Thank you all for the support and advice, I will definitely do everything you suggested. I don't have family support so if I fail, I fall hard. Planning extensively is all I can do to make sure I'm successful. -op

Anonymous wrote:I'm an east coast nanny with a dream of moving cross country to San Diego. I have a great job here and live a comfortable life but have recently been feeling unsatisfied, trapped. I've been trying to shake the feeling but each year that I push closer to 30, the more I realize that I haven't given myself the opportunity to live anywhere besides the city I grew up in. So I decided to give myself a year to financially get myself in a position to move without any debt and be able to pay a few months worth of bills if I can't find a job. I wondering if any nanny has ever made a huge move on their own? And if so what were some unexpected struggles you faced during your move, job search and creating a new social life?

I'd like to add that I would be moving and finding a position as a live out nanny since my dog and two cats will be joining me on this adventure.

As someone who has moved across the country for different jobs, I can give you my perspective. When it comes closer to when you want to move, start contacting as many agencies as possible. While San Diego is nice, you have other great cities in California and you are likely to find a higher paying job in LA or SF. I also would not rule out live-in positions. I once had a job offer where I would be living in the house right next to theirs, so it may be possible. It is very smart that you are planning on saving before you move. When I moved one place, it took three months to find a good job. When I lived in LA, I found it more difficult to make friends. It is all about who you know and if you don't have connections, people aren't as friendly to you. I did find it amusing the times I would go out with the children to different groups and be ignored by the mommies, but when I would go with my employer, all of a sudden those mommies who ignored me got real chummy with us. But I also had long work days and a crappy commute, so it did make socializing more difficult.

Have you spent much time in San Diego or any other city? If you get a chance, go out for a couple weeks and really see if you like the city. Get a place through Airbnb, so you can get a sense of what it is like to live there as opposed to staying in a hotel. I had thought about moving back to LA a couple of years ago, but after visiting for a week, I resized the traffic was worse than before, the smog was worse and it was it a place I wanted to live. You also may want to put some stuff in storage and not move it out until you know for sure the place you move to is the place you want to be for the long haul.



After connecting with agencies, try setting up interviews with families. I have had families fly me across the country for job interviews and to do a couple of trial days.

I hope this helps a little bit. I was in your position a few years ago and jumped at the opportunity. Don't let anyone discourage you from packing up and moving. Good luck!


NP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here,

Thx for the advice. I was under the impression that LA comparable to Boston rent and SF was only slightly higher while San Diego was cheaper? My dog is a small breed and I'm comfortable paying extra to have her by my side. I'm more concerned with nanny competition since in Boston I find most of my jobs by word of mouth and can command a higher rate. I'm not sure how I will compare with CA nannies. I just don't want to go through all my savings while searching for a position and I want to live a similar lifestyle financially that I'm living in Boston.

I will look into more agencies.

Unless you have roommates, plan for 50% - 60% of your monthly income to go towards rent in San Diego. I don't know about the east coast rates but out here a 500 sq ft studio or jr. 1 bedroom goes for $750 - $1000 depending on how close you are to the beach and the US/Mexico border.

There are around 20 agencies in San Diego. Some of them prefer not to hire nannies until after they have relocated to the area but others are more than willing to interview over Skype.

As another poster said, don't forget about the Trustline clearance. That is required throughout California.

Op here,
Studios in the city of Boston go for 1200-1500 per month without utilities and we have freezing winters. So San Diego sounds like a steal! Will hopefully i'll be moving with a friend and have minimum of 10k saved and absolutely no debt. If anyone can provide me with information about safe dog friendly neighborhoods in San Fran, LA or San Diego that would be wonderful. Any names of worthy agencies I'd really appreciate it. I will get trust line certified before I send out my résumé and portfolios to agencies.

San Diego is broken up into North County, Central San Diego, East County, and South Bay. There are a variety of neighborhoods in each area. Not sure what kind of neighborhood you prefer to live in so this is a link where you can learn about all of them. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/sd-neighborhoods/
I live in Central San Diego near Balboa Park and I love it. The area is mostly late 20s and thirty-something singles and families. Dogs everywhere!

Here is a link to a list of Southern California agencies - http://www.networkingnannies.com/agencies.html

This is another link with that includes some of the agencies in Northern California - http://theapna.org/category/nannyagency/california_nanny_agency/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here,

Thx for the advice. I was under the impression that LA comparable to Boston rent and SF was only slightly higher while San Diego was cheaper? My dog is a small breed and I'm comfortable paying extra to have her by my side. I'm more concerned with nanny competition since in Boston I find most of my jobs by word of mouth and can command a higher rate. I'm not sure how I will compare with CA nannies. I just don't want to go through all my savings while searching for a position and I want to live a similar lifestyle financially that I'm living in Boston.

I will look into more agencies.

Unless you have roommates, plan for 50% - 60% of your monthly income to go towards rent in San Diego. I don't know about the east coast rates but out here a 500 sq ft studio or jr. 1 bedroom goes for $750 - $1000 depending on how close you are to the beach and the US/Mexico border.

There are around 20 agencies in San Diego. Some of them prefer not to hire nannies until after they have relocated to the area but others are more than willing to interview over Skype.

As another poster said, don't forget about the Trustline clearance. That is required throughout California.

Op here,
Studios in the city of Boston go for 1200-1500 per month without utilities and we have freezing winters. So San Diego sounds like a steal! Will hopefully i'll be moving with a friend and have minimum of 10k saved and absolutely no debt. If anyone can provide me with information about safe dog friendly neighborhoods in San Fran, LA or San Diego that would be wonderful. Any names of worthy agencies I'd really appreciate it. I will get trust line certified before I send out my résumé and portfolios to agencies.

Anonymous wrote:Op here,

Thx for the advice. I was under the impression that LA comparable to Boston rent and SF was only slightly higher while San Diego was cheaper? My dog is a small breed and I'm comfortable paying extra to have her by my side. I'm more concerned with nanny competition since in Boston I find most of my jobs by word of mouth and can command a higher rate. I'm not sure how I will compare with CA nannies. I just don't want to go through all my savings while searching for a position and I want to live a similar lifestyle financially that I'm living in Boston.

I will look into more agencies.

Unless you have roommates, plan for 50% - 60% of your monthly income to go towards rent in San Diego. I don't know about the east coast rates but out here a 500 sq ft studio or jr. 1 bedroom goes for $750 - $1000 depending on how close you are to the beach and the US/Mexico border.

There are around 20 agencies in San Diego. Some of them prefer not to hire nannies until after they have relocated to the area but others are more than willing to interview over Skype.

As another poster said, don't forget about the Trustline clearance. That is required throughout California.

Anonymous wrote:2305... you are a DOUCHE CANOE. I wasn't bragging. Nashville is full of low key celebs. It's an AWESOME place to nanny. And my currently pregnant boss isn't a celeb, FYI, so take a piss

Name calling is immature and not necessary. Please show tact and keep this post on topic.

Op here,

Thx for the advice. I was under the impression that LA comparable to Boston rent and SF was only slightly higher while San Diego was cheaper? My dog is a small breed and I'm comfortable paying extra to have her by my side. I'm more concerned with nanny competition since in Boston I find most of my jobs by word of mouth and can command a higher rate. I'm not sure how I will compare with CA nannies. I just don't want to go through all my savings while searching for a position and I want to live a similar lifestyle financially that I'm living in Boston.

I will look into more agencies.