Thinking about moving to California

[Southpaw5]

Originally Posted by 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.

Curiously, If you think its that bad why do you live there?

I mean an hour to get 30 miles is heaven compared to the Boston area. It takes a half an hour for me to get 6 miles.

I

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by aborgman

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

Because you are...

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.

On my many trips to Michigan (Detroit, Marquette, Troy, Dearborn Heights, Corktown, Oak Park, Wyandotte, Livonia, Grosse Pointe, Clinton Township), I found few people to be like they are here. I spent a few days in Marquette, the people I interacted with there were very hospitable and friendly. Aside from a few rude people, I wouldn't put them in the same class as what I've experienced here.

Maybe we are outsiders, but the point is not to treat people that way, and outsiders don't get treated that way where I moved here from.

Aggressive is fine, but driving like you don't give a crap about anyone else is not fine.

I don't hate New England or the people who live in this region. It is very nice up here, and you get a quality of life we didn't have in Washington State. We may stick it out and make it work, we may not. I suspect if we stick it out, I'll make some really quality friendships for life with people. They seem that way once they decide you're OK and warm up to you.

-Mike

[Bipslapper]

Originally Posted by ADbassman

I lived in Pacific Grove, California for around 2 years. I'd just like to echo what others have already said about Northern California and Southern California essentially being two states. I lived about 100 south of the bay area but got a lot of the same climate and rent situation since Monterey is a little resort town on the coast. There are white sand beaches. This, for example, was only a couple of miles from my house:



I think this photo sums up the weather along the northern coast pretty nicely too. Bouts of sunny, lovely weather punctuated with pervasive fog nearly year round. The temperature usually hovered in the 50's, which coming from the midwest always seemed just a tad cold to me. It's an absolutely beautiful area but it's not without it's problems. If you have a decent job and can afford the cost of living, it may be for you. Just know that depending on where you are in California, you aren't venturing outside of California unless you're going on vacation. Unlike the northeast where you can drive for an hour or less and be in a different state, California is f'ing huge.

I took the exact same photo in Carmel. It's at the end of that main street area and you are looking north towards the 16th of Pebble Beach. I loved Monterrey but it is expensive.
We are flying out to Santa Monica / LA tomorrow then on to San Diego on Sunday for a conference. I am excited to see San Diego / La Jolla as I have never been.

NorCal is cool- was in SF and Santa Rosa last July and had fun, but then again I was on vacation. I have family in Novato, Mendicino, San Rafael and Petaluma and all like the areas. LA gave me a sore throat for a week when I first visited in 1991. I agree with most, take a trip out there and drive around before making any quick decision.

FWIW- I was born in NJ, grew up on Cape Cod, college in Amherst, MA and would love to leave Mass for many reasons....

[UncleFluffy]

The weather can be good even in the middle of winter.



This is a little bit further north than Monterey, looking north past Pacifica and Daly City towards SF. You can just see the part where the ocean goes in to form the entrance to the SF Bay and the Marin headlands on the other side.

Taken December 31, 2011. About 60-65 degrees during the day.

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

On my many trips to Michigan (Detroit, Marquette, Troy, Dearborn Heights, Corktown, Oak Park, Wyandotte, Livonia, Grosse Pointe, Clinton Township), I found few people to be like they are here. I spent a few days in Marquette, the people I interacted with there were very hospitable and friendly. Aside from a few rude people, I wouldn't put them in the same class as what I've experienced here.

Did you come in the summer? Definitely makes a difference.

...and I wouldn't count Marquette, that is Canada and we all know how friendly Canadians are, eh?

Aggressive is fine, but driving like you don't give a crap about anyone else is not fine.

I don't want folks to care about me - I want exacting adherence to the letter of the law to increase the ability to predict the behavior of other drivers. Sometimes "niceness" is dangerous.

I don't hate New England or the people who live in this region.

I don't think your post comes across that way. You may just not be (and may never be) a cultural fit for the area.

[Misfit]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

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

I don't know why, but that's hilarious. LOL

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by aborgman

Did you come in the summer? Definitely makes a difference.

September through November was the bulk of the visits, with a couple in spring.

-Mike

[aborgman]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

September through November was the bulk of the visits, with a couple in spring.

-Mike

Not quite the grumpy season then...

Folks here in Michigan (and I grew up here, AND chose to move back from Oregon) aren't often what I would call "outwardly friendly". They aren't rude or jerky, just reticent and taciturn.

[Kryptos]

The idea of California is quite seductive, the reality these days is a much darker picture unfortunately. Unless you have employment secured prior to your move I would strongly counsel staying where you are. The job market in Cali is difficult at best, for one with an associates degree (unless you are Spanish/English bilingual) it is more than difficult. For a massage therapist it is even worse.

[Buslady7803]

Too many people here in CA and its $$$$$$; try Aridzona- much warmer and cheaper. People are stuck up here, concerned about fashion than anything real...I'd leave if I could
91 freeway is one if the worst in state. Mission Viejo IMO is the city of choice in ORCo. 30 min to north beach. There are no white sandy beaches, that's Sanibel Isle fla.
Anderson's Pea Soup is legendary in the bread bowl with all the goodies.
Go down PCH that's better. Much more scenic.

[TOOL460002]

+1 Mission Viejo is a nice, safe, quiet town that's close to the beach and not too far from OC/LA if you get work there. I would avoid some parts of Riverside/etc.

[firmlybassed]

I grew up in Calif. Left in 92 for NC. Never looked back. Now most of my family lives on the east coast. Don't go you will come back to the east coast.

[Southpaw5]

Originally Posted by Buslady7803

Too many people here in CA and its $$$$$$; try Aridzona- much warmer and cheaper. People are stuck up here, concerned about fashion than anything real...I'd leave if I could
91 freeway is one if the worst in state. Mission Viejo IMO is the city of choice in ORCo. 30 min to north beach. There are no white sandy beaches, that's Sanibel Isle fla.
Anderson's Pea Soup is legendary in the bread bowl with all the goodies.
Go down PCH that's better. Much more scenic.

No for Arizona, I've got family there and hate the culture, or more accurately lack thereof. Plus I'd probably get asked for my "papers" and deported.

[slobake]

Originally Posted by Southpaw5

No for Arizona, I've got family there and hate the culture, or more accurately lack thereof. Plus I'd probably get asked for my "papers" and deported.

[Southpaw5]

Originally Posted by slobake

Pretty much dude, with my Movember stasche' its even worse

[slobake]

Originally Posted by Southpaw5

Pretty much dude, with my Movember stasche' its even worse

You will fit right in here in San Francisco.