migrate in the name of surfing

[DreamSurf]

Has any of you done that?
It must be a jump in the unknown. how did you migrate and what were the preperations?

im asking this cause you know if it really turns out to be all that then surely knwing that my place is a non surfing place must get you psyched.

[Brian]

I guess my story might be something of a surf migration. I was born in Chicago, IL and my parents moved to Sydney, Australia when I was 3. I grew up there, went to school there and basically lived at the beach. I was a 'little nipper' at Queenscliff for a few years (junior lifesaver I guess they call them in the USA) and started bodyboarding at around 10, eventually graduating to surfing at around 12. I surfed most days after school and made it out before school some days too.

I graduated college when I was 21 and moved back to Chicago to work in my chosen profession. It was a brutal transition, I'd gone from 3+ days in the water to 1 or 2 surf trips per year. Working in front of a computer all day caused my water fitness to deteriorate and I could never surf to my potential in such short time frames when I had the chance to surf (usually week long trips). I surfed Costa Rica, SoCal, Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and even a little on the Great Lakes.

After 5 years in Chicago I couldn't stand the lifestyle and moved out to Huntington Beach, California with my Fiancee. We didn't know anyone out here, just knew that we wanted to be near the ocean and away from the Midwest winters. We've been here for about 6 months now and couldn't be happier.

[oldmansurfer]

When I was 1 year old I decided that I had enough of being land locked in Colorado so I moved to Hawaii and been there ever since.

[billie_morini]

fromsk82surf,
after many years surfing in NorCAL and driving 1.5 hours and more to surf every weekend, I decided to move some place where surf was very close by. I looked for a new job in three places: 1) Santa Cruz, 2) Santa Barbara, and 3) San Diego. At one year looking, nearly landed a job in Santa Barbara. After two years looking, landed a better job in Santa Barbara. It hasn't always been easy here with few employers and very high living costs. But, it's worth it.
billie

[DreamSurf]

I guess my story might be something of a surf migration. I was born in Chicago, IL and my parents moved to Sydney, Australia when I was 3. I grew up there, went to school there and basically lived at the beach. I was a 'little nipper' at Queenscliff for a few years (junior lifesaver I guess they call them in the USA) and started bodyboarding at around 10, eventually graduating to surfing at around 12. I surfed most days after school and made it out before school some days too.

I graduated college when I was 21 and moved back to Chicago to work in my chosen profession. It was a brutal transition, I'd gone from 3+ days in the water to 1 or 2 surf trips per year. Working in front of a computer all day caused my water fitness to deteriorate and I could never surf to my potential in such short time frames when I had the chance to surf (usually week long trips). I surfed Costa Rica, SoCal, Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and even a little on the Great Lakes.

After 5 years in Chicago I couldn't stand the lifestyle and moved out to Huntington Beach, California with my Fiancee. We didn't know anyone out here, just knew that we wanted to be near the ocean and away from the Midwest winters. We've been here for about 6 months now and couldn't be happier.

i left the office world in 2007. the way i found out i love man work is like this: I was an autocad drawer and the dude told me he was going to fire me and i said you are NOT. and he was looking for possibilities and so expected me to say no. welding and polieren. and i said YESSSS
The first weeks were a torture but then after a good working month and after 6 i was like a body builder. except the belly LOL. but even that became a sixpack by time by simply doing situps(no special stuff. so since 2007 i do metal work in all kinds of stuff. office cause me to almost develop stress and hemeroids . and you know the office work is really more stupid then people think. there is a lot of back stabbing involved ande everyone is trying to get promoted. F that. i do man work and you know the funny thing i make even more money now. so no regrets there.

as a worker you can find work in the while world. as an office workers wether it be it management or whatever you have to sign up as a candidate. and hope that you are one of the hundred to be taken as an employee. now im like hey i can TIG MIG MAG weld and polier. and their like yes come work.

i really feel good for you. what you wrote there i was actually having compassion when u said it went to 3 times a year. i really felt bad for you in that sense like i was actually the one on office. you see it may not be the same but as a skateboarder( even as a skater) i moved to some place to wallonie(french belgium) and there the roads are made of old traditional middle age bricks. you can literally not ride there. so i started to look for indoor skateparks. and i saw all those skinny jeans feminine guys skateboarding. i was like huh where are all the cool bad ess baggy pants boys and girls. gone i say GONE. i was desperatly driving far to find back that street and good ground.

and LOL. i didnt surf yet and im allready in depression over my hype. i even started to do situps again and paddle exercises. im sure my shortage will be my cardio. i donbt wanna die paddling LOL.

huntington beach huh. wheres tito ortiz. i had a girlfriend in stockton. long story tho

[DreamSurf]

When I was 1 year old I decided that I had enough of being land locked in Colorado so I moved to Hawaii and been there ever since.

