Is California a good place to live in anymore? (San Diego: real estate, crime)

[GameHog9]

The recent gas prices and housing market crisis has affected everyone, to be sure (except, maybe, New Yorkers), but has good ol' Cali lost its splendor?

Here in Washington, I can tell you that Californians are invading the Pacific NW, because of the lowered prices of homes, and I know of many Californians that are coming up here to take a peek.

Is California still a good place to live?

[mr bolo]

yes, since Im a life long California resident, I wouldnt want to live anywhere else

[calif]

Besides the smoke? Yes, great place to live.

[bhcompy]

its a great place to live if you can afford the premium cost of real estate

[Mach50]

I just did a search for jobs between San Diego and L.A. in my field, found over 1250 Computer Science and Engineering jobs all paying quite nicely.

Compliment that with nice weather, clean neighborhoods, beaches, mountains and yes you have a pretty nice place to live. It's not perfect, but it is still a great place with tons of opportunity for everyone.

We plan to stay here for 3-4 more years, sell our house and move to enroll our daughter in New York schools though, the schools out here are lacking compared to the North East, that is our only real issue with Cal.

[Caliguy2007]

Yes,California is still a great place to live...I'm happy here

[Sassy_Songbird_Sweety]

Originally Posted by GameHog9

The recent gas prices and housing market crisis has affected everyone, to be sure (except, maybe, New Yorkers), but has good ol' Cali lost its splendor?

Here in Washington, I can tell you that Californians are invading the Pacific NW, because of the lowered prices of homes, and I know of many Californians that are coming up here to take a peek.

Is California still a good place to live?

I don't think so!!!! I guess I am just sick of So Cal and California all 2gether tho and I am ready 2 go somewhere else, but can't do 2 family obligations. It isn't just housing prises it's taxes like crv and prices on everything has risen, gas that affects everyone it is the smog the heat causing droughts and then fires & traffic is horrendous!!! Crime is pretty bad 2!!!

According 2 the California website....

"California experienced six droughts of three years or more during the 20th century"

"Past droughts have shown that actual health and safety impacts – lack of water for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection – have occurred in small water systems in rural areas. Systems most at risk are those that depend on groundwater from unreliable fractured rock sources or from small coastal terrace groundwater basins."

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Mach50

We plan to stay here for 3-4 more years, sell our house and move to enroll our daughter in New York schools though, the schools out here are lacking compared to the North East, that is our only real issue with Cal.

What [type of] schools are being referred to? Elementary schools? Colleges? There are outstanding schools of each type in California, and there are bad schools too. Not sure I understand this.

[Baron von Costume]

If you are making executive level money, or don't plan to have children, California is a great place to live. I spent 20 years in both Southern (Orange County) and Northern California (Silicon Valley).

The prohibitive cost of living and generally abysmal schools caused me to look elsewhere. I thought I would miss the Golden State more than I have. About all I really miss are the restaurants and the weather.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Baron von Costume

The prohibitive cost of living and generally abysmal schools caused me to look elsewhere. I thought I would miss the Golden State more than I have. About all I really miss are the restaurants and the weather.

The schools are pretty good in most of the "upper 10% of neighborhoods", I'd say. The cost of housing per square foot has been dropping even in the better neighborhoods. It is possible to live in a place with good schools and housing may become a little more affordable to the median income earners.

The one thing I can't see getting much better is traffic. Of course, if gas goes to $8-$10/gal then I suppose traffic will be better but $8-$10/gal gas would be a big price to pay for less traffic.