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March, 2024

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Moving to southern california

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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
put this in the regionals, but ill take advice from anyone that can send me some..

kind of an odd topic, but i need some help. I'm really going to surf, not ski, but any insights on the Huntington area, like maybe where to get a decent apartment, id really appreciate it. I'm a college student from Boston looking to move to socal for about three months. I was planning on going mid may and staying through august or so, and i was wondering if anyone had some insights on places i should look into more specifically. My ideal place is somewhere where i can walk or skate to the beach, to work, and to grocery shop. I'm gonna be going with no car, and just myself. I have surf shop experience, so I'd love to work for a shop or for a company. Does anyone know how difficult it is to get a job in that industry? Im not really coming out to make a lot of money, im talking like 10 dollars an hour id be fully stoked with. It sounds kind of lame, but I just need a break from my routine here, and want to sort of "find" myself. I'm really going out of my comfort zone, and going with zero contacts out west, I sort of just want to make it on my own, and meet a decent group of friends that I can surf with and grab a beer or two with too. Everyone thinks im crazy for doing it, but this is really the last opportunity I have to be a little selfish and irresponsible. Please dont give me advice saying dont go, etc. because im gonna go for sure. I'm pretty open to where i go, i just want it to be a safe area, and with a decent sized younger generation so i can meet a couple cool people. I was thinking around Huntington. I just need to find a job and an apartment. Thanks in advance to the people that offer up any insight, i really really appreciate it.
Feb 15 2011 1:44PM
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JamesR
Posts: 3396 - Karma: -12
lol
Feb 15 2011 1:50PM
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incognegroe
Posts: 84 - Karma: 10
huntingtons a great area, it used to be 45 minute drive from my old place, i know a lot of my friends that were into surfing but had no actual shop experience got jobs pretty easily around there. from what i hear shops are more or less looking for people who are passionate about the sport, so having some experience should help too. good luck to you man
Feb 15 2011 1:54PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
thanks man, ive emailed a few shops, just waiting for a few responses.
Feb 15 2011 3:37PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
and also, just taking a stab here, but jamesR, you seem like a prick.
Feb 15 2011 3:39PM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 204
huntington surf and sport is huge, so i'd definitely check there. i had a friend who lived out there for the summer a few years ago, i think she paid around $1200 a month for a one bedroom place about 3 blocks from the beach right in huntington, it was across the street from some little architecture firm or something? huntington was an awesome, yet really weird town, because you've got baller homes and condos, and then one block over, there's trailers with an oil derrick in their front yards. i was out there for a supposed 'bad swell' and it was, at the time, the most powerful shoulder high wave i'd ever surfed. think MD/DE/NJ decent tropical storm type swell, for a bad day. good luck!
Feb 15 2011 3:42PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
i just emailed HSS actually, hopefully they get back to me . everyone i know that talks about huntington talks about how shitty the surf is, but i guess that its all relative. They have a rideable wave thats probably racy chest high everyday, and im totally cool with that. I know it doesnt get huge there, but id rather be in the water everyday, than once a week with overhead waves. thanks for the help man, ill try to find the place youre talking about for the apartment complex.
Feb 15 2011 3:47PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
i think its gonna be a lil tough finding a place like that on a 10$/hr salary no?
Feb 15 2011 3:57PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
well im not going out there broke. im gonna pay my rent and flight with money i already have, then just live off the money im making for food, booze, whatever. I'm setting aside about 4 grand of what i already have for that stuff.
Feb 15 2011 4:00PM
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soulskier
Posts: 17805 - Karma: 3,821
is that right back where you started from?
Feb 15 2011 4:09PM
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vincepru
Posts: 5474 - Karma: 17
seems like you already have a pretty decent plan set for yourself, i applaud you for going out and doing something on your own in a place that you dont know well.

