Thinking about moving to California

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Mike N

Could you be a little more specific? Just my curiosity here. I know you moved here from the Seattle area, so I'm guessing you're more of a big city type of person versus a small town guy? Do you find the people rude or are they over nice and wanting to smother you with their friendship?

You asked for it.....here yoo go. Grab something to drink and a hot dog.

Yes, I ended up being more of a city boy than I thought I was. I thought I'd slide right in to the woods of New Hampshire and get along just fine....the woman, the kids, the dog, and me. Yeah, not so much.

I like living within five minutes of five grocery stores, being 10 minutes away from Costco, having choices for freshly roasted and brewed coffee, access to cultures from around the world, roads that aren't like driving on a washboard, the possibility that my truck is going to rust out in the next couple years, good quality fresh produce, vegan choices, health clubs, yadda, yadda.

As for the people, I wouldn't use the word rude so much as reserved. I am outgoing, animated, friendly, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. In my dealings with the people of NH and VT so far, I haven't found many people like that. The people here are cautious and almost suspicious. More of a "we'll wait and see exactly who you are before we become your friend" type of thing. I am not used to that, and where I lived is not like that.

Case in point, we arrived here the end of October 2011. We had no firewood. I started talking to the neighbors and people I work with about how we had no firewood and how we needed some. The responses I got ranged from "hmmm" to "look in the paper to find someone selling some" to "you better hurry and get some". Where I lived, those comments would have been answered with comments like "come on over tonight and I'll give you a truckload to get you by" or "call this guy, he has a good deal" and "meet me at my house Saturday, and I'll take you out to a spot where you can cut some up". Yeah, it's a corny example, but it was the first one to come to mind.

People in NH/VT where I live now are friendly, but it's a cautious friendly. Our family definitely feels like outsiders even still. We do have some good friends that I am close with already, so it's not like the whole place is that way. It was just a major culture shock for me. That, and not seeing any Latinos, Asians, or black folks.

I didn't even address how people drive around here. The driving habits of many people give off the "screw you I have to go somewhere" message.

-Mike

[slobake]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Lived in SoCal since 1961, and although it was a teenager's paradise, once I entered the work filed, things just generally went sour when I finally realized what was going on.

I have a degree in Biomedical Science, a minor in English Lit. and also matriculated in Fine Arts, specializing in theater.

I hated the dearth of quality theater and generally disliked any of the arts as they were experienced in California.

Great surfing and beach attractions though. But if you're not a DINK (Dual Income: No Kids) or seriously into the whole Yuppie/Sport-o freak style, the place is a vast wasteland with bright lights and fakes and phonies everywhere you turn.

It's like sitting naked in a bowl of Crunchy Granola --- what around you that isn't flakes and nuts, is fruit.

Taxes are on the totalitarian side, politics are all 'touchy-feely' and the 'it takes a village' mentality is socially and mentally crippling. There's no place for individuality and if you don't flow, you aren't part of the scene.

The whole left coast is an abysmal den of relatives feeding relatives in the Sacramento Feeding Trough, and the business exodus shows that to be the truth and the obscene taxes, both hidden and on the label.

If you're not a Hollyweirdo or a politician, then the laws are not written for you and they circumscribe decency with the PC-crazy New Morality affliction that in other earlier days was called 'The Old Immorality'.

I sorely wish that I had made my own grand exodus thirty years ago.

Welcome to the Hotel California.

[Southpaw5]

Just booked the flight, I'll be in SoCal in early February for a little over a week. Probably head to sanfran for a couple days and a day trip to the San Diego area.

I'm so stoked for this trip : )

[slobake]

Originally Posted by Southpaw5

Just booked the flight, I'll be in SoCal in early February for a little over a week. Probably head to sanfran for a couple days and a day trip to the San Diego area.

I'm so stoked for this trip : )

You probably already know this but just in case. It is a 6-8 drive from L.A. to San Francisco. It can be even longer if you take 101 (the scenic route) and take your time.

[Southpaw5]

Originally Posted by slobake

You probably already know this but just in case. It is a 6-8 drive from L.A. to San Francisco. It can be even longer if you take 101 (the scenic route) and take your time.

Yup I'm aware ; ) and I expect to go the scenic route, the wife has always wanted to do that drive.

[UncleFluffy]

Feb is rainy season in the Bay Area. Be aware that you're not going to see it at its best.

[SurferJoe46]

Make sure to take The Canejo Pass - go through Solvang.

Don't buy the Split Pea Soup at Anderson's though - barf-o!

