BIG news about ME...!

Well. My husband and I have decided to move cross-country to San Francisco. There are several tattoo shops that he can work at there, and I need a change of pace, job, climate, and life in general! I am very, very excited about this. we expect to go this fall before the snow flies.

I have not told my family yet; not sure how they'll react. I've lived in NY all of my life; grew up in Buffalo, lived in a rural area for the past 8 years. We are looking into San Fran for lots of reasons; it's an awesome city for arts, and tattooing.. climate is great..

So! I plan on keeping some of my snakes; selling off many of them (this is not an ad, please don't take it as such; I have the ones for sale, all sold locally.) I am going to have to research how to pack/prepare snakes for a cross-country drive, but we are towing our pickup truck on the back of a class-B moving truck (and driving my Jeep Wrangler right INto the truck!) and I am putting my cat in a carrier in the pickup, so they can travel in there. We are selling my horses, and luckily my sister is taking in my treasured goldfish tank.

We plan on driving out with a class B truck (hey, my husband is the only one who's licensed to drive it, so I don't have to actually drive! ;) and my girlfriend is coming with us as well. A couple that we're friends with is also going to move, nearby, so we will not be going it totally alone, which is good. I also have a friend who's lived there for about 6 years and works at the San Fran zoo.. maybe a job-in for me?

We have a long road ahead of us; I am up to my eyeballs in stuff now selling things on ebay, working 40 hours a week still, and cleaning/giving away/burning junk. WOW am I exhausted! I have lost about 15 pounds in the past month.. thinking, debating, and planning this move. But I know in my bones that it is the right thing to do..

So, your thoughts? Any insight into the San Fran/Pacifica region? We plan on moving somewhere in Pacifica, renting. I am definately going to need a feeder-rat hookup out there!! In a few weeks we three are going to Southern Cali for a week, and taking a charter up to San Fran to look arond for a few days.

Well that's awesome news Jen! I know I am super jealous!!! :D

Thanks :) We are taking a risk; here, we live comfortably in our jobs, and know what to expect. But the snow.. and the fact that our house is dumpy and our LL just will not fix it (I know we could go against him on that.. but it isn't worth it really.) We just want out. Granted, it will be a culture shock to me.. and we might have trouble making ends meet, but we are in this for the long haul and are going for it.

It will also be a shock for me to go from a secluded rural area, to a more built-up one. I grew up in the inner city, but being away from it for so long has really made me jumpy when I do go into the city! But we are looking into more laid-back areas.. or apartment complexes that only cater to adults.. not like we are moving into the Tenderloin District or anything! :)

Pacifica is COLD.

Get used to living in 60 degree weather often.

It is a beautiful area, however, and there is plenty of ocean stuff to do.

San Fran is ecletic, and I think it may take some time to get used to. I grew up there, and there is NO PLACE LIKE IT in the world.

California is EXPENSIVE. Be prepared. Sales taxes alone are 9.25%.

There are a few feeder people I know up there, but I need to make sure they are still in the biz, so to speak.

So Cal is a bit different, and it's also a stark contrast from some other places in the nation, but more similar, as it is a huge area, with tons of people.

If you have some time, we can meet up and discuss when you are in the area. We can even try and set up a Meet and Greet for those in the So Cal area :)

Let me know! I'm looking forward to meeting you eventually (I go up to Nor Cal often, family and stuff)

:D It's going to be one hell of a change, I can promise you that!

Oh snap!!!!!

I am ok with temps in the 50s-60s. I just cannot stand driving in blinding snow anymore. It is going to kill me if i stay here! I am not really in need of beaches/hot weather too much. I like the idea of living in a cooler area that gets no snow.

I love the idea of an eclectic city. I am so tired of being around here and getting gawked at for having tattoos or whatever; this is a small town with that "different = bad" mentality :( I love it out in the woods and in nature, but half of the year, we are buried in feet of snow. I am not into snow sports at all. I guess that the weather in Pacifica seems to be what I am used-to here now (we get maybe a week of Hot weather a year) minus the snow and frigid winter temps. Sounds good! I would love to meet up. We are staying near Venice Beach at the Holiday Inn for 3 days in June.. and starting our vacation off with one night at the Hard Rock San Diego!