good luck man! also ill be moving there as well this summer, not huntington area though
Feb 15 2011 4:11PM
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
i love this idea. do it. im stuck in boston right now also so i know the feeling. i have no advice for you except for good luck and have fun
Feb 15 2011 4:12PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
i dont really get what youre saying, elaborate.
Feb 15 2011 4:12PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
thanks guys, motivation makes me feel so much better too. i mean im all about the snow, but today its blowing 50mph in worcester (where i am) and i had to walk a mile in the snow the other morning to surf. somethings wrong with this picture. just glad some other people understand it, +k to you all.
Feb 15 2011 4:14PM
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soulskier
Posts: 17805 - Karma: 3,821
disregard, i'm worthless. good luck though
Feb 15 2011 4:16PM
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Bar_Down
Posts: 5896 - Karma: 395
tru bro, sounds like you've got it all figured out. fuckin go for it man, socal would be a diiiirty place to live (dirty in a good way)
Feb 15 2011 4:16PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
haha thanks, im going way out of my comfort zone here. its hard, but i just feel like compelled to do it. nothings keeping me here.
Feb 15 2011 4:17PM
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hoodSlayer
Posts: 900 - Karma: 7
Look around in the Manhattan beach area as well. There's a couple of shops and the surfing is fairly good and its closer to LA proper.
Feb 15 2011 4:23PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
californiaaaaa, californyaaaaa, here we cooooome ohhohhh
Feb 15 2011 4:30PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
ill survive, id rather surf any day.
Feb 15 2011 4:36PM
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big_mac_005
Posts: 78 - Karma: 12
Awesome idea. I'm gonna do the same thing when i get out of college except go somewhere where it snows a shitload for the winter. I have some relatives that live in hunington beach. People there are chill you'll have no problem making friends.
Feb 15 2011 5:04PM
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Bro.J._Simpson
Posts: 108 - Karma: 11
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Best of luck with the move bro.
Feb 15 2011 5:15PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
thanks guys, really digging all the support. it helps like you wouldnt believe.
Feb 15 2011 5:58PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
.
Feb 15 2011 10:28PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
socals some next level shit. sooo overly crowded, and the culture is very much based on apearances, more so than anywhere else.

however you are doing it right, make sure you dont have to commute to work, and keep everything local and it should really be a great time, very eye opening. you will learn what you want in life and what you dont want.

Oh and dont expect the water to be warm...it isnt
Feb 15 2011 10:36PM
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ORDEAL
Posts: 6386 - Karma: 75
Lolol stab prick. But yeah, he's a prick. At least that's the way he presents himself here.
Feb 15 2011 10:43PM
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incognegroe
Posts: 84 - Karma: 10
little sidenote. walking sucks, pick up a longboard
Feb 16 2011 9:13AM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
yeah, i skate regularly, so im sure ill get lots of practice with not having a car even out there as an option.
Feb 16 2011 12:27PM
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LS.
Posts: 1841 - Karma: 858
sounds like some rich people problems
Feb 16 2011 12:56PM
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LS.
Posts: 1841 - Karma: 858
sounds like some rich people problems
Feb 16 2011 12:56PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
what sounds like a rich person problem?
Feb 16 2011 12:58PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
.
Feb 17 2011 5:24PM
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NotoriousT.S.E
Posts: 1014 - Karma: 439
Living the dream
Feb 17 2011 5:46PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
someones gotta do it.
Feb 18 2011 5:21PM
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laurence^
Posts: 1575 - Karma: 19
Threads, sick idea man.
Feb 18 2011 9:43PM
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Rachy
Posts: 4355 - Karma: 2,761
Alrighty, you want to be as close to main street as possible and don't go out past 16th street. I'd say within 4 blocks of Main and 11th is your best bet at finding something affordable. This however means you will live in a house. There are TONS of houses with rooms for rent. You should be looking at somewhere around 600 for your own room. 700 to be closer.

Next, your best bet is going to be with a skate shop rather than surf shop. A lot of the shops keep a pretty tight staff as in, they never leave. Jacks may be your best bet in that they are pretty huge and have a lot more than just surf. I'd say you would be better off just showing up with resumes in hand. Yes, resumes. People in California give resumes to work at starbucks. So make one.

