Where to live in California - With a Garage?

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jTaylor

climber
Portland OR
Topic Author's Original Post - May 14, 2013 - 03:33am PT
Ok so I was reading some "where to move to in California" posts but wanted to make my own since its a little more specific.

While reading most these posts, people talk about an issue of finding work. For me, this isn't a real issue to find work but more so of where I could live and work. I can basically work anywhere I please but I do have one need. A garage. Specifically a garage that isn't crammed into other houses or directly beneath them to be ideal for safety reasons (I would have liquid oxygen inside, propane outside).

I lived in Ventura, not terrible but not the greatest - I left after breaking up with an ex who I ended up living/working with there. Now I find myself back on the east coast trying to plan where to move to next.

I thought at first Bishop would be great. Close to Yosemite, Mt.Whitney, and of course bouldering and other climbing but was a little disappointed when I saw the population is less than 4k on Wikipedia! When I drove through I knew it'd be small (which is nice) but didn't expect it to be that small. I was also a little bummed out that there is no gym after searching (maybe im wrong). Although I want to get into outdoor climbing much more, I find a gym to be a must to climb reliably in any weather as well as with a nice social atmosphere that may be more difficult for a new-to-towner to find outside.

So now I wonder, where could be ideal? My biggest concern, will be finding a home with a garage. Renting a studio is possible also but far more expensive and more of a hassle to travel to work compared to having it right there.

It would be nice to find somewhere some what permanant as I've lived from Vancouver Canada to Ventura California over the past few years with no where ever to call home since I've always been somewhat on the move.

I'm 25, could spend about 1k a month tops but would ideally spend 700-850 with a garage included. Would be nice to live in a small town area, but I do think Bishop could be a little too small and ultimately more lonely.

Any advice? Other than Bishop I think Santa Cruz could be nice and somewhat close to Yosemite. And close to me is about 5 hours tops... I did drive 15 hours to Yosemite and 17 hours roughly to Whitney this past Fall-Winter with no real problem... But it would be awesome to be even closer if I were somewhere long term!!!
Amber.C

climber
May 14, 2013 - 04:46am PT
If what's holding you back is the lack of a gym, you should really just move to Bishop. The only reason you truly need a gym in places like Colorado is the winter--Bishop weather is great for climbing year round. And almost 300 days of sun a year.

It IS a small town, so if that's the problem that's a different thing.
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
May 14, 2013 - 09:28am PT
$1000/month with garage in cal may be your real hurdle. And yeah you don't need a gym in bishop except possibly in the dead of summer, but if you can drive to the hills that's that!
Spider Savage

Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
May 14, 2013 - 09:34am PT
I sounds like a Joshua Tree budget.
Gunkie

Trad climber
East Coast US
May 14, 2013 - 01:24pm PT
... I do have one need. A garage. Specifically a garage that isn't crammed into other houses or directly beneath them to be ideal for safety reasons (I would have liquid oxygen inside, propane outside).

Welder or liquid rocket motor developer?

[Click to View YouTube Video]
Gary

Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
May 14, 2013 - 02:30pm PT
Susanville. Alturas. Get a double-wide on some property with a barn.

Did you just advise someone to move to Snoozinville?
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
May 14, 2013 - 02:34pm PT
I know where this dood lives. I can hook you up!
Do you know how to cook meth? If so you could drive a Maserati too!

Michelle

Social climber
1187 Hunterwasser
May 14, 2013 - 02:40pm PT
I live in a Menlo studio for a grand a month, so good luck with that buddy. Haha, snoozinville!

But seriously, "I don't wanna move to BISHOP bc there's no climbing gym there" is the best laugh I've had in a while.
the Fet

climber
Tu-Tok-A-Nu-La
May 14, 2013 - 03:21pm PT
There's LOTS of small towns that fit the bill.

You probably want to add some qualifiers to narrow it down. e.g. big airport within an hour, or town of 20,000 people within 20 minutes, or 2 hours to Yosemite, 2 hours to the ocean, etc.

Bishop is going to be relatively expensive compared to say the Gold Country, because SoCal money is going to go up the East Side for second homes.

ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Social climber
SLO, Ca
May 14, 2013 - 03:25pm PT
If I was a landlord I'd probably want to hear a little more about your liquid oxygen and propane operations.

michaeld

Sport climber
Sacramento
May 14, 2013 - 03:29pm PT
25, $1k a month.... find some roomates! In sac there are 3-4 bedrooms for around 1.2k with garages built external. You can do it.
Baggins

Boulder climber
May 14, 2013 - 03:59pm PT
"I don't wanna move to BISHOP bc there's no climbing gym there" is the best laugh I've had in a while

+1 :)
Brandon-

climber
The Granite State.
May 14, 2013 - 04:24pm PT
If the eastside is someplace you like, try Reno.
jTaylor

climber
North Shore Massachusetts
Topic Author's Reply - May 14, 2013 - 04:33pm PT
"$1000/month with garage in cal may be your real hurdle."

Didn't seem to unrealistic when I have the Santa Cruz CL a look earlier. There was at least two studios with garages but with the owner living on site which is never ideal...

"I sounds like a Joshua Tree budget."

Good thinking,still haven't been there.

"If I was a landlord I'd probably want to hear a little more about your liquid oxygen and propane operations."

Yea for sure. Chances are not all landlords are ok with having a glassblowing studio in their garage.

