How True Are the stereotypes of People living in SoCal and NorCal? (Clovis: fit in, moving to)

[novaman]

I'm really thinking hard about moving to Cali. Either NorCal or SoCal. We are concerned though about how well we'd fit in in either local. We all are familiar with the stereotypes of SoCal residents- shallow, materialistic... and honestly the few people we have common contact with from those parts actually fit the bill for the most part.
But we also hear of the stereotypes of the NorCal residents- ultraliberal hippies.... but the folks I know from there aren't so much like hippies, although they do lean more liberal

I'd be coming from the more serious and more conservative DC metro area, so I'm not sure how we'd feel and fit in.

Any thoughts?

[nslander]

They're 100% true. Everyone California is exactly the same.

Try Flori. Or maybe remain in more serious Mary.

[Tulemutt]

"Civilized" people all around the world are shallow and materialistic. And narcissistic egotists. If you can deal with it in DC, you can deal with it in California.

[Harpaint]

I personally haven't seen a hippie since the 70's. Serious conservatives seem to be spreading from DC however.

[OwlKaMyst]

Having lived in both locations, I hardly ever saw either of the stereotypes.
The most materialistic person I had come to know actually lived in the northern part of the state and the most hippyish was in the southern part....

There are all kinds, people generally don't have a problem fitting in unless they just don't want to.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by novaman

I'm really thinking hard about moving to Cali. Either NorCal or SoCal. We are concerned though about how well we'd fit in in either local. We all are familiar with the stereotypes of SoCal residents- shallow, materialistic... and honestly the few people we have common contact with from those parts actually fit the bill for the most part.
But we also hear of the stereotypes of the NorCal residents- ultraliberal hippies.... but the folks I know from there aren't so much like hippies, although they do lean more liberal

I'd be coming from the more serious and more conservative DC metro area, so I'm not sure how we'd feel and fit in.

Any thoughts?

Most such stereotypes are based on subcultures of a subculture (in this case subcultures of middle class native born white people). Look at today's demographics and answer your own question. Hint - people of color and immigrants are the main cultural elements these days.

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by OwlKaMyst

Having lived in both locations, I hardly ever saw either of the stereotypes.
The most materialistic person I had come to know actually lived in the northern part of the state and the most hippyish was in the southern part....

There are all kinds, people generally don't have a problem fitting in unless they just don't want to.

I lived in both extensively too. Stereotypes are as true as your emotional investment in them. Seems a strange statement when you've grown up but people really do, perhaps naturally, invest something of themselves in their perceptions. Some unnaturally invest a whole lot.

So just ask yourself how personally committed you are to the "truth" of stereotypes with regard to your own life for the answer, how they'll "truly" affect you.

[Krispytopher]

I would need to know where exactly you are considering moving too in order to comment. For example, SF or Berkly are hippy towns, but areas like Clovis are super conservative. Just a bit north of Clovis gets you even more conservative and racist to boot, so we ( being an incredibly diverse and massive state) have every type of community/people/city/town everywhere in the state. Only choice is do you want desert, ocean, urban, or mountainous views?

[TheCabbage]

Eh, liberal cities, eclectic suburbs, and a lot of rednecks if you venture too far away from civilization. Same as everywhere else in the country, although the cultures within cities such as LA (image-obsessed) and SF (very liberal) are fairly unique.

[incognitoe]

It's 100% true. So avoid CA at all cost. You and your family will not fit in and will have a horrible time adjusting to the shallow and materialistic life required to be a Californian.

Stick to the Poor Southern States where incests and gun fights with neighbors happens all the time. And where molesting your sibling while they're asleep is ok since it's only curiosity.

Also, the Confederate Flag isn't welcomed here and isn't part of the "heritage", so keep that indoors and to yourself.