Relocating To Northern SLO County (Lancaster, Thousand Oaks: environment, vacation, employment)

[sierraexplorer]

Hi to everybody in the forum. Me & my family are looking to move to northern SLO county(Paso,Tempelton, Atascadero). I've been reading the forums, looking at web sites, All that good stuff and there are some questions that I have. Some have been answered in the forums some not. First some background, The time frame for the move is not for two years. I have a 16yr. that will be a Jr. in HS this year so I want him to finsh out his high school years here. Here being Quartz Hill(Lancaster, Antelope Valley). I myself have lived here 20+ years(AV). I grew up in Thousand Oaks, moving during my HS years(thanks mom & dad). The valley is not the same as it was then, time to make a change. My wife & I also have a 3yr old and I want him to grow up in a more family environment. It sounds like the Northern part of county is warmer which is fine by us, not a big fan of the fog.One of my questions is the wind. In the AV the wind blows EVERYDAY and I mean 20mph+ daily with dust. What are the winds like in those towns. I'm a little more familiar Paso then with the rest of the county. I go on Vacation to Lake San Antonio every summer. How are the schools? Day care if needed? Family Doctors?
Thanks
Sierraexplorer

[CA central coast]

The wind won't be an issue. Day care and doctors? don't know. The best schools are in Templeton. Templeton schools are very highly regarded. I think if you took Paso's downtown, Templeton's schools and Atascadero's neighborhoods, you'd have the perfect place. In general, I think they're all nice communities.

[sierraexplorer]

Thanks for the feedback, will be at lake San Antonio the week for 7-21. Going to do some driving around in those towns while we are there. Has it been smokey with all the fires?

[CA central coast]

Yesterday was extremely smokey. Northern SLO co. is supposed to be getting the worst of it, but the coast here was pretty bad too. Apparently, from what I'm told, the fog makes it worse by holding the smoke down. You might also want to check out the small communities of Garden Farms and Santa Margarita. I think they are nice, small and safe communities. Ideal for raising children, especially Garden Farms. There, you are a close drive to San Luis Obispo and the north county communities. Right in between the medical facilities of SLO and Templeton. Santa Margarita has an elementary school. I hope you have enough time to get a good look at the north county communities. Driving through the center of town might not give you most impressive impression. Especially in Atascadero. The city is really spread out. The town is covered in trees. Beautiful residential areas, with old oak trees, small rolling hills. You may need to drive around a bit to get a good sense.

[sierraexplorer]

Thanks CA central coast
I'm hoping in another week the smoke from the fires won't be that bad. either way a week on the lake is better then at work. thanks for the heads up about the other towns. were planing on driving thru neighborhoods parks and such. Atascadero sounds a little like thousand oaks was back in the 70's & early 80's.

[Paso Posse]

Hi,
Ca central coast has it right...Templeton for schools, Paso for great downtown and shops, Atascadero for country feel with winding streets and no track houses to speak of. I have lived in No. SLO County since I was 22 and moved here from the South Bay area of LA in 1976. Fell in love with it ALL. It was very different then but still has a lot of good aspects even though we gripe about all the changes in 30+ years! I lived in Atascadero but worked in Paso for 13 years then moved to Paso in 1989 and am still here. We retired from the Boys School (CYA) a few years ago. My husband is a San Luis local having grown up there and in Morro Bay.We are traveling a lot now in our RV but Paso is still home for now~ Paso housing is cheaper than Templeton, about the same as Atascadero now. A lot of tracks here, schools are not as good as they used to be. The city is strong though. Variety of employment, long term planning etc has put Paso ahead of Atascadero by a long shot since Atascadero has been going through a LOT of financial difficulties in the past few years. It breaks my heart...I will always love Atascadero but its in decline right now. I hope they can pull themselves out of it soon! Since the earthqoake Paso has been undergoing a lot of change. Tearing down old beloved buildings from damage (?) and putting up a lot of office space (do we really need all this office space?) So we locals have "issues" as all towns do. You may need to look into the Naciemento Water Project Bill that the city announced that we all will be paying for now. It was in the Tribune (SLO paper) 2 days ago that our water bills are going to TRIPLE by 2010, about the time you will be moving here. Our bill will be about $200-$250 a month. THATS OUTRAGEOUS for this area! We are seriously thinking about moving if that transpires as we are retired and that $$ can be better spent on travel instead of in the city coffers! Atascadero will not be raising their water bills as they have devised a much better plan that unfortunately will not work here in Paso according to our city fathers.....yes, we are a little upset right now...sorry~ Anyway Templeton is where the No Countys hospital is located as well as a ton of doctors offices. Housing there is limited and usually expensive...the town is quaint but all your business will have to be done in Paso or Atascadero which are 5 miles in either direction away. Hope this helps. We go to San Antonio also...but to hot now...been super hot here but finally cooling off. Some years seem windy and some do not but no blowing dust like your area unless you live in the country. In the summer you will pray for wind to cool it off...but you know all about the heat where you live. All the seasons are beautiful especially Spring and Fall and Paso has so many things going on all year like the Fair, (no cool car show anymore though) and lots of parades during the holidays and Vine Street Showcase in mid Dec.....anyway its been a great place tp live....every place is a trade off to some degree...good things and not so good things.But I feel very lucky and blessed to have lived here for 32 years especially during the 70's and 80's....have fun at the lake....pasoposse

[sierraexplorer]

Wow thanks Paso Posse.
yes there is always a trade off when moving you just have to find someplace that works for you. The info was great and yes there is a lot of checking into that we have to do. enjoy the rv life.