Public transit down there isn't exactly awesome. So if you are in Huntington... youre pretty much staying there. It isn't an easily accessible area.

The surf isn't huge, but it is super consistent, hence the surf open taking place there and it being the surf capital.

If you are looking for the same lifestyle, but would like a bit more public transport action, like someone said before, Redondo/Manhattan Beach is just as wonderful. Best part is that it is serviced by the tram system. There is still a peer and a consistent break, it just isn't orange county and moving inland isn't so nice. But, rent you are expecting around $600 to be within a block or two to the beach.

Wish I could say that I still have contacts at any of the shops... but alas, they've all moved on to "careers."

Not kidding when I say this, go to www.mthigh.com and check out their forum. It is impressively active with just SoCal kids. A bunch of them live in orange county and are all super rad people. Just be honest with what you are trying to do and I'm sure you can find at least one person on there who manages or works at whatever shop.
Feb 18 2011 10:26PM
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
Santa Cruz > Huntington Beach

Damn you HB trademarking surf city USA
Feb 18 2011 10:30PM
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californiagrown
Posts: 9794 - Karma: 2,014
ya but santa cruz is a hard core surf culture, like you will get your ass beat if you try to paddle out to the wrong break. Its a really locals only surf vibe at the good spots.

and it is the most hippified city outside of berkeley...ever.

Though they have top fucking notch weed.

Its actually a cool area, but not at all similar to socal
Feb 18 2011 10:51PM
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
Hahah I just meant to say surfing in Santa Cruz is better than Huntington Beach. But you are 100% right
Feb 18 2011 10:58PM
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laurence^
Posts: 1575 - Karma: 19
What if this was to go down in Hawaii and the said person was canadian. The idea would be to work in a hotel/resort. Any feedback?
Feb 20 2011 1:27PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
tahnks guys, youre giving me so much info.

regarding the hawaii question: id honestly steer clear of hawaii. i mean its beautiful but for the price you can go somewhere way more affordable thats just as nice. i mean ten bucks for a gallon of milk? youll be killing yourself to stay afloat, unless you get a great job. if youre going to surf, PM me, i can send you a billion more affordable options.
Feb 20 2011 1:38PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,018
whale's vagina
Feb 20 2011 1:54PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
.
Feb 21 2011 12:27PM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,018
not true, i've surfed (or attempted to surf) a really local and gnarly break one time and i didn't get my ass kicked. you've just got to respect the guys that were out there before you and don't steal their waves, know your place in the lineup and you'll be okay.
Feb 21 2011 12:47PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
thats all its about. i surfed all over the country/world, and the most localistic places ive surfed have been in NE. probably because the waves arent as consistent, so people unnecessarily tweak out. but like you said, its just a matter of respect.
Feb 21 2011 1:14PM
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KrazyistKarl
Posts: 1725 - Karma: 599
you better do this, for yourself. I was planning a similar thing, only to move out to bc to bike ski kayak climb and longboard. but i ended up pussying out, i was making "too much" money here to leave. i kinda regret it, id work for 10 bucks an hour to be happy and be where I want to be meeting people passionate about all the sports I do. but In two more years il be making even better money, working shift work two weeks in two weeks out, and il have plenty of time to spend in BC so itl all work out eventually
Feb 21 2011 1:35PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
STRESSED
Feb 21 2011 7:29PM
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hoodratz47
Posts: 11992 - Karma: 9,212

Cali sucks...... IMO

Feb 21 2011 7:33PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
good call. Ill just stay home. thanks.
Feb 21 2011 7:35PM
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gstaff
Posts: 1017 - Karma: 12
looking at going to school at UC:Santa Cruz.  Went on a visit there and it seemed like a real intense surfer town
Feb 21 2011 7:41PM
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gnarnia.
Posts: 1346 - Karma: 55
santa cruz is. very strong surf culture there.
Feb 21 2011 7:46PM
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