"25, $1k a month.... find some roomates! In sac there are 3-4 bedrooms for around 1.2k with garages built external. You can do it."

I do want a roommate or two possibly... Just worry about having someone bother me while I am working. I just left a glass studio of 7 people while renting a separate apartment before moving into my car to save money. The studio was nice but ended up annoying me to never have my own space as I've had before in the past. I would always hear others overly loud music and tv shows (specifically loud shitty music that was louder than my headphones I wore).

I worry that roommates would want to hang out in my work space since glass interests people like that. It doesn't really interest me much anymore and I'd prefer to just work efficiently so I can be in the shop less with no distractions. Also the idea of seeing your roommates at work and home is a little bothersome... I know this because I did leave my apartment and sleep in my car for 8 months in the studio parking lot... So essentially, some coworkers were almost like roommates. We got tired of each other fairly quick after that point.

""I don't wanna move to BISHOP bc there's no climbing gym there" is the best laugh I've had in a while"

It's nice to be able to stop working and head to the gym and climb as much as possible for an hour the head back to work with out taking the time to find problems.. Climbing outdoors is more time consuming. In and ideal world I could care less about a gym, in a realistic world where I like to save money to travel - using time efficiently counts. Outdoor climbing to me is more of a treat than indoor. I am used to climbing mostly inside at this point also, it helps me progress quicker as a climber. With that said, I think bishop is too small anyways... I come for. A town of roughly 5k.

Thanks for the replies guys :)
tornado

climber
lawrence kansas
May 14, 2013 - 04:56pm PT
You sure do like to move a lot and real fast at that. In one day you moved from Portland to Massachusetts. Wow!
michaeld

Sport climber
Sacramento
May 14, 2013 - 04:57pm PT
Yea for sure. Chances are not all landlords are ok with having a glassblowing studio in their garage.

Whatcha makin? :D
Elcapinyoazz

Social climber
Joshua Tree
May 14, 2013 - 05:06pm PT
Riverside. Multiple climbing gyms, cheap housing, close to year round climbing. Big enough city to have whatever you need, but without the traffic hell of LA proper. Lots of young folks, and especially lots of college aged ladies at the gyms, due to UCR. Sun shines all the time, mild winters.

Driving times approx: Riverside Quarry 10min, Rubidoux 5min, Holcomb 40min, Tram 40min, Idyllwild 1hr, JT 1hr15, Woodson, 1hr45, Red Rock 4hr, Mt Lemmon 5.5hr, Needles 5.5hr, Cochise 6hr, Valley 7hr.

Otherwise, pick a central valley town or high desert town, they mostly all suck, but some more than others.

Vegas might work for you. Not my particular cup of tea, but I'm not 25 anymore either. Tucson, Phoenix, Reno, all worth looking at.
jTaylor

climber
North Shore Massachusetts
Topic Author's Reply - May 14, 2013 - 05:10pm PT
"You sure do like to move a lot and real fast at that. In one day you moved from Portland to Massachusetts. Wow!"

Haha when I started this account I was in Portland hoping to climb outdoors a bit more but never got around to it but changed it to where home is now in MA. Although in a little less than three years I did live in Vancouver BC, Portland OR, and Ventura CA... I would already have a home in CA right now but I decided to travel/get away so I'm actually in Thailand now writing these post during my down times. I do like to move around though ;)

"Whatcha makin? :D"

Mostly pipes, which is why California is ideal and I don't even mention Utah as an option. Although I've still yet to visit Utah or Colorado despite driving across country twice... Ill be hitting both on my next trip west though for sure.

Nice breakdown Elcapinyoazz. Ill have to double check into riverside! Only been there once.... Didn't seem terrible. I like how close it is to so much.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
May 14, 2013 - 05:13pm PT
Were you into climbing before you went into the Witness Protection system?
Bargainhunter

climber
May 14, 2013 - 05:19pm PT
For your budget and garage needs, I'd say the Central Valley would be your best bet if you aren't that picky for sophistication and don't mind summer heat. You could have a nice garage workspace in a number of different cities/towns. Pick a town close to the climbing destination or other interests that you like best.

Bakersfield > Needles

Visalia > Sequoia National Park

Fresno > King Canyon National Park

Modesto/Merced > Yosemite

Redding > Castle Crags/ Shasta

Granted, the Central Valley does have many drawbacks. You'll have to prioritize what you really want. If you want city sophistication, LA and SF are great (and still not that unbearably far form great climbing), but you'll have to pay premium for rent and you won't have an ideal live/work space for your budget. Planet Granite is SF is a well liked gym by many, Metal Mark is a relatively new gym in Fresno.

The Inland Empire (Redlands/San Bernardino) is sort of a mix between the drawbacks of the Central Valley and the benefits of the big cities and has more amenities due to it's proximity to LA/Palm Springs. You'd have great access to Taquitz/Suicide/J Tree plus great hiking around San Gorgonio etc. (even backcountry skiing in winter).

Reno/ Las Vegas are also great outdoor towns to consider.

There is no ideal. All towns are compromises and have opportunity costs. You just have to pick your priorities. If it's not the best fit, you can always move on.

The nice thing about the Central Valley is that you can buy a house for $70k with a big backyard and pool, so if cheap overhead is important to you, there is really no where else in California that affordable to set up shop.
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