All you (n)ever wanted to know about Ridgecrest (Los Angeles: 2011, unemployment)

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by jph23pw

well the ones who say there is incest there must have brought that with them.

What?!? Yeah, ok.

Originally Posted by jph23pw

The town is small and it does have its problems with drugs, but every place does

Not every place, in Ridgecrest it is much harder to escape the drug element.

Originally Posted by jph23pw

Also, yes it is a very white town, but its a nice one.

The fact that Ridgecrest is a nice town is in the eyes of the beholder, for some people it is nice, and not for others. I miss Ridgecrest some, but I don't long to move back there and I definitely wouldn't want to spend my whole/the rest of my life there, nor would I want to raise kids there. But no fault to those that do.

[oleboy]

Talk about a boring place to live!!! There is nothing there, no supermarket, movie theatre, bowling alley, nothing!!!! It is nothing but a good ole boy town that will never go anywhere or do anything. The biggest lie ever told was "coming soon". Look around.....nothing is coming soon and never will. There are signs in cal city that say coming soon or will be built in 2007 and it's still not there. They city council can talk the talk but they can't walk the walk!!! Now their talking about raising our water rates 75%. Do yourself a favor and move to tehachapi or rosamond! Atleast they have something besides mom and pop stores. You'll regret it just like us!

[ryanst530]

Originally Posted by oleboy

Talk about a boring place to live!!! There is nothing there, no supermarket, movie theatre, bowling alley, nothing!!!! It is nothing but a good ole boy town that will never go anywhere or do anything. The biggest lie ever told was "coming soon". Look around.....nothing is coming soon and never will. There are signs in cal city that say coming soon or will be built in 2007 and it's still not there. They city council can talk the talk but they can't walk the walk!!! Now their talking about raising our water rates 75%. Do yourself a favor and move to tehachapi or rosamond! Atleast they have something besides mom and pop stores. You'll regret it just like us!

That is one thing that bugs me about it here too... I never once in my life thought I would actually WANT a chain store or restaurant to come to where I live until i moved to Ridgecrest. lol

We desperately need a good restaurant or two here (Chilis, Olive Garden or IHOP would be awesome), as well as a Kohls. The food and shopping situation is definitely a D-. Luckily though, were not to far from Lancaster/Palmdale... otherwise this place would be unlivable.

My quick review of living in Ridgecrest:

+ No traffic (average commute is under 5 minutes to anywhere in town)
+ Stable economy (1/2 of the jobs in town are federal government positions)
+ Well educated and high income population
+ Lots of job growth for engineers and scientists right now
+ Low cost of living (below the national average)
+ Low housing costs
+ Great weather year round (a little hot in summer, but its not humid at all)
+ Tons of open space to hike, bike, or do whatever outdoors
+ Flex fridays

- Shopping is horrible (your only places are a Walmart, an economically collapsed Kmart, and lousy mom and pop shops)
- Restaurant situation is worse (a few OK mom and pop places, and one Taco Bell)
- Lines in the grocery stores are usually long
- Somewhat geographically isolated (not too bad though)

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by ryanst530

That is one thing that bugs me about it here too... I never once in my life thought I would actually WANT a chain store or restaurant to come to where I live until i moved to Ridgecrest. lol

We desperately need a good restaurant or two here (Chilis, Olive Garden or IHOP would be awesome), as well as a Kohls. The food and shopping situation is definitely a D-. Luckily though, were not to far from Lancaster/Palmdale... otherwise this place would be unlivable.

My quick review of living in Ridgecrest:

+ No traffic (average commute is under 5 minutes to anywhere in town)
+ Stable economy (1/2 of the jobs in town are federal government positions)
+ Well educated and high income population
+ Lots of job growth for engineers and scientists right now
+ Low cost of living (below the national average)
+ Low housing costs
+ Great weather year round (a little hot in summer, but its not humid at all)
+ Tons of open space to hike, bike, or do whatever outdoors
+ Flex fridays

- Shopping is horrible (your only places are a Walmart, an economically collapsed Kmart, and lousy mom and pop shops)
- Restaurant situation is worse (a few OK mom and pop places, and one Taco Bell)
- Lines in the grocery stores are usually long
- Somewhat geographically isolated (not too bad though)

I think Oleboy may have been speaking about California City, well, because Ridgecrest has two Albertson's and a Stater Bros. Vons closed down in 2004. Ridgecrest also has a movie theater at the Triangle, and the bowling alley is down at China Lake/Rader. I believe California City residents have to do their shopping (even grocery) in Mojave.

Are you new to Ridgecrest ryanst?

I would have to disagree that Ridgecrest has a stable economy. I would say stagnant at best. Even China Lake has been known to be moderately unstable at times (see: the early to mid 1990s). What about how the economy affects those that aren't engineers or base workers? The working class in Ridgecrest are supported only by a relative handful of jobs.

Again, outside the base and its environs, Ridgecrest isn't educated nor is it high-income. I think you'd be surprised at just how uneducated Ridgecrest really is, and how many rely on social services.

I personally could not stand Ridgecrest's weather from April to October, it is way too hot IMO, but I'm glad you can tolerate it.

Ridgecrest has one of each of these (at least as of 2007, when I left):
McDonald's
Denny's
Carl's Jr.
Wienerschnitzel
Taco Bell
Jack In The Box
Del Taco
Sizzler
Burger King (I heard it re-opened)
Domino's Pizza
Pizza Hut
Little Caesars

along with some great Mom & Pop's, I didn't think Ridgecrest left too many voids when it comes to restaurants, but I am picky and easily pleased.

