Help, want to move to Eastern CA. (Fresno, Sacramento: rent, job market)

[ACEsydney]

I was born and raised in Western Montana. I love the mountains, but I'm really tired of 6 month long winters.
My girlfriend and I are considering moving to CA.
We would like to be somewhere close-to (30 min drive or so), but not IN a city. I want to be close to (or in) the mountains (15 min drive or so). Close to some lakes as I love to boat and wakeboard. Some nice winding roads for motorcycle riding.

Somewhere hot in the summer, cool in the winter. Low humidty and not windy.

We have two kids 8 yrs and 18 months, so would like somewhere fairly safe, and with good schools, and fun activities for kids/teens.

We're not wealthy, so housing should be affordable. We will rent at first, but if things are right, we would like to buy. Something in the $150k-$200k range.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, here are a few areas I was thinking about:
Lincoln
Folsom Lake
Rancho Cordova
Jamestown
Gordon/Clovis
Centerville/Sanger

How's the job market in these areas? I'm a mechanic by trade, I have a pilot's license w/commercial rating, and would love to find something in the aviation industry if I can.
Also, do any of these areas have affordable land around 10 acres?

I know I sound really picky, but I figured more details would be better than less. I'm sure there are some matches in the Sierra Nevada foothills area. Maybe Sacramento/Fresno outskirts?

Further north or south is fine too.
Thanks in advance!

[Fontucky]

RE: Centerville/Sanger: The small development off Piedra Road (look up N. Trout Lake Dr on a map) is beautiful and peaceful and is right on the Kings River. It's a little too humid in the Summer for my comfort level, but I'm used to a bone-dry skin cracking climate, so you should experience it for yourself.

My cousin has three kids in the Sanger schools, and seems to be happy with them.

Also look up Trimmer Springs Road. Some beautiful places up there. If I was to ever relocate to the Central Valley, the Centerville-Sanger-Minkler area would be one of my top three choices.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

RE: Centerville/Sanger: The small development off Piedra Road (look up N. Trout Lake Dr on a map) is beautiful and peaceful and is right on the Kings River. It's a little too humid in the Summer for my comfort level, but I'm used to a bone-dry skin cracking climate, so you should experience it for yourself.

My cousin has three kids in the Sanger schools, and seems to be happy with them.

Also look up Trimmer Springs Road. Some beautiful places up there. If I was to ever relocate to the Central Valley, the Centerville-Sanger-Minkler. area would be one of my top three choices.

Umm! That IS three.

[Fontucky]

Don't you have chores to do? Isn't there a banjer in the neighborhood that needs tuning?

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Don't you have chores to do? Isn't there a banjer in the neighborhood that needs tuning?

Snowed in!

[Lovehound]

Poor 'Mudgie!

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

Poor 'Mudgie!

Toto, I don't think we're in Cali anymore!

[.highnlite]

Eastern CA is great, but the OP missed it, Eastern CA is Alturas Susanville, Truckee, Callville, Bridgeport
Bishop, Lone Pine, and environs gawds country

Also such delights as Baker, Needles.

[Lovehound]

Bridgeport, Bishop, Lone Pine, Big Pine, Lee Vining, Tom's Place, Mammoth...

If anybody doesn't camp, fish, hunt or ski then you won't need to visit these places. Rod & reel, rifle, tent or skis are required.

[David Aguilar]

Most places east of the Sierra Nevada will be windy, but IMO tolerable.

Some ideas:
-Tehachapi
-Kern River Valley (Lake Isabella, Wofford Heights, Kernville, Mountain Mesa, Bodfish, South Lake, Weldon, Onyx. These are in the Southern Sierra, technically)
-Ridgecrest/Inyokern (Lake Isabella is about 1 hour from here, Sierra foothills within minutes)

Tehachapi is warm in the summer, and has a mild winter (with some snow). There is a prison there, a few services, and some commute to Bakersfield.

The Kern River Valley is hot in the summer, and gets a tiny bit of snow. Cool winters otherwise. The economy here is always terrible.

Ridgecrest/Inyokern are hot as blazes in the summer, with nice fall/spring/winter weather. The area is high desert. The economy is doing well here right now (in comparison).

Check em out. These are interesting places to live.