Can I be a California girl?

Definitely a big difference in price on the airfare, so it's a good opportunity if the other financials fall into place too.

Why you need to go - perfectly understandable, of course.  

Will send you a PM on FB.

Yeah, I checked that one out.  I do appreciate people helping me think it through, but this has been our sole topic of conversation for the last two weeks so I'm hoping we have really thought this through.  Now, we just need the details so we can really see if it will work.  I just want to know about Southern California because things can always work on paper, but we literally do not know the area.  I'm hoping to gather some data. 

San Diego is sunny & lovely! 

Hey, I lived in San Diego most of my life, feel free to PM me about specifics if you'd like. The things I would focus on are a housing allowance, health insurance, and the driving aspect.  It's REALLY variable, traffic wise, and it can be a terrible drag to have a house to far away from work because the rents are cheaper or something. Just let me know if you have any questions.

You’ve heard most of the good things (someone did mention weather, didn’t they), and the bad things. I lived in SoCal in 2 stints of 4 years each, all of it in the LA/Orange County area. I’ve not lived in SoCal since 1977. The last time I visited was in 2002. So, I’m no good as far as SoCal today.

But I still miss the mornings. A unique type of sunshine and greenery, and a feeling that nothing could be more beautiful as you look out over the ocean, with the mountains behind you. Well, during the winter anyway. SoCal can be an experience for which there is no comparison. LA and the surrounding area are in the centre of ‘everything that’s happening now’. San Diego is perhaps less so, but the Zoo’s and La Jolla are (or were) great.

I would offer this insight (my opinion): never consider living in SoCal for more than 3 to 4 years unless you would be very happy living on a very crowded island. SoCal is a strip of land about 20 to 40 miles wide. To the East, for nearly 1000 miles, is desert. To the West, for 5000 miles, is ocean. In spite of being able to plan for a Bar-B-Que 5 weeks in advance and knowing the weather will be perfect, you look forward to rain storms just for the change.

If you would enjoy living in one of the worlds most ‘unique places’, then you’ll enjoy SoCal. But it can become a bit restrictive over time for some. The job situation could be perfect if you’re able to negotiate an exit clause, just in case.

I'm from Nor.Cal, and I agree with Olive - San Diego is the best part of So.Cal.  My impression is that it's a little more laid back than L.A. (which can be a little, um, focused on Hollywood/money/beauty/power/fame) and a bit more family/suburb. There's a UC and a naval base, so there's a lot of 20-somethings.

There's a zoo, aquarium/waterpark (think dolphin and whale shows - I haven't been there since the 90's though and the sister park in NorCal is now a 6-Flags with lots of rollercoasters), and a wild animal park (safari style zoo). You'd be close to major sport franchises in every sport except (American) football, Disneyland, and Las Vegas. Deserts, mountains, forests, and the aforementioned beaches.

Two years isn't very long. If the unrelenting sunshine wears you down (I have an aunt from Chicago by way of Alaska who couldn't stand living in California 'cause she never had a rainy day to "get things done" like housework - she always felt that if it was sunny she should be "taking advantage of the weather" to go out and do something and felt guilty if she sat at home and read a book) and the Mexican food isn't sufficient reason to be happy, then you don't have to stay.

Assuming the financial side works out, I vote for adventure.

You'd be close to major sport franchises in every sport except (American) football,

Not exactly. San Diego still has a football team (the Chargers), even though they have been threatening to leave ever since I can remember! Of course this might not matter too much if they decide to go on strike next year...

...I have an aunt from Chicago by way of Alaska who couldn't stand living in California 'cause she never had a rainy day to "get things done" like housework - she always felt that if it was sunny she should be "taking advantage of the weather" to go out and do something and felt guilty if she sat at home and read a book...

My husband called something like that  - 'too much goof off weather'.  When we were deciding if I'd like to move here to northern England, or if he would have liked to move where I was (then) in sunny Tampa Bay, Florida - and I was pushing the sunshine & beaches that I love so much. 

He said - 'too much goof off weather.'  I asked what the heck does that mean?  He said he'd never feel like going to work.