You are a lucky man. Arent you a little scared for some tsunami/ i mean if it happens it will happen badly. i pray allah to protect you. but how is the weather there? and how are the natives treated? technically its still a colony.

[DreamSurf]

fromsk82surf,
after many years surfing in NorCAL and driving 1.5 hours and more to surf every weekend, I decided to move some place where surf was very close by. I looked for a new job in three places: 1) Santa Cruz, 2) Santa Barbara, and 3) San Diego. At one year looking, nearly landed a job in Santa Barbara. After two years looking, landed a better job in Santa Barbara. It hasn't always been easy here with few employers and very high living costs. But, it's worth it.
billie

thank you for sharing Billie. it sounds like you are single right? as a single man i would have been gone instantly with my last money. but im married so planning is a priority. its not like im shackled but it means planning for real.

and how is the ratio. i know its a private question. but what work can you do there. there is no industry cause that would cause polution to the water.and what is the difference ? let us say you make 1000 euro and milk cost 3 euro. that would be so much in comparison. or is it more like 2000 euro and mil cost 89 cents?

migration pffff. i cant do it in an impuls. but i will;)

[oldmansurfer]

When I was 1 year old I decided that I had enough of being land locked in Colorado so I moved to Hawaii and been there ever since.

You are a lucky man. Arent you a little scared for some tsunami/ i mean if it happens it will happen badly. i pray allah to protect you. but how is the weather there? and how are the natives treated? technically its still a colony.

Since I have been in Hawaii (1955) there hasn't been any catastrophic tsunamis on the island I have lived on (Kauai) although there has been some that did a little damage and worse on other islands. Prior to that in 1948 there was a big tsunami that killed like 185 people. With the new warning systems we at least have a chance to get to safe ground and my house and business are well above the tsunami impact zone. The weather is pretty good although we do have hurricanes once in a while... more often they just make some surf for us. Some of the natives feel violated and some are fine with the way things are.

[Oldie]

Would it not help to start surfing before considering migration? Maybe you find that surfing is not for you and cycling in the Ardennes is much nicer

[DreamSurf]

Would it not help to start surfing before considering migration? Maybe you find that surfing is not for you and cycling in the Ardennes is much nicer

Lol. Believe me im all for surfing and im here to stay. I have to do at least an indie grab.
I did cycle in the ardennes. My arms were shaking like pudding drill. Like a celulitis but shaking on a washing machine LOL.

But really i dont need to do it to want it and to know i want it. I love achieving skill trough body and achieving control over objects.
There was a chinese term for these kind of things. When i do 360 flip. For you it looks fast. But to me it is a silent slowmotion moment that i can calmly do. And the other way around when you surf and become so good atit that it feels natural.

I WANT THAT FEELING

I want that in surfing. Doing that barrel like its a normal thing to do.

The ocean is beautiful

And when you learn it is hard. You land it sometimes and sometimes you dont. And then you do always. And the funny part because you know exactly where to put the pressure on the board it becomes less intensive.. You put the pressure point. You flip and gently jump and on time land it. To me i imagine popping up. Carving airing all in the same method untill i know how to do it.

Man man man.
This gives me goosebumps. But here i am talking talking. I need to start to do the walk thats for sure

[billie_morini]

au contraire, fromsk82surf! Mrs. Morini and I've been married nearly 28 years. The day I told her I was going to look for a new job in the three aforementioned cities, Mrs. Morini excitedly proclaimed, "Yea! I've always wanted to live near the beach!" At the time I began looking for a new job close to surf, we'd been married about 20 years.

