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So my friend told me he and his wife are moving back down to California at the end of June. He's been my closest friend since we were both in kindergarten. He's encouraged me to consider moving down there as well and give it another shot (he lived there for a number of years starting in 2000 and I briefly joined him in 2001 right after my mother died) at some of my dreams. I'm not sure (I haven't yet BEGUN to research the area, Sun City, Riverside, Murrieta, Lake Elsinore) what it's like and I haven't been there since 2001 and then only for 3 weeks. I know the Sun City area has changed immensely from what I've seen on Google Earth alone.. I guess what I'm saying is if I'm going to uproot myself and replant myself somewhere foreign (to me) .. I couldn't ask better than to have a friend nearby, but the rest I'm so far uncertain of...

Things I need to look up:
business /certification requirements in California for the IT/tech industry..
insurance requirements in same..
rental requirements...

I'm sure I'm missing some...

Man, before you do just do some good market research about the best area to open your store. I've seen WAY to many small business close shop because they put it in a crappy part of town.

yeah there's a resource center here that I can do that with, so I'll take advantage of that utility and see what's up there. I remember when I was there in 2001 I called literally every number in the phone book for computer repair or internet service and all but one was disconnected - granted that this was the HEIGHT of the Dot Com Bubble Burst. One of the towns I might be in was founded in 1991. It now has absorbed 3 other municipalities and has it's own Best Buy and Super Target.

I'm not in the Riverside area, but down in San Diego County. Speaking for what I see down here, things are not so great as far as the economy is concerned. I wouldn't open a business down here at this point. Unemployment is still high. Many places, including stores that are part of larger chains, have closed. There are still a lot of properties that are falling under foreclosure. I would definitely look into the area a little more before making a move.

Ooph, man I can't imagine that this is even remotely a good time to start a business in California. You're going to have to start over from the ground up. On the other hand, I wish I had moved out to where some of my friends live.

ehh, I forgot to say, I'm open to not just starting a business, but working for someone (big or small business) as well. What's the unemployment rate there?

Unemployment rate, California
13% of the labor force - Not seasonally adjusted

Xiaofang Nuren said:

Unemployment rate, California
13% of the labor force - Not seasonally adjusted

Click to expand...

so the same as Oregon.. hmm.. or.. not. I guess Oregon's got BETTER though it's still at 11.7%.

I lived in Murrieta for about 16 years. Living ain't cheap by a longshot. School IT work isn't a bad place to be, but most school districts (at least last year) were on a hiring freeze.

I'm currently in the middle of my move.

I'm registered for classes (3 nights a week, 4hs a night), in the process of finding work, partially moved into my brother's apartment and looking for a larger place for us to move into together (my brother, me and his GF).

So I feel you, it's hard.... of course I'm not trying to move a business too. I will say that the move has been wonderful for me in taking charge of my life and finding myself again (not sure that's what you're looking to do though).

Shegokigo said:

I'm currently in the middle of my move.

I'm registered for classes (3 nights a week, 4hs a night), in the process of finding work, partially moved into my brother's apartment and looking for a larger place for us to move into together (my brother, me and his GF).

So I feel you, it's hard.... of course I'm not trying to move a business too. I will say that the move has been wonderful for me in taking charge of my life and finding myself again (not sure that's what you're looking to do though).

Click to expand...

I'm looking to find somewhere I can flourish - in most ways, if not all - financially, physically, emotionally, etc. Financially here, I'm strapped.. physically and emotionally, there's a lot of rain here which I do like, (I love hearing a rainstorm on a metal roof!) but it causes allergies in me and also worsens my depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder when it hits. So what I'm going to do is LOOK (before I leap!) and see what is available, maybe pick up some job descriptions while I'm there, scope out the surrounding areas, and see if there's a niche I can fill or a position to be had.
...wish I could remember the city I visited in 2001 while there, I instantly had fallen in love with it.. I want to say Irvine, but I'm not sure if that's it.. near Laguna Beach...(consults Google Earth) .. wow.. umm.. looks like it's "Lake Forest" that I visited, but that's probably down the road for me (careerwise).

Irvine is a really nice city. It's also a college town, so some places are a bit pricey.

Not sure.. I remember there being a strip mall or malls built around a lake? Only saw it at night and it was BEE YOO TIII FUL!! And I had the world's best pineapple pina colada there or nearby.. =D

checked last night.. in Hemet, there's about 8 computer repair places (most as far as I can tell operate out of their homes) in a city of approximately 21000.

Hemet - that's a great place for wildfires.

so you're saying I can't have my backyard bbq 6ft pyres so I can have roasted marshmallows?

---------- Post added at 12:05 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:03 AM ----------

Wasabi Poptart said:

I'm not in the Riverside area, but down in San Diego County. Speaking for what I see down here, things are not so great as far as the economy is concerned. I wouldn't open a business down here at this point. Unemployment is still high. Many places, including stores that are part of larger chains, have closed. There are still a lot of properties that are falling under foreclosure. I would definitely look into the area a little more before making a move.

Click to expand...

I'm very much looking forward at very least to LOOK at the area with my own eyes and see if there's at least SOME opportunity to fit into.. I've kinda had it with Oregon.. too much rain, too much crap....More on that later.