Macleans and moving to SF for an MTF

[danaeris]

Macleans

Anyone know what the minimum and maximum durations are of a voluntary Macleans check-in?

Moving to San Francisco

When Furry gets out of Macleans, she may or may not decide to drive here from Boston with nothing but her car and the possessions contained in it. I can probably scrounge couch surfing for her for about four weeks.

She has been working at MIT IS for a number of years. She has also done Help Desk for an apple company, as I understand it. She has also worked desk (which is kinda like receptionist+video store cashier in one). She has also taught a variety of classes. She is also a talented writer. She has also worked Coffee Haus, which is a cross between a cafe and a convenience store.

Do you think that she could
(1) Find housing (I'm thinking 400 or 500 range)
(2) Find work that would support her, possibly on a tight budget?

I think the housing is doable, certainly. She may have to sell her car to pay for first, last, etc. I'm more worried about the finding work part. Keep in mind that I can amply support myself on full time, $10/hour, living at 530/month rent.

Advice of any kind, addressing ANY of these points, would be helpful. Offers of couches to surf even for a few nights would also be welcome, though unexpected.

Comments

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

If she wants to live in SF, proper, then "Roommate Referrals" is well worth the membership fee, I'm told.

[cernnunos6669.livejournal.com]

What's a Macleans? Is that like a rehab or something?

[tikva.livejournal.com]

It's a psychiatric hospital in the Boston area. (Belmont, MA, to be specific).

[cernnunos6669.livejournal.com]

Aha! Thank you.

[random-vamp.livejournal.com]

So, my advice is the usual I give to people I hear are thinking of moving out here. Mainly, look for jobs first. I've known a bunch of people that have taken months to find even a low end job...

[beautifultoxin.livejournal.com]

As a counterpoint, when I began seriosuly planning for my move to SF, finding a job was nigh-impossible with MA contact info. She can be sneaky and change her cell phone number in advance, if she's got one, of come couch surf and commit hardcore to job hunting. Even if she can put her rent/security on credit for month 1 and 2, that buys her sometime. I just wouldn't say to someone to stay in MA while jobhunting unless they had a really specialized career move planned.

[kaidevis.livejournal.com]

I know very little of the situation, but I'll tentatively offer crash space. I'm allowed to have guests up to three nights per week (I normally wouldn't care about the limit, but my anal-retentive landlord has been around a lot lately and will be through September). So if things shake out such that random nights are needed, or short stretches, I have space to offer for at least a few nights (future crashing dependent on whether it works out for everyone). If it helps, I'm also pretty good at being company naturally conducive to helping people process and/or fix their heads.

And, synchronistically enough, there are still 8 rooms or so available in the house I live in, in the $450-$650 price range. I'm not sure I can completely advocate the place (it has its problems) but the location is central (single bus to anywhere) and it's available both instantly and likely to continue into the next few months as rooms fill slowly. It's great for people like me who don't have a lot of stuff, and therefore workable for people with just a carload too. The only major hurdle is that it requires a pretty good credit rating to pass my anal-retentive landlords requirements (one reason the rooms haven't filled fast).

If any of that's useful, ping me. If not, no biggie. Best of luck!

[athereal.livejournal.com]

Just an update: she got out yesterday and appeared to be very happy. She's thought about a lot of stuff and says that she has a plan. But claymore is pessimistic about it (surprise? not really...) because he thinks that it might be an overcompensating happiness. I don't know... I'm worried about her...

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the update!

I am too... I don't see her healing as long as she and eirl are interacting. I think they both need the space to come to the realization of how broken their relationship is. I think they both need the space to delve into their individual minds and figure out what about them makes them likely to end up codependent, because eirl is not the only person she has done this with.

I'm not convinced that she will gain that space while remaining in Boston, and CERTAINLY not while remaining on 5E. I'm at a loss. I think that she could make moving here work for her. I think she needs the councilling about being MTF that she can get (for free) here. And the distance, and the isolation to think about things. I don't WANT that burden, necessarily, but I'm willing to take it on. I just... it's hard to know what to do about all this, or what to think since really, Furry is the only one who can do anything about it in the end. We can only stand by, support, and give suggestions and advice.

[athereal.livejournal.com]

Yeah... eirl and baniszew switched rooms so eirl and Furry aren't across from each other but still... a whole 15 foot difference isn't going to do much. I don't want Furry to go because I really enjoy her company but I'm really torn because I know that she really needs space. Sigh. You're right, all we can do is support.

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

I just interviewed for a 12 dollar an hour retail job, so it is possiblt to find similar work. If she's got admin assistant experience, that pays better, but takes a bit longer to find than retail. My advice: find something fast to live on somewhat comfortably, then find a better job later on.

[nytemuse.livejournal.com]

Wish I could help, esp since I have all this extra room now, but I don't know that she'd want to deal with the south bay except as a last option. I do know that it is possible to find housing at that price down here. Jobs...hrm. Blockbuster was last hiring in MV at $9/hr, but she might not want something that soul-sucking.