to get away from the cold weather and the snow that PA has. This is why I'm trying to stay away from San Francisco. Its a beautiful place I'm sure but I just can't deal with the cold. I like warm weather but not humid. In the winter I want to not have to get bundled up just to go outside during the day. Nighttime would be okay to maybe wear a jacket or something.Are the beaches okay too? I've never lived in the city so I either want to live in the city or relatively close to it. I want a nice looking apartment, not just a shithole with a bedroom and a kitchen. But I don't want to spend a fortune to live there. I want to live in an exciting place. The only place I've ever been to in California was Laguna Beach and I absolutely loved it there.However, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to live in an apartment there because its really expensive.

RNinSoCal · Mar 4, 2006

I used to work at Glendale Adventist and lived in Santa Clarita. It was way too hot for me there in the summer-up to 120 degrees. Glendale does not get that hot but it is not as safe in some areas. You have to factor in the cost of air conditioning in LA. Life can be miserable without it.

The upside of Santa Clarita was that it was a safe place to live. The commute was 30 minutes each way on day shift hours. I liked the hospital and staff but didn't really like LA. I moved to the SF Bay area and I am much happier here. The social life is way way better and my rent is about the same.

If you really need the warm weather of LA, try to live in an area where there is a good downtown area for socializing. The suburbs are so spread out that is hard to meet people and find places to hang out.

FYI my salary here is almost double what it was in LA. Even new grads start out at the mid 40's per hour.

My advice is always to pick the location that fits your lifestyle needs and then choose a good hospital in the area.

MSUnurse · Mar 5, 2006

I am also thinking about moving to CA when I graduate. I've been looking into the Ventura/Oxnard area. Can anyone tell me about the hospitals in this area?

sdmommie · Mar 5, 2006

How is the weather in the Northern suburbs of LA county? My whole thing is that I want to get away from the cold weather and the snow that PA has. This is why I'm trying to stay away from San Francisco. Its a beautiful place I'm sure but I just can't deal with the cold. I like warm weather but not humid. In the winter I want to not have to get bundled up just to go outside during the day. Nighttime would be okay to maybe wear a jacket or something.Are the beaches okay too? I've never lived in the city so I either want to live in the city or relatively close to it. I want a nice looking apartment, not just a shithole with a bedroom and a kitchen. But I don't want to spend a fortune to live there. I want to live in an exciting place. The only place I've ever been to in California was Laguna Beach and I absolutely loved it there.However, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to live in an apartment there because its really expensive.

I think that there are pockets of really cool places for you to live. I lived in Santa Monica (really fun, but a bit expensive). Just remember, you're paying for the good weather. I really liked Westwood (around UCLA), West L.A., Brentwood, and Santa Monica. Keep in mind that traffic in L.A. is pretty horrible if you don't plan your routes. Unfortunately, I'm not a nurse (yet), but I lived in L.A for 17 years.

Have you ever considered San Diego? The weather here is amazing (not hot, not cold). Traffic is not as bad here and the apartments are more affordable.

**I know I make a big deal about the traffic, but it can get REALLY bad.

luv2shopp85 · Mar 5, 2006

I hate traffic! I never really have to deal with it since I live in pA. I['m sure it can be very stressful dealing with all the traffic. I've heard some horror stories about traffic in california too. I'm just hoping I can move somewhere thats close to where I work so I won't have be stuck in traffic all the time when I want to go to work, or just go out of the house. I"ve been considering san diego as well. I'm debating between orange county, LA, san diego, santa barbara, and pasadena. I want to live in an area where there are young people for sure!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2006

I am also thinking about moving to CA when I graduate. I've been looking into the Ventura/Oxnard area. Can anyone tell me about the hospitals in this area?

I was born and raised in Oxnard, and lived there for 22 years.

St. John's Hospital is located in Oxnard, and Community Memorial Hospital is in Ventura. Ventura also has a county general hospital. Los Robles Regional Medical Center, located in Thousand Oaks, pays RNs up to $45 hourly. Thousand Oaks is about 30 miles southeast of Oxnard off the 101 freeway.

theatre9 · Mar 6, 2006

I think that there are pockets of really cool places for you to live. I lived in Santa Monica (really fun, but a bit expensive). Just remember, you're paying for the good weather. I really liked Westwood (around UCLA), West L.A., Brentwood, and Santa Monica. Keep in mind that traffic in L.A. is pretty horrible if you don't plan your routes. Unfortunately, I'm not a nurse (yet), but I lived in L.A for 17 years.
Have you ever considered San Diego? The weather here is amazing (not hot, not cold). Traffic is not as bad here and the apartments are more affordable.
**I know I make a big deal about the traffic, but it can get REALLY bad.

hi. i wonder if you have any idea about escondido. is it a safe place to live in?

theatre9

MSUnurse · Mar 6, 2006

I was born and raised in Oxnard, and lived there for 22 years.
St. John's Hospital is located in Oxnard, and Community Memorial Hospital is in Ventura. Ventura also has a county general hospital. Los Robles Regional Medical Center, located in Thousand Oaks, pays RNs up to $45 hourly. Thousand Oaks is about 30 miles southeast of Oxnard off the 101 freeway.

Thanks for the info. My children are grown and I'll be living alone. How do you feel about this place for an older, single person? Do you prefer one of the hospitals over the others? If you moved back to California, where would you live? I'm also looking into San Diego just because the LA area is so expensive and I don't want to live in the desert.

sdmommie · Mar 6, 2006

theatre9,

I wouldn't live there. I think that there are better places to live that are right next to Escondido. Rancho Penasquitos, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, etc. It depends what you're looking for. These areas are the suburbs, good for people with families. If I was single without kids, I would live in Pacific Beach or Hillcrest.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2006

I know several nurses who went to San Diego on travel assignments. They all loved the area, and one of them has moved there for good. I hear nothing but wonderful things about the area. It's further south so you'll have warmer weather, much less traffic, and it's supposed to be beautiful. Probably a lot cheaper than LA, too.

I visited LA and Santa Monica a few years back. Hated LA, liked Santa Monica. But both felt a little "fake" to me. It was very glitzy.