Vista is a hidden jewel in North County San Diego; prices are lower than the coastal communities, but it is just 7 miles inland and the weather is the best of both worlds; less marine layer than the coast,and more temperate than San Marcos, Escondido, etc.  

SF/Marin are great places to park money for those who have cash and over time build substantial wealth on a tax-deferred basis.  

Try the Marines...

Adiel Gorel in Marin County runs a company that recommends the markets poised for upward movement, then puts you in touch with a website full of realtors and listings.

I am a former marine and truck driver.

I don't want this to be a long post so I'll just point out the red flags....Claims to have been a realtor,marine, gone bankrupt & now says he makes 300K a year with his company that writes software for phone apps.

I'm a mariner and spend at least half the year on a ship.

I do have a old Marine buddy in Albuquerque that does side work that may help out.

Hire Marines to go with you.   

To answer you question I originally started college in 2013 after separating from the Marine Corps and bounced around from criminal justice to business management without a goal in mind.