housing and jobs

Warning: this post is kinda negative.

Writing can be very theraputic.  I've spent the last several months now trying to find a job for when I come home, and a house to go along with that.  I'm afraid that Europe, its lifestyle, its outlook on life, its "day to day" has changed me, a lot.  I know what half of you are going to say, "Yes, you had an experience there, but don't worry, you'll get back into the swing of things once you get back," and I guess, from my experience here I couldn't rightfully say that you're wrong. I mean, I hated France when after a few months of living here, and look at me now, but... right now is what matters I guess, because right now is when I am looking for an apartment, right now is when I'm looking for a job.  It seems that, in San Diego especially, all the houses I'm looking for are so........ timid, or crazy.  Everyone wants to stress that they're either a.) very calm, quiet, they don't party, they don't really want you to have people over, they live their life and want you to live yours, they don't want to become friends - you are renting a space to sleep and a shower to use.  Or b.) they do drugs, smoke, drink all the time, probably have a very dirty house, are irresponsible, and are going to filling my ears nightly with loud sex.  So, I miss my housing options in France, where people (Amanda first told this to me, and I didn't believe her until I witnessed it myself) can kind of...... do both.  They don't "just go out on Fridays to completely unwind," they do stuff each night of the week, even if it's something small.  Life here revolves around life, not work, not making tons of money.  And I'm having a really hard time finding a place with people that understand that.  I mean - I didn't before I came here, so why would I expect anyone else to?  I just want to live with people who want to live, enjoy life, who are looking for more than just roommates.  I mean, my postings when I was looking for tenants were always like that, long before I moved to France.  But when half the things I see are like "room. $500. no smoking/ppl sleeping over."  and that's IT, I mean - how does that person EVER get someone to live there?  They must, because most people posting rooms have posted rooms before, but.. I duno, I just wanna find something where the people seem nice, laidback, responsible, but who still want to have fun.  I guess I'm subconsciously looking for the place I lived at here in France, and I don't know if I'll find it. 

As far as jobs go, I duno... I've had many conversations with people here about America - Rebecca and I were just talking about how in the States, you can do ANYTHING.  We have that entrapreneurial spirit that allows for the best to come out of people and their ideas, but we also work our asses off, 40, 50, 60 hours a week, and I don't want to do that.  I mean, I really don't.  The idea of paying $700/month for a place freaks me OUT now, after paying 250€.  I'm not saying I expect to find that in SD, it's a bigger city, America is more expensive, but, I don't know.. I duno how to explain it.  I'm not sure I want the materialism of my own country anymore.  I'm tired of every house listing sounding like you're getting to live in the White House for ONLY $xxx per month.  I'm tired of every job listing requiring 4,000 year of experience in the field in question.  As for jobs, I'm not sure how different it would be here in France, I won't speculate because I haven't looked, but as far as jobs, this isn't as much a question of "SD vs. France" as it is my general frustration with job searching.  I've been applying for jobs for about 2 months, and I think I'm damn interesting, a good candidate, and that any company would probably benefit from having me, but I haven't gotten any calls or any emails.  It just sucks, and it's getting to me.

If anyone has any ideas for either of these situations that DOESN'T involve something like "move back to France!" or "move to [insert city name of the US where you live here,] I would love to hear them.....