San Luis Obispo Area (house prices, neighborhood, school)

[kristalou]

Originally Posted by stellar9

Okay, let me repeat. I only saw one tarantula on a back road-never in a yard or near civilization.

Black Widows sound bad, and they are if you get bit. However, they love to hang out in cool, dark places. As long as you are careful about not sticking your hand into dark areas of your garage without looking first, you'll be fine. Pest Control will take care of it, too.

Whew! That's a relief. I do check before going in to places that might have creepy crawlers - I used to live in the desert and we had all kinds of icky creatures there. Thanks!

[kristalou]

Originally Posted by sheri257

Not to get too off topic but ...

The reason the nurses in SLO aren't in a great bargaining position is because there is, to my knowledge, only one other hospital there. So ... it's not like other places in California where the nurses can easily take a hike and get a job tomorrow at a dozen other hospitals ...

And, since it is such a gorgeous area ... they're probably reluctant to move. So that's why, IMO, nursing wages are low there compared to other areas of the state.

It is a bummer. I have noticed that the wages are lower in other professions there too (compared with So Cal). I guess because the cost of living here is so high, the wages must be a little higher. Hopefully it will all even out.

[susie4]

I agree that the wages are low in a lot of professions. I work at the state hospital and its very hard to get any professionals because the pay is low compared to other areas/counties. The wages used to be equal to the cost of living here 20+ years ago when I moved here. The housing continued to go up but wages never kept up. The one place that has good wages is the Correctional System. Now if you wanted to work as an RN there, the pay is good, but its obviously not for everyone.

[sheri257]

Part of the reason SLO wages haven't gone up, IMO, is because SLO's policy, as a town, is to be slow growth ...

They've intentionally limited growth in that area which makes for a great quality of life but, not so great wages because, when you limit business expansion you also limit wage growth at least to some extent.

So that's the real problem in San Luis Obispo, IMO.

[kristalou]

Originally Posted by sheri257

Part of the reason SLO wages haven't gone up, IMO, is because SLO's policy, as a town, is to be slow growth ...

They've intentionally limited growth in that area which makes for a great quality of life but, not so great wages because, when you limit business expansion you also limit wage growth at least to some extent.

So that's the real problem in San Luis Obispo, IMO.

I think you are right on this, Sheri. It is good in some ways, bad in others. I suppose it is a trade off - having a better quality of life and learning to make due with a little less. Fortunately, the cost of living is slightly less. Although I noticed the gas prices up there were about .20 more per gallon than down here. It must be further for the tankers to go from the refineries to deliver to the gas stations...

[PDXBound]

Originally Posted by kristalou

I am glad I found the one unfriendly person in SLO - I knew ONE had to exist. You should be happy the cost of homes in your area would increase. Buy before they go up more so you can profit from it. Find a way to make it happen instead of blaming others for your shortcomings.

My husband and I DO own our own home in SLO County. So maybe you should get some facts straight before posting. I see too many young families leaving this county that shouldn't have to! I'm not money hungry, I don't care if I make a bunch of money off of my home. I simply want young families to have the same opportunity to own a home, BUT sadly that is not the reality.

Seriously, SLO is becoming a retirement community with LOTS of college kids. The demographic for our area is ridiculous. There is a very large population of retirees and a huge population of college students.... middle age families are being forced out of the area because equity rich transplants are moving in making it impossible for young professionals to own homes.

Do the young people with small children a favor.... stay in LA!

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by PDXBound

My husband and I DO own our own home in SLO County. So maybe you should get some facts straight before posting. I see too many young families leaving this county that shouldn't have to! I'm not money hungry, I don't care if I make a bunch of money off of my home. I simply want young families to have the same opportunity to own a home, BUT sadly that is not the reality.

Seriously, SLO is becoming a retirement community with LOTS of college kids. The demographic for our area is ridiculous. There is a very large population of retirees and a huge population of college students.... middle age families are being forced out of the area because equity rich transplants are moving in making it impossible for young professionals to own homes.

Do the young people with small children a favor.... stay in LA!

I last lived in SLO in '88 and from what you say, it really hasn't changed. Back then unless you worked at Cal Poly, Cuesta, ASH, Diablo Canyon or had some sort of other coveted government job, you were battling it out for
$4.25-$4.75/hr jobs with college kids. Choruses of "stay in L.A." could be heard past Santa Barbara. I think it's these factors that have helped keep SLO the size it is. People keep going right over the grade...and that's a different story re: growth...and the N. County is a different world.

[kristalou]

Originally Posted by PDXBound

My husband and I DO own our own home in SLO County. So maybe you should get some facts straight before posting. I see too many young families leaving this county that shouldn't have to! I'm not money hungry, I don't care if I make a bunch of money off of my home. I simply want young families to have the same opportunity to own a home, BUT sadly that is not the reality.

Seriously, SLO is becoming a retirement community with LOTS of college kids. The demographic for our area is ridiculous. There is a very large population of retirees and a huge population of college students.... middle age families are being forced out of the area because equity rich transplants are moving in making it impossible for young professionals to own homes.

Do the young people with small children a favor.... stay in LA!

Maybe YOU should get your facts straight. We are a young couple looking for the opportunity to own a home as well. Just because we currently live in Southern California, doesn't mean that we are any less entitled to trying to obtain a decent home in a nice area. If you are as altruistic as you are claiming to be, you would be just as happy for us to have that opportunity as you would be for any other young couple. Or is it just L.A. hatred? By the way, I am NOT from Los Angeles.

With regard to doing favors for "young people with small children", we can only be responsible for ourselves. The "young people with small children" who are driven to make things work for themselves (the professionals you mentioned), would not want your sympathy or "favors" from either of us. The ones who would expect those things are those who would also expect monetary assistance in the form of your tax money. But I digress...

[PDXBound]

I have to appologize for assuming you were retired. Your original comment about needing a hospital nearby threw me off. I know the first thing my mom looked into before moving was how close the nearset hospital was to her home.

If you are a young couple (preferable wanting to have children, because there are a lack of children here!), PLEASE move here! I am so tired of all the parks turning into homeless shelters, and there being a total lack of children present.

Good luck.

[Cali-girl]

Originally Posted by PDXBound

I have to appologize for assuming you were retired. Your original comment about needing a hospital nearby threw me off. I know the first thing my mom looked into before moving was how close the nearset hospital was to her home.

If you are a young couple (preferable wanting to have children, because there are a lack of children here!), PLEASE move here! I am so tired of all the parks turning into homeless shelters, and there being a total lack of children present.

Good luck.

Hi PDXBound!

No worries.

What you had posted previously mirrors the concerns of the Tribune's Editor. Cal Poly professors have been quoted in this newspaper for saying the same thing.

All the best to you.

~Cali-girl