Hi. I just ran across your post while searching the internet for ideas about some of the same issues you are having... That is, I currently live in Coalinga...my husband has a great job here. Unfortunately, I am at a loss to find a job... even though I have a college degree.... There is just nothing here in my job field either... So, we have come to a great compromise that maybe could help you in your decision. We are moving to Lemoore, Ca... just as soon as we can sell our current home. Lemoore is only a 40 minute drive to Coalinga (the traffic here isn't too bad, not like a big city or anything and this is actually a pretty easy commute). Fresno is where all the jobs are at for me... and the commute from Lemoore to Fresno is only about 30 minutes or so. A little more traffic going toward Fresno... but the 198 freeway to Coalinga and the 41 to Fresno both intersect in Lemoore. We really like the Lemoore area... The Naval Base make for a pretty safe community, even though we are not military... having military neighbors could be a real plus...
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned what the Central Valley is like... but it's been great growing up and living here. I lived in LA for a while and hated it... and came running right back to the Fresno area...I love the laid back feeling of Central Cali... Yes, there is a lot of Agriculture here (not unlike the midwest)... Lots of crops and cows... but the weather is lot warmer and we never have a need for snow boots...hahaha. All in all, Coalinga is ok, but I have not been very happy here because I can't get a decent job around here... However, with the benefits of small, safe communities and the fact that my husband's job is great (especially when you factor in a relatively low cost of living in central cali).... There's no question this is a great area to live.... Just a little nudge over the way to Lemoore may be just what you guys are looking for. (the drive to the new state hospital from Lemoore may be closer than you think... since it's actually a few miles outside of the city of Coalinga and closer to Lemoore).
Well, that's the idea my husband and I have come up with... I hope it helps!
PS I commuted from coalinga to fresno everyday while in college... never had a bad commute accident wise...but hated the drive... It took me 1 hour and 15minutes each way... from downtown Coalinga to Fresno State... I wouldn't recommend that sort of commute if you can help it... just my opinion though...
The quakes hre are NOT that bad... the 1983 Coalinga quake was bad because of too many old brick buildings (obviously we all have building codes nowadays) and no one was killed in that quake either...
Many of my friends and family work in or around the local prisons... great jobs and and we all feel perfectly safe around here... I mean, c'mon people... Colainga is pretty close to the middle of nowhere... If anyone was to escape... where are they gonna go? Shack up with the cows?
Seriously though, it's pretty safe around here... the prisons are miles outside the actual city...
There's not a problem with toxic waste around here, but the water had a lot of lead and chlorine... We buy bottled... My husband (who has lived here all his life) swears he can't tell the difference... No babies with 5 eyes or 3 arms... nothing like that....
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