Mumsnet Talk

Oh and baby E is lovely and snuggly .

hi - we moved out when our children were 5 months, and 21 months. They are now 6 and 7

we started using the adaptors and transformers - but after one transformer caught alight and shot flames to the ceiling (queue me running through the house holding a power cord with a flaming box dangling behind me and throwing into the street ) we bought new appliances ! depending upon your price point, you can pick up good second hand appliances on

sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/

Trader Joes, and Wholefoods are more Waitrose equivalents (good for meat/fish/chicken and produce) - and Safeway is more low end (although good for tinned and baked goods)

how long are you going to be here ? there are good districts to buy/rent houses in for schools so its worth considering that if you will be here for longer than three years ....

I would say that "nice area" San Diego prices are like most of London, but Bay area is like "nice areas" of London, iyswim. The money will go out differently: petrol cheap, preschool atrocious. Housing kind of comparable, but buying a house is much dearer than renting (over less than 5 yrs or so). Dental & medical care whilst eating out reasonable. Swimming lessons .

it truly is dependant upon what you are looking for and where - can you give us some more specifics? if you are moving for work, then its a different kettle of fish

there are some lovely coop preschools in San Carlos which are very inexpensive

We're moving for DHs work, but fully intend to settle there long term. So will probly be looking to buy a house after the first year... Why is it so expensive under 5 yrs? Are there lots of one-off costs associated with buying?

The electrical thing is a pain in the bum! Can't believe I've got to get all new appliances! I assumed we'd just be able to get the plugs changed..

I think HOP nailed it!
It is very frustrating at first (and occasionally still for me)
I remember asking for water, how hard is that? The waitress looked puzzled, I asked again, I was puzzled, in the end I asked in Spanish, she understood that apparently it's wadder, not water you will eventually make yourself understood.
I was lucky (maybe) my MIL helped me with a lot of things, like I needed Corn flour, she picked our Corn starch. She was an American who had lived in UK her most of life so that was handy.

Don't buy a house until you get Green cards (or unless one of you is a US citizen already) there have been quite a few on Visas who have been made redundant and you aren't given long to pack up and leave the country, some visas don't transfer you are stuck with one employer only. Property is had to sell now and also expensive (the realtor get about 6% of the full sale price) some have had to leave before selling up and then sell at a loss to get out from under it.

That's an interesting point Paula... It takes years and years to get a green card though, doesn't it? I'll have to get DH to check the conditions of his visa...

Hi All, I have just moved to San Carlos (3 months ago) and am in need of help finding good places to eat, meet new people etc- help me settle in more, I am having a hard time x

Have a look on www.britishexpats.com there are lots of people in Silicon valley, they will tell you everything you need to know, and where to buy Bisto too.

It didn't take long at all for DS and DH to get green cards. 4 and 6 weeks respectively, but I think that is some sort of record.