NYC is a maybe for me. For what I want to do, NYC is the best place to be, and I have a good chance at getting the job I want there, but it might not happen. I can get a job in the same industry(acoustical engineering) for almost sure at a good firm in El Cajon because of a prior coworker's recommendation. I think I'll have to go out for an interview some time and get a taste for myself. NYC is pretty much everything I want in a place to live at this point in my life, so if dudeman is right SoCal may not be my best bet. This has been just the kind of input I needed. I'll probably post another similar question about connecticut soon too.