Big Move To Bakersfield (Tehachapi: area, trip, Thursday)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by 5thgenSF

he's asked for feedback on the move. those were personal attacks.

Behavior will have an impact on how well he fares and assimilates, or not.

[5thgenSF]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Behavior will have an impact on how well he fares and assimilates, or not.

you're defending personal attacks.

here's what's happening in his neck of the woods:
Man Shot While Handcuffed: FBI Investigating

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by 5thgenSF

you're defending personal attacks.

here's what's happening in his neck of the woods:
Man Shot While Handcuffed: FBI Investigating

No. You're stretching.

G'Day

[GoingBackBack2Cali]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I live in SW Missouri and spent three unfortunate years working narcotics enforcement in Bakersfield back in a former life.

1. Air quality is attrocious. If you have any allergies it will exascerate them. If you don't, you may develop some. Breathing-in oil field and crop residue and chemicals at every breath is not life(style) enhancing.

2. COL is cheaper than other ploces in CA and for a reason. It will NOT prove to be cheaper than Harrison (my guess as to your location), AR.

3. EB was bad when it came to gangs. Union Ave. was a swamp. The Oakie is not OK and the area around Gorrill (sp?) is ghetto. You're likely better off west of 99 but the bad issues are spilling over.

4. Yes, very hot and dry and you might find you actually miss green, lots of water and the four seasons.

Thank you!! I'm sure I'll love it out there. And if not we can always move when we get the money.

[caligirlz]

Originally Posted by GoingBackBack2Cali

Harrison, and yes this will be the first time for me and my friend.

I get it that you want to leave your small ("boring") home town...but...wow....Harrison looks beautiful to me...green, scenic, economic growth with private funds...... Bakersfield is the complete opposite.

[BVitamin]

I know Curmie can be a bit of a sourpuss but he's actually spot on in his description of Bako:

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

I live in SW Missouri and spent three unfortunate years working narcotics enforcement in Bakersfield back in a former life.

1. Air quality is attrocious. If you have any allergies it will exascerate them. If you don't, you may develop some. Breathing-in oil field and crop residue and chemicals at every breath is not life(style) enhancing.

2. COL is cheaper than other ploces in CA and for a reason. It will NOT prove to be cheaper than Harrison (my guess as to your location), AR.

3. EB was bad when it came to gangs. Union Ave. was a swamp. The Oakie is not OK and the area around Gorrill (sp?) is ghetto. You're likely better off west of 99 but the bad issues are spilling over.

4. Yes, very hot and dry and you might find you actually miss green, lots of water and the four seasons.

Driving to L.A. IS NOT a perk! Law enforcement sucks out there as well, I've gotten profiled there. Whenever I talk to people from someplace else about CA, they think that all of CA is like one big metropolis on the coast with sunny beautiful weather and movie stars -- not the case. CA has its deep-red areas and Bako is a part of that, CA's own Bible-Belt, the ugly twin that's never spoken about, the dark side of the moon, if you will.

And like Curmie mentioned, I did develop allergies there and I have to live with it for the rest of my life.

Of course a lot of people live there, the region has gained in population, they 'seem' healthy, can't really say but there have been studies by the ALA and the growing health issues of living in the Central Valley.

If you really must come to Bako just be sure to have an exit plan to somewhere else, hell, even Santa Ana is paradise compared to the Central Valley.

[Chelito23]

It sounds like the OP just wants a change and growing experience in California...and will be able to overlook the negatives of living in Bakersfield since they really won't be too much of an issue to him from what I gather. I think he will experience diversity in comparion to where he is now, and he will also learn a lot about life, himself and the vibe that he projects...once he sees how people here react to him here vs. in Arkansas.

I would caution him and say not to drink at all here, fines are also much steeper and then surchages will get tacked on and it will be outrageous.

To the op, make sure you come with a car in condition, you will need it...get your smog check, plates and ID to avoid other problems down the road...CA driver's insurance...and hit the pavement running, looking for a job. Get a head start with indeed dot com and use your friend's addy and update your resume...to see what kind of responses you get.

All in all, people love to trash Bakersfield and Cali...but it is what it is and if being here (or not being somewhere else) makes you happy, you will do fine. Stay out of trouble and make the most out of it. You made some mistakes already, we all have, just learn from them and leave those behind...and what you can't, you will ultimately have to deal with here, probably in a more harsher environment, to your surprise, so it will be a learning experience for sure. Let us know how it works out. Good luck.

[Caliguy2007]

I used to live up in Washington State and thought Bakersfield was a small farm town...I've been here more than 10 years and I'm happier here than I was in Washington

Bakersfield has a growing population of over 300,000 and is one of the more affordable cities to live in the state,and just because it's affordable doesn't mean its horrible..In fact Bakersfield has a lot of nice communities and parks and most of the city I consider as safe while certain areas do have a higher crime just like in any other city around the country.

Bakersfield is also just 2-3 hours drive from L.A and the Beaches and about 5-6 hours from Vegas...The Mountains are also nearby and we have a few lakes such as Lake Ming and Lake Buena Vista which are in the outskirts if your into boating or other outdoor activities.

The weather here is mostly dry and sunny during the summer but we occasionally get our hot temps moderated when cooler marine air filters in..The winters are a little chilly and sometimes foggy during the winter..I've heard about the air quality issue before moving down here,but in my opinion the air is breathable unless you have poor respiratory problems,but to be honest I prefer the weather here than up in Washington.

Despite the arid climate you'll find that most of the area is green and the surrounding agriculture fields adds to the greenery as well.

Bakersfield is not for everyone but it really isn't that bad and I truly find more positives than negatives about living here

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by 5thgenSF

he wasn't asking for your opinion nor does he need it. he will be JUST FINE in bakersfield.

He could always move to Arvin.

[GoingBackBack2Cali]

Thanks everyone for your responses, I appreciate the feedback. I will be taking a trip Thursday to Bakersfield to get a first hand feel for it.