Is Moving to SB/SLO/SD/SCruz/coast smart with 2 teen kids? (San Diego: for rent)

[hc5]

I'm a happy, cool, educated professional. I've got two honors kids, well adjusted, 13 & 14. One is entering high school in Fall 08. I'm a Public school believer.

For no real reason, I am considering a really BIG big move (Rent-- not buy-- a home) to coastal areas like: San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara /Pismo/ Santa Cruz/ Santa MOnica/San Diego/Laguna or Sonoma/Napa areas in California for my kids future-- I'd like to raise them in a liberal, progressive, open minded, entrepreneurial place (am I a dreamer here? is this the same california that I remember in my twenties?), and get them into California state or private colleges in 4-5 years. They say no way to Massachusetts/NH colleges, unfortunately because it's "too" cold for them. That's a nice liberal-minded place,too as I'm from there originally. Diverse, etc. Now we live in a gorgeous, safe resort community, at the SC coast, with a great job, beautiful beach house, low prop taxes, great pay, nice people, great schools, no traffic, no crime, now. Its a little short on the entrepreneurial, college choice and diverse side however.

Would I have trouble finding a job out there (I'm an mba/controller/accountant/broker)? Is it a bad choice to uproot my kids to California these days? Crime, drugs, gangs, public school ratings? In the late 80's, when I lived there, it was so great! (san fran). The time to do this move is now before they start high school. Is there anywhere near the coast you can recommend that's high end, protected, public schools are good/great/safe, jobs, drug free,apple-pie,charming,upscale, safe community?

[Capt. Dan]

Drug free schools? Good luck on that one! But seriously. SLO is a wonderful place to raise a family. I did! Santa Cruz is the most liberal on your list. An MBA should have no trouble finding work. Good luck!

[FresnoFacts]

I spoke with a friend of mine recently in San Luis Obispo who put the political leanings of the area to me this way: "In the Bay Area I was considered a moderate, in San Luis Obispo I'm considered a liberal." In other words the SLO area is more conservative than the Bay Area.

Like Lt. Dan said SLO is a good place to raise a family.

But I think you would find your list has a wide variation in political leanings. Not all are liberal and progressive.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by hc5

I'm an educated professional. .....

....am I a dreamer here?
....is this the same california that I remember in my twenties?),

...Now we live in a gorgeous, safe resort community, at the SC coast, with a great job, beautiful beach house, low prop taxes, great pay, nice people, great schools, no traffic, no crime, now. Its a little short on the entrepreneurial, college choice and diverse side however.

Would I have trouble finding a job out there (I'm an mba/controller/accountant/broker)?

Is it a bad choice to uproot my kids to California these days? Crime, drugs, gangs, public school ratings?

What does your spouse think?
Why California?
Sounds like you have a dream life in South Carolina. I almost can't believe what I'm reading.
What is your budget for rent?
What do your kids want to do?
What to the kids' grandparents think?

[the city]

Santa Cruz is the most liberal, and expensive to live at. You should have an easy time finding a job there. San Luis Obispo is best for raising kids. Santa Barbara is in the middle, but know that Santa Barbara has a gang problem and the local schools in the area are packed and not the best. Monterey is really great place, i'd suggest there for you, if u can afford it. northern california is most liberal. monterey and santa cruz r the liberal cities.

[fairweathergolfer]

You sound hand made for Santa Cruz. Don't know that they are much for apple pie, but they've lots of kool aid stands. You didn't mention it directly but you sound like a kool aid drinker to me. I think you will be very pleased.

[hc5]

Thank you everyone! So SLO and SCruz seem to be the best for families and for me. I don't like kool aid, but I know what you mean.
I thought Santa Cruz was for me last summer when we visited; it seems quite hip. FYI to answer your questions: the grandparents are very old and aren't concerned with where we are as long as we call them and visit once a year; they say to live our lives! and there is no spouse anymore--he's a deadbeat dad... (that's why I am so happy!). This move is all about the kids & the public schools/ public colleges in SC just aren't that great from a Massachusetts standard. Pretty easy to get into, and they are beautiful campuses (clemson, College of Charleston, FUrman, USC, MUSC, Citadel), but just not that progressive or reputable. Thanks again. Oh by the way, I keep reading about these gangs in Santa Barbara, and I find it so hard to believe, could that be the residents just trying to keep the population down?

[jennemmy]

hc5 - Let us know what you end up doing. We are considering a similar move (job transfer) and our ideas of what makes a good community are similar. BTW, we did move to the northeast (CT) recently and can't say that we enjoy it too much. We miss the west coast sun and laid back personalities.

[fairweathergolfer]

The gang members in Santa Barbara are virtually babies. 11, 12 year olds. Your kids are out of that age range. So no problems there. There are gangs all over southern California and it has grown worse everywhere since the huge influx of illegal immigration as gang lifestyles and family lineage have come across with them. As you can imagine, there is a huge service industry population in Santa Barbara to serve the high end community and the overall community at large.

Additionally I guess it does help that us Santa Barbarbans (and surrounding communities) can keep more of our lovely paradise to ourselves. :-).

Originally Posted by hc5

Thank you everyone! So SLO and SCruz seem to be the best for families and for me. I don't like kool aid, but I know what you mean.
I thought Santa Cruz was for me last summer when we visited; it seems quite hip. FYI to answer your questions: the grandparents are very old and aren't concerned with where we are as long as we call them and visit once a year; they say to live our lives! and there is no spouse anymore--he's a deadbeat dad... (that's why I am so happy!). This move is all about the kids & the public schools/ public colleges in SC just aren't that great from a Massachusetts standard. Pretty easy to get into, and they are beautiful campuses (clemson, College of Charleston, FUrman, USC, MUSC, Citadel), but just not that progressive or reputable. Thanks again. Oh by the way, I keep reading about these gangs in Santa Barbara, and I find it so hard to believe, could that be the residents just trying to keep the population down?