The real kicker was the cost of living differential. We went from a 3,000 square foot single family dwelling with swimming pool, hot tub and two large garages valued at about $330,000 to a very old, 1,100 square foot single family dwelling with small garage and small property valued at about $800,000.

If I recall, I only gave up a couple of percent in income and gained much better benefits. After about a year in, though, corporate closed the office I worked in. At this time, I also had a severe neck injury. Some of the guys in this forum helped me with job offers and provided tons of encouragement. We had some lean times in our household. Then I got a job that required me to spend the work week in Irvine, CA. So it was possible to surf in Orange County at places like Huntington Beach, Blackies, Newport Beach Pier, Seal Beach, and San Onofre. I received a higher salary and still had salt air. The only negative is I was only home on weekends.

Eventually, I found another job back in Santa Barbara. That one involved a pay cut of about 30%. But, I was home again. After a year, the company wasn't doing so well and I was forced to find another job. We had scary lean times in this round. Again, some of the guys in this very forum provided tremendous encouragement.

In about eight months and one month before we were going to have to leave Santa Barbara, I found my present job. My salary increased 35% and I'm back in the low range for my experience. If I were to work in Los Angeles or in/near San Francisco, I would receive still more. But, living in Santa Barbara is phenomenal.

Unlike Brian's story above, I was well past mid-twenties when this story began. In fact, I was about 49. This is one reason it was especially difficult the last time I was unemployed. I was mid-fifties, which is an age that employers don't seek much. My present employer is wonderful, has close to a worldwide presence, and is allowing me to establish & grow the business in SoCAL -- all from Santa Barbara!

Last thing to share is my employment field. Broadly, it's consulting engineering and science. In the jobs that failed in Santa Barbara, the specific areas were environmental litigation support and environmental remediation. The job in Irvine was environmental remediation with emphasis in remediation construction. After more than 25 years doing these kinds of things, I moved into more traditional engineering. I'm now designing and construction liquid and gas fueling, conveyance, and storage systems for the US Department of Defense agencies. This involves nice helpings of mechanical & civil engineering and mechanical fabrication & civil construction. It looks like I will be able to do this as long as I want to work.

[DreamSurf]

that is some price you mention. at the momenrt honestly i rent my home with 600 euro a month. i hate mortgages. i learned the hard way as a kick ess kid doing a mortgage over a BMW i paid a high prince and when i was finished paying it i swore to god never to do it LOL. if i want to move i can move no selling no nothing. still its on my mind tho to buy a house. give my kids some quality and having a big garden is a Prè.

moving onto the topic. i admire your risk taking. you balanced your life basically having a smaller house for a better life quality and healthy conditions by smelling the airbreeze of the sea.

nothing but respect to that actually im trying to make that my goal. but to do that i need to master first. but even if we dont speak surfing. those choices have impact on health conditions as well. i know womeone who moved to Malta and there he is never sick. and in benelux he was. you cant really say how come, but obviously the dirty air of smog played a big role im sure of that.

in cities you rely more on internet tv and gadgets and some clubs fitness and such. you think you are free but actually are secluded and illusive of the definition of freedom. now having all that nature surrounding you . thats my definition of freedom. healthy life for sure

[billie_morini]

sk82surf,
it really sounds like you are working out your life path and many important thoughts. These are good things to do. Most of us are really finished with these kinds of things until we close our eyes for the very last time.

I wish to share a comment with you about one specific item you wrote about. You have considered buying a home for the sake of your children. You sometimes think this will improve the quality of their lives. I used to think this way until I was about 28 years old. Throughout my childhood, my parents always owned the homes we lived in. This was not completely unusual in the USA at that time, but a large percentage of the population at that time could not afford homes. My parents were wonderful and I believed their formula for successfully raising children involved owning their own home. I learned differently, though.

When I was a young adult pursuing a graduate degree in university, there was one guy in our class of eleven that was tremendously smarter than the rest of us. He pulled me through our classes in thermodynamics and I greatly admired his intellect. I imagined he had a perfect childhood. One day he told me he was 16 years old when his parents bought their first home for their family. The home was located in Baltimore, Maryland, but is not material to this story. In an instant I learned you did not need a purchased home to become brilliant.
billie