On My Way Out
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11/28/2011
I certainly prefer Long Beach to Los Angeles however I am just about over it all together! We moved here 3 years ago to be closer to my husband's family and this is a very hard place to just be. California is one hell of a rat race to begin with and when they say it's who you know - they must have been from California. I have been fortunate in the two positions I have held here (the first cut from the state budget)in that I knew the right people. Anyone who thinks otherwise is truly naive. I was promoted within my position over 200+ applicants because of who I knew. It's disgusting and I have seen 4 others within the organization promoted the same exact way. The cost of living is absurd - I can say this because I have lived on each coast and I know what my $ got me in each place compared to here. The schools are horrible - where I am from you don't need a "school of choice" or a lottery because every school is highly ranked. There are many wonderful places to visit however, when are you supposed to do that between earning a living and commuting and exactly how are you to pay for it with what you earn and what things cost i.e. housing, utilities, food, gas etc.
This would be a great place to visit but unless you are quite well off and not I lease my Beamer and pay on a mortgage I'm talking ownership, life isn't as golden not to mention how cut throat these people are. People are rude because they are mad as hell, they are tired and overworked and underpaid amongst other things. Southern California is a place like no other and while I do love the snow free winters, I try hard to ignore what the smog is doing to my young child's lungs. This is not the place to come to start anew - there are too many other places to go in this country. Have a serious game plan, nest egg and resources if you do!
Bp | Long Beach, CA