Californians--what is it like to live there?

[Bill McDowell]

pretty nice actually

[John H]

Well, if you're not absolutely stuck on California, you might look at property in southern Oregon - virtually identical to a lot of Northern California. There are some incredible bargains, especially if you can go somewhat rural.
The climate is quite different from the rest of Oregon (you do get all the seasons' offerings) and there are plentiful outdoor offerings and activities.

[fullertone]

I've been in Northern California for about a year. Prices vary widely depending on where you look. It is a huge state. Prices farther from San Francisco tend to be less, but you don't have to get that far for it to be relatively affordable. As people have warned, check property taxes before you buy, and check the local weather. We're happy to be here.

[Mike Anderson]

Originally Posted by dnauhei

Probably somewhere in the middle to northern part. She would like to live somewhere that she can garden all year. Beach would be great. Definitely looking for sun. Warm? Well, we are not looking for a ton of heat like some folks. After years in Seattle, we just want sun! I am a lawyer and she is getting a degree in acupuncture, so we can work anywhere.

If you want to live near the coast, and you want warmth and sun, then you're better off in Southern Cal. Living near the coast in Northern Cal is much cooler and foggier. I suppose you could garden year-round, but it would depend on what you're growing.

Also, there are plenty of old houses around here, but they're extremely drafty. I've lived in them, and it drives me nuts. I like a nice warm house. I really would not want to live in an old house on the Northern part of the coast; that would make it doubly cold and drafty.

[rhinocaster]

I miss California SO much!

I grew up in Santa Barbara and moved to Marin in Junior High. I love the bay area and plan on retiring there. It's expensive (specifically if you want to own a home) but it's home to me.

[clicktone]

Fast, Fast, Fast...and always surrounded by people (but I love it)

[mapleneck72]

We were able to buy here when prices dropped and I agree that it doesn't get any better than Sonoma County - nice people, craft beer, wine, coffee, restaurants, Russian River/Goat Rock State Beach.
My wife has a big time job opportunity in Santa Monica but I'll be sad if we have to leave.

Originally Posted by sfarnell

I've lived all over California and for me there's nothing like the wine country, Sonoma and Napa counties. I live in west Sonoma County and am about 20 minutes from the coast. The cost of living has come down significantly in the last few years and property is relatively inexpensive when compared to other parts of the Greater Bay Area. I practiced law here for 30 years...you should have no trouble hooking up with a firm and starting a solo practice is not as difficult and expensive as it is in other areas. Can't beat the restaurants and the wine and the people are generally very, very nice. There are a lot of really good musicians in the area. I can't imagine living anywhere else except maybe Hawaii for six months a year.

[antojado]

Originally Posted by chandlerman

On the Central Coast (the strip of coast from Ventura to Santa Cruz) it's beautiful, warm year round, uncrowded, and pretty much free of gangs and graffiti. Last year Oprah did a show about San Luis Obispo and named it as the happiest city in the world. After living on the Central Coast for about 25 years I can't imagine living anywhere else. If you want to buy a house close to the beach you'll pay $750,000 or more, probably a lot more. As previously mentioned taxes in CA are high and headed upward but if you can afford it this really is a wonderful place. I'll be renting until I win the lottery.

Having lived in SLO, Santa Barbara, and now the "slum" (as many people in slo and sb would say) in between, I agree about it being a nice place to live. It's about 68 -70 outside right now.

However, there are plenty of gangs and graffiti around, even in slo. Los Osos property prices are much less than one would think since it's right next to the ocean, but there's not much culture or music scene there, and no "historic" district.

Property tax rates in CA are some of the lowest in the nation thanks to Prop 13 passed in 1978. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/10/bu...ptaxrates.html

[gillman royce]

You realize that you are leaving a state with no state income tax and moving to a state with the world's 5th - 8th largest economy and one that's totally in the toilet. Governor Moon Beam ( Jerry Brown ) is going to cut services, look to raise taxes - whatever. I lived in San Francisco for years . There's someone on every street corner standing on a political soapbox of some sort. The city is always in the Top Five in the nation for highest cost of living. While you can live in outlying areas and use BART, if you're used to the independance of driving, it could take some getting used to. So Cal is another world and there is always talk of dividing the state in two. EVERYBODY moves to California to re-invent themselves. I agree with the post re: So. Oregan - added advantage is no sales tax. My advice is twofold: 1) talk ONLY to people who have LEFT the state and get details as to why; 2) VISIT before you move - live there for a period of time if possible. Don't be a dreamer - it's NOT going to be perfect. I've moved cross country six times and to Europe once and back. Moving is not a pleasurable experience - I've seen it split families, cause financial ruin , etc. - it will change you more than you think or may be prepared for. THINK before you act. Good Luck

[foxyRenard]

heaven

[straightblues]

It is expensive. There is lots of traffic and lots of people. Things are spread out. Weather is amazing. But it can be a very tough place to break into to. I would try somewhere else if it were me, and I have lived in the LA area my whole life. I would like to get out, but my family is all here.