There are worse places for geographic isolation, but Ridgecrest is pretty isolated for California. There's always those periodic out-of-town trips to take.

Ridgecrest is a good place if you take it for what it is, and don't expect it to be what it's not. I miss it some, but would probably never go back (to live), though I'm hoping to have my wedding down there (my girlfriend is a Ridgecrest native).

[N4TECguy]

Hi David, thanks so much for this wonderful thread. I recently got offered a position at the plant in Trona, and being that I just graduated into this economy, I'm takin' it. I think I can deal with the weather as I try to stay positive and not complain too much, not a fan of heat but not afraid of the cold. I love to drive and I like to stay indoors with internet/TV/games/books and what not - so far so good!

Issue is that I'm Asian and I'm rather concerned about how discrimination will play out. I hope that it doesn't get physical (assuming we're not all drunk at the bar...), and that it really doesn't manifest itself too much from day to day life?

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by N4TECguy

Hi David, thanks so much for this wonderful thread. I recently got offered a position at the plant in Trona, and being that I just graduated into this economy, I'm takin' it. I think I can deal with the weather as I try to stay positive and not complain too much, not a fan of heat but not afraid of the cold. I love to drive and I like to stay indoors with internet/TV/games/books and what not - so far so good!

Issue is that I'm Asian and I'm rather concerned about how discrimination will play out. I hope that it doesn't get physical (assuming we're not all drunk at the bar...), and that it really doesn't manifest itself too much from day to day life?

You're welcome.

Sure, go for the Trona plant job! That's one of the better jobs out that way. Many people commute from Ridgecrest and work in Trona, and it's not a bad drive.

The heat takes some getting used to, but if you can make it through a summer in Ridgecrest you can make it anywhere. Attitude is half the battle, I just didn't want to keep battling. The cold days/nights of winter are a nice contrast to the HOT summer.

As for being Asian, it goes like this (your mileage may vary, for better or for worse)
-No one will say anything about it initially, but once you get more comfortable, the questions/comments may come
-Once you are accepted (by a person or group), it will be a constant source of ribbing
-If you can put up with it, you'll have friends for life, just ones that poke at you occasionally

Racial epithets (N-word, beaner, etc) are part of the normal vocabulary in Ridgecrest (at least in the social circles I was in), so get used to it.

I don't know where you are moving from, but also be prepared to cover your mouth in shock at some things you might hear -- and be shocked at the source of said shocking comment. You might hear little old ladies/men saying some outrageously racist comments like you've never heard before.

I would hope any sort of confrontation wouldn't get physical, but some Ridgecresters think they are hotter stuff than they are, (i.e. when it comes to toughness, and/or being "gangster") and can get away with doing/saying things in RC that they couldn't get away with like in say, LA.

Just be careful, like you would anywhere. I wish you luck in your new home!

[N4TECguy]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

As for being Asian, it goes like this (your mileage may vary, for better or for worse)
-No one will say anything about it initially, but once you get more comfortable, the questions/comments may come
-Once you are accepted (by a person or group), it will be a constant source of ribbing
-If you can put up with it, you'll have friends for life, just ones that poke at you occasionally

Racial epithets (N-word, beaner, etc) are part of the normal vocabulary in Ridgecrest (at least in the social circles I was in), so get used to it.

I don't know where you are moving from, but also be prepared to cover your mouth in shock at some things you might hear -- and be shocked at the source of said shocking comment. You might hear little old ladies/men saying some outrageously racist comments like you've never heard before.

I would hope any sort of confrontation wouldn't get physical, but some Ridgecresters think they are hotter stuff than they are, (i.e. when it comes to toughness, and/or being "gangster") and can get away with doing/saying things in RC that they couldn't get away with like in say, LA.

Just be careful, like you would anywhere. I wish you luck in your new home!

Oh this sounds great. We always make racial jokes about each other at my internship, all in good humor of course but a constant source of entertainment to get thru the day.

I'm moving from SF Bay Area, I expect to hear a lot of bad stuff about Obama, which is just fine with me

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by N4TECguy

Oh this sounds great. We always make racial jokes about each other at my internship, all in good humor of course but a constant source of entertainment to get thru the day.

I'm moving from SF Bay Area, I expect to hear a lot of bad stuff about Obama, which is just fine with me

I wasn't there for campaign 2008, but I was there and voted during campaign 2004.

I'm sure you'll hear PLENTY of negativity concerning Obama and Democrats in general, it is a very conservative town. You might also hear some resentment about him being black, as I knew some Ridgecrest Democrats that weren't voting for him simply because he was black.

[N4TECguy]

Hey David, how lax are the cops there regarding tint law enforcement? It's illegal to have tint on the front windows on your car, but I'm thinking it'd be mighty nice. It would suck to spend $250 on tint to get a fix-it ticket though...so is it worth the risk? Do a lot of cars there have tinted windows all around?

[David Aguilar]

Originally Posted by N4TECguy

Hey David, how lax are the cops there regarding tint law enforcement? It's illegal to have tint on the front windows on your car, but I'm thinking it'd be mighty nice. It would suck to spend $250 on tint to get a fix-it ticket though...so is it worth the risk? Do a lot of cars there have tinted windows all around?

CA and Kern County are well-known to be sticklers about overly-tinted windows.

I wouldn't chance it.