Fear of moving to CA, please help (San Diego, San Francisco: apartment, crime rate)

[MoonShadows]

I was hoping someone could help me. I am trying to figure out why I have this fear. It's really stupid. But I have this fear of going to California. I have no idea why. I've never been there before. I keep thinking that there is alot of drug use there, I keep thinking the crime rate is extremely high, that it's over populated. That it doesn't take care of its land, that its overly expensive and you don't get paid alot, there a re no jobs and so on. I'm not sure if thats all it. I mean CA seems wonderful and has everything there that I am interested in, but I have this HUGE fear of going or moving there I'm trying really REALLY hard to overcome this and i'm not sure how to. I was hoping a few people could give me some advice. Like how to confront it, the reason why I am afraid of it. I'd really appreciate it!

Oh and it doesn't have anything to do with being comepletly on the oppisite site of the US and like 3 days travel from where I live (NY). Because I am thrilled about Oregon and would love to move there. I think i'm more worried about raising a family there and i'm really REALLY connected with nature and I know Oregons goverment takes care of its land and well I just don't know if CA does. I'm going to research it but it would help if I got others opinions.

[zenjenn]

Where in California are you moving? It's such a huge state. There are spots that have ALL of the issues you have mention, and spots that have NONE of them, and everything in between.

And why are you moving? I am a firm believer that you should visit a place at least once before moving there. And by visit, I mean specifically the city where you plan to work and live.

[MoonShadows]

Me and my fiance are moving because we hate it here in Buffalo, NY. I plan on visiting a spot first of course but I didn't want to be frightened off by the first one or 2 places I've seen.

I'm not sure where abouts is CA I want to move to. I love nature a whole lot and was hoping to be near alot of it, like a forest area or something instead of the beach. I just didn't know if there was a place like that in CA. I'm also big into the Japanese culture and art. My fiance is big into wrestling, so we are trying to find a happy medium, he likes the beach and I like the forest. I'm also looking for a place to settle down in so I can raise a family someday. But I hear its so expensive in CA and that frigthens me, because where I live everything is cheap because the jobs suck abd you don't get paid well.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by MoonShadows

I'm also looking for a place to settle down in so I can raise a family someday. But I hear its so expensive in CA and that frigthens me,

When most people in California who don't make $150+/yr get to that point in their lives, other states start looking a whole lot better. That's assuming you don't want to raise kids in an apartment. There's lots of places in between Buffalo and California that have much better income to living expense ratios.

[zenjenn]

So you said you liked Oregon. Why not consider moving to Oregon if you aren't tied by a specific job offer or something? I agree with Escape.. this is not the state I'd choose to live in to raise a family. (I'm only here because I was born here, and now with 2 kids, I am on my way out.) I mean if you have a fantastic job offer or something you can consider it, because California isn't all bad, but if it's just "anywhere but Buffalo", I'd listen to your instincts and look to the northwest or elsewhere.

[MoonShadows]

Well i'm not obligated to any state really but my fiance is only willing to move to California or stay here in Buffalo, NY. I hate it hear and want to move, I want to move to Oregon but it's a no win situation. I'm going to try and persuade him but he's still very gong-ho on moving to CA. so thats why i'm working overtime on finding a place in CA. I heard that Eugene, Oregon is only a 3 1/2 hour drive to the border and thats the place that has my schooling and such.

[sponger42]

Originally Posted by MoonShadows

Me and my fiance are moving because we hate it here in Buffalo, NY. I plan on visiting a spot first of course but I didn't want to be frightened off by the first one or 2 places I've seen.

I'm not sure where abouts is CA I want to move to. I love nature a whole lot and was hoping to be near alot of it, like a forest area or something instead of the beach. I just didn't know if there was a place like that in CA. I'm also big into the Japanese culture and art. My fiance is big into wrestling, so we are trying to find a happy medium, he likes the beach and I like the forest. I'm also looking for a place to settle down in so I can raise a family someday. But I hear its so expensive in CA and that frigthens me, because where I live everything is cheap because the jobs suck abd you don't get paid well.

Many of the posters who are negative about California live in Sothern California (LA-San Diego area) and are irritated by the high cost of living and the plastic fake glitz of the "Hollywood Types." I live in LA, and I like it--it's close to every activity known to man--but I'm moving out due to the high cost of living.

I would recommend the central coast. Monterey or Santa Cruz sound ideal for you and your Fiance. They are 1-2 hours from San Francisco, which has a moderately large Japanese population (more Chinese) and would make a great place for you to visit on weekends. There's also Big Sur to the south, which is a forested mountainous nature area with camping and eco-friendly deep woods or coastal resorts. There are large stretches of beaches in Monterey and Santa Cruz for your fiance, and the surfing is high quality year round. It is fairly cool year round, and downright chilly and foggy in the winter, so it's not so great if you're into sunbathing, but if you like all other outdoorsy activities, it's primo. There's also nearby skiing, Hawaii or Japan plane tickets are "cheap" out of San Fran.

I'd move to that area, myself, but I am very specific about what type of job I'll take, and the work I want to do is not available there.

Also, the people are pretty tolerant and friendly. You will find a lot of others who share your concern for the environment and will accept you regardless of your creed and color. Really, the only parts of California suffering extreme environmental degradation due to overbuilding and uban sprawl are those which are more conservative--like OC and San Diego. LA is, of course, heavily polluted as well thanks to a mix of wannabe stars, overcrowding, heavy industry and plain old greed, but all those are in the south. They are the economic engine of the state, however, and business/job opportunities abound, so there's good along with bad.

Crime is not a major issue except in the news. I live in one of the more undesirable areas of LA (not the worst, by any means) and I've had no problems except for some petty thefts. There's nothing to be afraid of, come out and visit. See if you like it.

[Kingsnkali]

I don't know why you would fear California. Even with 36 million people, there's huge portions of this state in near wilderness. You can find any kind of climate you want here. Just don't move to the huge megalopolis areas to avoid the potential problems. California is WAY too complex to put any kind of label on the state. Much more so than any state out there.

Do your research. Don't just limit yourself to LA or the Bay Area etc.

The California people get so tired of people wanting to come here thinking that California is just LA, crime, sprawl etc. It's not. Hardly.

[MoonShadows]

Okay thanks. I think the fear is not being near a forested area. With your replies i'm more confident about the move, i've been looking around and will have to check some places that were mentioned out, thanks again!

[DMenscha]

My entire county has less than 45,000 residents. I'm 2 hours from south shore tahoe, 2 hours from yosemite valley, 90 minutes to the capital, 2 1/2 hours to the bay area. look at the gocalaveras website for more information.

Good luck!