[macmeda]

Bird Rock (San Diego) Ca. It's the land of milk and honey. Small two story historic style California Spanish up behind me just sold for $650. 3 blks from the beach , 1 block from no.1 voted "small coffee roaster"/shop in the country. Live music any night of the week within 2 miles, 4 nights a week within 2 blocks. Don't know wether to surf or skateboard today. Both I guess.

[duaneallen]

I've been here for ten years now and couldn't be happier. It's a beautiful sunny day outside, and I'm going to ride my bike to the beach. It is expensive here, and yes there's LOTS of people. Just remember though, good quality of life sometimes costs money. Its much cheaper in most of the country, but nowhere has everything that CA has to offer. I cast a vote for Orange County. I live 3 miles from the beach, and in my neighborhood you can now get a nice house for around $480000. It's very nice where I live (Huntington Beach), and my daughter goes to a GREAT public school in our neighborhood. It takes me a half hour to get to LA, and I go there all the time for the music. Great restaurants everywhere, and a MILLION things to do. I can jump in my car and go to Big Sur, Yosemite, SF, etc. Also, you can usually make more money here. My wife is in the medical profession, and is doing very well. Much better than she could ever do in FL. where we are from. You would do fine here if you are a lawyer.

[Julia343]

I used to live there. I miss the weather most of the time. It's bloody expensive.

Housing is still very high in comparison to WA. What costs $300K up here costs about $700K in CA.

There is something I've known for a very long time. Once you move out of California it is extremely difficult to move back, unless you're willing to downsize significantly and live in a bad area and work back up, or you've got a lot of money socked away that you have access to -- like your kid's college fund when your kid decided they didn't want to attend.

The Bay Area is where I used to live. The I-80 corridor? The commute is one of the 10 worst in the nation. We don't have freeways up here in WA. The closest we have is I-5 from Seatac to Seattle. That's a freeway. The rest are highways. California has freeways, and they're packed. A trip from say El Cerrito CA to SF can take anywhere from 20 mins to 2 hrs by car. Take BART. At least it's predictable. Besides BART is fantastic. They should have rammed a system like that through up here back in the 80s. I always took the train to commute. Only idiots drive when they don't have to -- especially when parking is $15-25/day and a transit ticket is under $10/day.

Now on that side of the hills the weather can be pleasant. Foggy mornings warm sunny afternoons ... usually... unless the fog rolls in... and if the weatherman says highs in SF 89, bring a winter coat 'cause it ain't gonna last, especially if you wake up in the morning and it's warm already. I've seen it go from 85 to 55. Now go over the hill and you're in an oven. That's the climate.

My advice? Start taking vitamin D supplements in the winter and suck it up. These three months of decent weather we get are worth it. This winter has really sucked bad. It's been one of the worst we've had. It's been getting to everyone I know. Honestly if it weren't for this winter in particular and the one in 2007 I absolutely love it up here. Best move I made. I left the craziness.

If you recally I made a post similar to yours not too long ago thinking about moving to the SD area. I'm just going to have to tough out this winter.

I've had some serious health issues with migraines, but wait. It gets worse. My best friend can hardly walk now. Her hip is giving out and they can't find anything wrong with it. Another friend is having a major episode of MS and is in serious pain. And another friend has to have a biopsy on Monday. So I look and think. "It could be worse."

I think what I need is to visit my Mexican friends in Oakland. That will get it all out of my system. Great bunch of people. All of them have more musical ability in their pinkies than most musician's I've met.

[Peteyvee]

I've lived my entire life less than 10 miles from the beach and for 20 years, on it. If you can afford it, fine, but if I hadn't bought property here years ago, I couldn't afford to now. The weather is ideal and there's no place else I'd rather live. But it is expensive. And political comments aside (see post #24 above), it's a great place. Good luck with your move.