Good luck with the move!

Watch out for earthquakes.

Hehe, listen to Heather. 60's is cold? :rofl: I have to tease ya!

60's is cold.....LOL

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Hehe, listen to Heather. 60's is cold? :rofl: I have to tease ya!

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LOL!

This gal is now used to a balmy 80+ degree day...

I know for most, 60 degrees is not cold, but yeah. :P

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Hehe, listen to Heather. 60's is cold? :rofl: I have to tease ya!

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Hehe I was thinking the same thing :)

Congrats on the move Jen! Must be very exciting to make such a drastic change, I wish you the best of luck over on the west coast.:D

san fran may be a liberal city, but w/ snakes not so much...i would check the city/county laws before hand. If i remember correctly, i think someone had their ball pythons seized for being illegal in the county....i could be wrong.

good luck w/ the move.

Good for you Jen. I have visited a few times and found myself just old and in the way. I could have moved to the west coast when I was your age and loved it. Now I just can't wait to get back to broken down old New England.

Buckle up girl. You are about to be gawked at for the last time.

Good luck with your move.

Very exciting! You'll have to update me on how the family takes it & how the snakes do. We will probably be moving to Nevada in the next 2 years so I'll be going through the same ordeal (the packing of the animals, the driving cross-country, and the family drama).

I wish you the best of luck!!!

Thanks everyone! I am worried now about the snakes though; I don't want to have to get completely out of the hobby. Time to research things.

Having grown up in California/Nevada, the closer you are to the city, the more expensive it will be.
AND you may find better pickings on the Oakland side of the bay, OR near San Jose . The BART and other transport are great for commuting .
I lived in Sunnyvale and in Mt. View and had a great time and didn't pay a huge amount there, AND lived in Berkeley and didn't pay a huge amount.
Here is the San Fran craigslist, It shows prices and ranges, just for your FYI.
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/apa/
I did keep a horse down at the southern end of the bay area, and there are stables on the Oakland side. Just to let you know.
BUt again, please please check ordinances in where ever you decide to live and check about employment before moving. PLEASE.. it is pricey to live in CA, that is why I live in WI now.
It is a great place and there are great people there!.
Good luck and congrats.
Carol

60 degrees is cold? I LOVE that kind of weather. I was up by Duluth this past weekend helping out the folks and there was a dusting of snow on the deck when I got up Saturday Morning. SNOW... IN MAY... GRRRRR

Snakes are really easy to move Jen, just bag them up and put them in a cooler. Maybe a heat pack if you think you need it, but unless it's freezing they should be fine. Keep smaller snakes physically separated from bigger snakes or they could get crushed. Snakes are a LOT easier to move then fish.

Thanks :) We are actually also looking in the San Mateo area as well. I don't mind getting a job at a hotel or something like that to start out with. Mark will have a tattooing job, and possibly a concrete job if he needs it. And my friend will be helping out with rent/etc, too, which will be a big help.

NY is pretty expensive! We were looking into buying a house here and just staying.. but property taxes would murder us. And my job is insecure; I am basically burnt-out by office work as it is.. I want something comlpetely different. I am looking into the BART system which seems awesome, and the one apartment place we are looking at is right near the line.

I can definately bag-up the snakes and place them in a cooler; thanks MarkS! I plan on keeping a rack's worth of them (10) and have sold off some of my normals. None of the fish are going with us though. And I have been scouring the SF CList ads night and day. Rents are not really that much higher than I expected.

Any more thoughts are appreciated!

wow... the country girl is moving to the big city! You won't be able to walk around your yard with shotgun in hand!

I want to go :please: I'm so sick of Kansas weather. Ugh!

Best of luck during your cross country move. Sounds exciting!
I hope there are no laws that would prevent you from keeping your snakes.