[Southpaw5]

Originally Posted by UncleFluffy

Feb is rainy season in the Bay Area. Be aware that you're not going to see it at its best.

That's fine, I lived in Burlington vt for years and its rainier there than Seattle. We have some friends in the area we plan to visit anyway

[IconBasser]

I've lived and worked in Orange County and the Inland Empire my whole life. The first thing you'll notice is the traffic. If you're within 100 miles of LA, expect a 30 mile trip to take you at least an hour. Next, you'll notice the smog. The air out here is usually disgusting, akin to walking around in a cloud of car exhaust all day. Most of the cities around here are all uniformly dirty and run down, with the exceptions of Sherman Oaks, Irvine, Santa Barbara, or any coastal cities within a mile or two of water. Unfortunately, you'd better be making at least $100,000 a year to afford a somewhat nice place in those areas. The culture is amazingly varied: there's not much sense of being 'Californian' around here. Instead, you'll find yourself as a part of some subculture based on common interests.

Most importantly, the job market is absolute crap around here. The last statistics I remember seeing stated that for every open position, there is somewhere around 10 qualified individuals trying to get it. If all you have is an a.a., don't expect to land anything other than a grocery stocker, construction worker, or retail salesman right now.

[slobake]

Originally Posted by Southpaw5

Yup I'm aware ; ) and I expect to go the scenic route, the wife has always wanted to do that drive.

I'ts a beautiful drive, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara. Big Sur is awsome no matter what time of year it is. Have you ever seen the movie "Vertigo". Do you remember when one of the characters is driving on 101 and passed through a huge grove of Eucalyptas trees. They are still there right on the highway near Monterey. I always think of Vertigo when I drive throught them.
If you are getting near San Jose anytime between 3:30 to 6:30 p.m you will miss a lot of traffic if you cut over to 280 to San Francisco instead of going up 101. It is a more scenic route as well. Let me know if you want to hook up when you get here.

[chuck norriss]

CA is a big place. Where, what city are you thjnkkng of?

[chuck norriss]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Don't judge California by Orange County. The state is as large and diverse as multiple eastern seaboard states. I am convinced that by and large there's something here for pretty much everyone whether it's desert, mountains, beach, city, suburb, or rural.

Right. Even oc is diverse in the older ciies, and abundance of gentrification in newer places. Typically conservative poli-climate maybe exception to Huntington & closerto long beach.
I like Encinitas myself. Small town feel on the beach lots of food & in nearby neighboring towns.
Visit Palm Springs. Supa-chill. Or Vegas. Supa-opposite-of-chill.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

As for the people, I wouldn't use the word rude so much as reserved. I am outgoing, animated, friendly, and I wear my heart on my sleeve. In my dealings with the people of NH and VT so far, I haven't found many people like that. The people here are cautious and almost suspicious. More of a "we'll wait and see exactly who you are before we become your friend" type of thing. I am not used to that, and where I lived is not like that.

Michigan can often be very similar, but more rude...

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Our family definitely feels like outsiders even still.

Because you are...

Heck, Penn. St. is still an outsider in the BigTen.

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I didn't even address how people drive around here. The driving habits of many people give off the "screw you I have to go somewhere" message.

Me, I prefer aggressive drivers - you know what they're going to do. The overly friendly/polite drivers in Oregon drove me absolutely crazy when I lived there.

[chuck norriss]

Originally Posted by slobake

I'ts a beautiful drive, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara. Big Sur is awsome no matter what time of year it is. Have you ever seen the movie "Vertigo". Do you remember when one of the characters is driving on 101 and passed through a huge grove of Eucalyptas trees. They are still there right on the highway near Monterey. I always think of well. Let me know if you want to hook up when you get here.

Agrees

[MAJOR METAL]

"There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving"

[chuck norriss]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Make sure to take The Canejo Pass - go through Solvang.

Don't buy the Split Pea Soup at Anderson's though - barf-o!

Noooooooo solvanggggggg
Just my opinion. You'll have more fun in Ventura or Santa Barbara than Solvang unless you like pedestrian bakeries & antiques trinkets shops, then solvang is heaven.

[chuck norriss]

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA

[slobake]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA

"California Uber Alles"

[MAJOR METAL]

Originally Posted by chuck norriss

I AM THE PRESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA

Mr. President, will you take me back with a job?

[slobake]

Originally Posted by MAJOR METAL

"There's a feeling I get when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving"

"Going to California with an aching in my heart"