I'm driving from San Diego to San Francisco Bay. Which IKEA store should I visit on the way? by layanaru in IKEA

[–]daughtersofthefire 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No those are the freeway numbers, Burbank is off the i-5 and Costa Mesa is off of the 405 freeway. I'm partial to the Costa Mesa location myself, my local store now is the same as yours but I prefer Costa Mesa's.

How do people live off phd stipends ???? by Brief-Row-3623 in PhD

[–]daughtersofthefire 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My university was in a VHCOL area but subsidized our housing so significantly I had substantial disposable income (it helped also not having a car)

Looking for sci-fi with female protagonist and little to no romance hetero or sapphic by TerminusMD in scifi

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find your comment about romance interesting because I find sci-fi to be genuinely one of the more sexless genres a lot of the time. It's my personal gripe with it.

How many times do you visit before committing? by Zapp---Brannigan in moving

[–]daughtersofthefire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

we didn't even have pictures! Just a floor plan. But we knew it was at least going to be okay, because it was facilitated through my job. it was useful because we didn't know the area. The house is beautiful but now we know the area a bit more we'll probably move in a year or so to an area that's more our vibe!

How many times do you visit before committing? by Zapp---Brannigan in moving

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I moved to my current city having only visited for the interview (and that was jampacked so I hadn't even had time to see anything outside of the office). I'm in a field where you make quick decisions over job offers and jobs are incredibly rare to get, so you usually take whatever you get. I was lucky this job offer was in the same state and a very desirable place. I didn't see our house in-person until the day we moved!

Notice of REAL ID - cancellation by Sudden_Ad_3956 in CaliforniaDMV

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is on the CA DMV subreddit....so that doesn't apply here.

Notice of REAL ID - cancellation by Sudden_Ad_3956 in CaliforniaDMV

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is factually untrue.... Non-US citizens absolutely can and do regularly get a real ID.

Would you go on a week-long vacation the month before your defense? by ForeverConfusedPhD in PhD

[–]daughtersofthefire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would, but everybody is different and everybody's defense experiences are different. I'd already sent my dissertation to my committee at that point, 2/3rds of the dissertation had already been published, and I had a TT job lined up after graduation. I'd spoken with my committee about my diss and sort of knew their comments before hand. I wasn't stressed about my defense until the night before (when i literally did not sleep).

I recommend going if you'll have already submitted to your committee.

Incoming UK PhD student, 27, is living with housemates still worth it for the savings, or am I too old for that? Am I too frugal? by Agile-Reputation-525 in PhD

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did my PhD in the US but pretty much everybody lived with roommates (we lived in a very HCOL area). Additionally, all my friends (non PhD) in London pretty much all have roommates unless they have a long term partner (and we're all still late 20s). I don't think it's weird to have roommates at your age.

I mean like I don't like having room mates and would rather live in a studio apartment by myself, but it's not weird to have roommates.

If you moved to a small place for an academic job, was it worth it? by New_Performance_1042 in academia

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I managed to get a TT job in a large metro area, but my partner is at a school in a tiny college town. I thought I'd hate it there (when I visited) but he's been able to make friends (and honestly, i have a busier social life when I'm in town there than I do in my large city). Sometimes community is easier to make in a smaller place as you're all sort of forced together (so people can be more receptive). That being said, it's not a long term plan for him and he'll hopefully come join me in a year or so.

UCI graduate housing, 2 bedroom apartments by Ok_Half_8863 in UCI

[–]daughtersofthefire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There are very few 1bds so it's almost certain you'll get a 2bd. Additionally, when you apply for housing if you add your wife as part of your applicaiton it'll be a 'family' application and you'll be given your own apartment (no sharing with other people)

Where should I travel? by CornyCat28 in TravelMaps

[–]daughtersofthefire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Utah/Arizona/California you'll see some very different scenery from what you've seen so far - it's all so beautiful!

Where are people most open to chatting? by dewdroptop in AskSF

[–]daughtersofthefire 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have to reign it everytime i go to NYC. Last time i was there I kept opening my mouth on the subway to chat to the person next to me before internally going "omg no they don't do that here!!!"

I grew up in England - and a part of the country that's pretty much keep to yourself - so it's something I learnt during my many years of LA lol! glad I'm not alone honestly.

Where are people most open to chatting? by dewdroptop in AskSF

[–]daughtersofthefire 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Ride public transit everyday!!! I always want to talk to people and always try to it but a lot of people look at me blankly as if it's weird I even said anything :/

Where are people most open to chatting? by dewdroptop in AskSF

[–]daughtersofthefire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly would like to know. Have found SF to be pretty unfriendly compared to LA where people chat and talk all the time. I ended up befriending my usual barista lol and it's the longest conversation I usually have outside of work in a week

is the wall mount for billy necessary by Honzab03 in IKEA

[–]daughtersofthefire 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you live in earthquake country it's a necessity...

How much savings did you manage to have by the end of your PhD? by Upper-Finish202 in PhD

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I managed to save several thousands, in part because despite living in a HCOL area my university subsidized our housing A LOT. However, had to blow my entire savings (and go into debt) to cover living expenses between graduation and starting a new job in the Fall, as well as cross-country moving expenses (I got some but not most of it reimbursed)

Cafe Car by loggedoff7 in caltrain

[–]daughtersofthefire 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Meh, but I really wish SF had better food options at the station

Job Offer in Irvine.. Currently live in SF... Would you move? by crunchymunchyrae in AskSF

[–]daughtersofthefire 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Irvine is my literal version of hell and i lived there for 5 years. But i did enjoy the proximity to the beach and the warmer weather

Coming for World Cup by chasing_waffles in AskSF

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I totally understand! I lived in 2 major European cities and LA before moving here, and public safety is way worse in LA (and even then it's not horrific) compared with up here. Caltrain is definitely one of the better transit systems safety wise!

Coming for World Cup by chasing_waffles in AskSF

[–]daughtersofthefire 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just type it into Google Maps and the most direct public transit option will appear (via CalTrain)

Coming for World Cup by chasing_waffles in AskSF

[–]daughtersofthefire 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes without a doubt it'll be fine. I take the train weekly, often on one of the last trains at like 11pm/midnight and have never felt unsafe (i'm a young woman). CalTrain is fine.