Be aware, most boids and large lizards are illegil in San Francisco. That's what keeps me from thinking about living there. I think you'd be fine if you lived outside the city, and commuted in, but that might be it's own nightmare, unless you use the BART(which is SOOO awesome!).
Learn to use the public transport, and remember everything is super expensive, especially housing.

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

wow... the country girl is moving to the big city! You won't be able to walk around your yard with shotgun in hand!

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That will be one of the adjustments that I have to make! We checked the laws; my husband can keep his pistols, but has to go through some registration, as far as I know. We are selling off the guns we have that'd be illegal there. I guess that walking around outside and tanning naked won't really be possible either, without getting arrested! :oops:

I am really hoping that BPs are not illegal there. I have found a woman to take my boa; she is very excited and an experienced keeper, and the right fit. I am going to hate selling the horses; if there's not a good buyer by July, I have my friend who will take them in and find a home longterm for them; she does horse rescue and adoptions. At least I know that I got them out of the bad situations that they were in, and played a part in their lives for a few years, bettering them for it.

Anyone who's moved or travelled cross-country; please give me advice! What to do/not to do.. good hotels/motels.. would be greatly appreciated! :) Love ya guys. :)

Well, I don't know what you will find out there, but your days of posting about paranoia about driving in the snow are over, that's for sure.I hope that it works out well for you.

Good luck with the big move, Jen! Oh what I wouldn't give for that weather!

Sounds like a crazy big move for you. How exciting!

I did a 9 day drive across Canada with a minivan packed to the teefs and hauling a U-haul.

My biggest piece of advice would be... if you have to drive half a day out of your way to avoid winding curvy hilled roads (if you can find out where they are) then DO IT!!!

We drove around the great lakes thinking it would be picturesque... worst part of the trip. Puttering up hills, semis riding your bumper... I get grey just thinking back to it.

The obvious money saver buy at grocery stores at the start of the day to avoid that expensive snacking...

Good luck on the trip and good luck placing your animals.

Bruce

Thanks! No more driving in terrifying snow for me.

Sounds like good advice Bruce. I can definately see where twisty roads would be horrible after the first 24 hours. :)

As far as I know, ball pythons are illegil in San Francisco.
As far as a long trip, buy a lot of snacky stuff for the day, but stop and eat a MEAL. If you have animals, stop at rest stops, but stay at the far end of the parking lot to check the animals. People who see pets in the car might go whack on the windows, or even open doors thinking they'll "help" the poor pets left in your car. Best to keep one person in/near the car just in case.

When you stop for anything, take the five minutes to really stretch and walk around. Get AAA before the trip. It's worth it if anything goes wrong, and if nothing goes wrong, it wasn't much money, and you can let it lapse or cancel it.

LOL... when it gets 60 degrees out here everybody throws on T-shirts and shorts and runs outside!

That move sounds awesome... wish I had the guts to just DROP everything and move... That is ballsy of you... no pun intended ;)

Best of luck on the move! I too am hoping to move to a city(to Chicago - from the middle of nowhere) as well this year.

Good luck to you and your husband. I am from Buffalo and moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1995. I often miss the "small Town" atmosphere but I have not picked up a snow shovel in 14 years!

If you are able to NOT make the drive down ASAP I definitely suggest taking a scenic route. The Badlands, Mt Rushmore, Yellowstone were all worth it!

Take care

Jim

I am pretty upset about not being able to have my snakes. Does anyone know if it is just in the city of SF, or the outlying areas as well (like Pacifica)? I Googled it and I am getting a bunch of nonrelated stuff.

Didn't know you were a Beefalo native, Jim! I grew up on the south part of town.

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I am pretty upset about not being able to have my snakes. Does anyone know if it is just in the city of SF, or the outlying areas as well (like Pacifica)? I Googled it and I am getting a bunch of nonrelated stuff.

Didn't know you were a Beefalo native, Jim! I grew up on the south part of town.

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It's just the city...

That is a relief. :) We want to be somewhere on the outskirts anyhow. My husband is trying hard for a roadie job; granted, he would be gone for several months at a time.. but the money is great. So much so fast! I will keep ya's informed. I have so much junk to burn/donate/sell on ebay that it is not even funny! 8 years of stuff in a decaying old farmhouse.. that is My summer!

