Watsonville, Prunedale, Hollister to Monterey

[Franklyn]

Originally Posted by ellelasvegas

WATSONVILLE is the hispanics land.

Don't hold back any, let all that bile and crud out of your brain. Your gonna feel so much better once your head pops back to normal width and your mind gets a chance to widen out, some.

If you suffer from hispaniphobia nothing on the Central Coast - or Central California, for that matter - is gonna be a good fit for you. But if you actually have the power to think and make up your own mind Watsonville does have a few neat places. We always hit the Gottschalk there, and the speedway's right out of town, the annual air show is top notch and the rest of the shopping area is great. But then I'm not one who thinks "Mexicans" can't or don't have auto insurance. I think that myth's in some movie somewhere, but in this area it ain't so true.

You need to have someone look at that mindset, because its starting to rot your flesh.

[miss cali]

Originally Posted by ellelasvegas

WATSONVILLE is the hispanics land. You need to speak spanish there, as all the agricultural workers live in this area, and have their stores and whatnot. The schools are primarily mexican, but you'll find this all over CA, and in Marina there is a mix of everybody. A white family has no place in Watsonville, except on the outermost limits which really doesn't count, because they never enter the actual town. The entire area is very overpriced, you may get tired of paying top dollar for a run down "cottage" if you didn't grow up there. Many natives are escaping to northern ca and oregon, because your quality of life is screwed when you take into consideration the gridlock, the illegal aliens driving work trucks around with no insurance, you have no money as all will go to gas and rent or your mortgage. the schools are poor for the most part, crowded. Visit frequently, but I wouldn't waste my money on the entire SC and Monterey areas, and I never ever would live in Mexico City, I mean Watsonville.

Born and bread in Watsonville! While I agree that the majority of the population is Latino, Anglo live very happy in this area. The children of both Anglo and Latino have bilingual education available to them. The school has less vandalism and drug activity than Aptos High. Over crowded is not a thing of the present but of the past. We have a new high school and as far as I am concerned, great curriculum.

You do not need to know spanish to live in this community. There is a difference between rendering services in spanish to spanish speaking than not providing services in english. BIG DIFFERENCE!

One thing I do agree, you will find a cheaper home in Los Banos than you would in Watsonville but this is the coast and you will not find anything cheaper anywhere around. The major problem I can forsee is the commute. You should probably try it out first and if you cannot handle the commute, move closer. Good luck!

[miss cali]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Thanks guys,

I had a feeling the commute from Watsonville would be a bit of a grind. I will definitely have to take that into consideration. A friend of mine who lives in Aptos also recommended Marina which he said is a bit of a military town. And since I will probably be working DoD contracts that is fine with me.

Can anyone comment on Watsonville itself as far as a place to live. I have heard there are some newer sub divisions which are nice. I also read on city-data that the town is ~75% Hispanic. So I guess I am wondering what that may be like for our family which is primarily Anglo. I have 'some' Spanish blood. But my wife and kids are as white as they come. And none of us speak Spanish. In parts of SD where some of my wife's family lives there is reverse discrimination. For example if one doesn't speak Spanish at the local stores, schools, etc... they are frowned upon.

Thanks again for the tips and help in our search. We will also visit both areas when we come out in a couple months.

- Derek

You do not need to know spanish to live in this community. You will be fine. Please see above thread.

[MtnSurfer]

I see this thread got resurrected. Since starting it a while back I have moved to from CO to CA with my family. I work in Seaside and we rent currently in Pacific Grove. I do like living closer to work. And PG is a fantastic location.

However one of the ladies I work with lives in Watsonville with her husband and kids in the newer Seaview Ranch neighborhood. She says they really like it there. She also said there is a mixture of different races.

For now we will rent until the market settles. PG is definately a nice place to call home. Unfortunately I don't think buying in PG will ever be considered affordable. But we will look around.

Thanks for the input,

Derek