Quick happy update :) I had decided to consolidate my BPs and just keep what can fit into one of my racks. I only had to get rid of one BP (my striped male; I found an awesome girl who adopted him.) I can keep everyone else! I have some girls ready to lay.. I figure that since I will be living here until September (Mark's going out in Aug) that'll definatel give me time to incubate the eggs that will be laid soon. Just having a great day!

Happy for you Jen I fell in love with the west coast when I went too. Maybe one day I'll have a second home over there or something can't leave the fam in miami. Good luck drive safe.

Thanks :) It is going to be tough to leave my family, but I live about an hour from them now, so we don't see each other daily.. But still, my family is really the only thing I will majorly miss.

How exciting Jen!!!! :banana:

I bet you've got a million things running through your head.... I'd be a mess! LOL :oops: So glad you can keep the snakies!!! Keep us posted! :hug:

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Originally Posted by Laooda

How exciting Jen!!!! :banana:

I bet you've got a million things running through your head.... I'd be a mess! LOL :oops: So glad you can keep the snakies!!! Keep us posted! :hug:

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I sure do! I would write a novel with all of the stuff that's in my head; and we haven't even left yet. :) I'll definately keep ya's posted. :)

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I am ok with temps in the 50s-60s. I just cannot stand driving in blinding snow anymore. It is going to kill me if i stay here! I am not really in need of beaches/hot weather too much. I like the idea of living in a cooler area that gets no snow.

I love the idea of an eclectic city. I am so tired of being around here and getting gawked at for having tattoos or whatever; this is a small town with that "different = bad" mentality :( I love it out in the woods and in nature, but half of the year, we are buried in feet of snow. I am not into snow sports at all. I guess that the weather in Pacifica seems to be what I am used-to here now (we get maybe a week of Hot weather a year) minus the snow and frigid winter temps. Sounds good! I would love to meet up. We are staying near Venice Beach at the Holiday Inn for 3 days in June.. and starting our vacation off with one night at the Hard Rock San Diego!

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When in June. We can all have a get together to welcome to soon to be member of the Cali Crew lol.

That sounds like a great adventure Jen! The bay area is beautiful I went cross country in 96 and stayed a bit in Berkely. I bet you'll love it out there. Great art and ink communities as you mentioned. It sounds like you've been finding good homes for the herps staying on the East Coast. I'm sure your head is spinning right now but I'm sure it will all come together soon.
Rusty

Hope everything goes well for you on your big move! I just finished a month-long trip across the country for a field course....we camped the entire time and avoided the big cities as much as possible. There are some amazing smaller-sized places that aren't as well known but definitely worth checking out. California is expensive, have you considered Nevada? (not to throw off your plans but I'm now in love with the mojave....the outskirts of vegas were beautiful ;))

Just be sensible with the pets and they should be fine. I did lose a couple of corn hatchlings on a day's drive in the winter...still not sure what killed them, but I recommend checking their tubs frequently. I don't think I could ever easily part with horses.....best wishes! :salute:

I officially sold the horses today. I am happy for them; the family that bought them, is going to work with them every day, something that i couldn't do.

I am happy about the upcoming move! Basically now, I am going through our posessions and seeing what will go and what will be sold or donated. It is a pretty turbulent time for me emotionally; I am going to miss my family and friends.. and my friend who was moving with us, has decided not to. But another couple that we're friends with, does want to move with us, so we'll have them and our other 2 friends, as a support system.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

Hehe, listen to Heather. 60's is cold? :rofl: I have to tease ya!

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lmfao right???? Bwahaha 60s is TSHIRT weather here!

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Originally Posted by mooingtricycle

lmfao right???? Bwahaha 60s is TSHIRT weather here!

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Here, too! This year, we haven't topped 75 I think. It gets cold at night; even in July sometimes, we have to put the heat on overnight.

Jen we are glad to have you on the West Coast you will have fun

Thanks :) Haven't been to Nevada, but we spent some time in Yuma, AZ. Desert is wild!