Would you recommend Bakersfield for a recent college grad? (San Diego: apartment, rent)

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by gorideaquad

a troll? excuse me i am most certainly NOT a troll. I have lived here 7 years, prior to this Tehachapi which was great but work commute too long. Keepthefaith: nice name BTW, cause you need it in this lousy podunk town. Property taxes; too high, sales tax: ditto: payroll tax: check. DMV tax: outrageous. Oh yeah that's if you have a new car only that the DMV taxes are so high and actually a new truck since I work every damn day for you lovely bakersfield folks who are so lovely to deal with. Raising kids here is hell. School resources are all taken by non english speakers and my kids are left overs because since they actually are smart, they are not a concern to get the beloved test scores up.
House repos are the highest in the country, less property txes coming in: less money for services. Well I can say this: I haven't been bothered by cops and when I get pulled over they just let me go, since I DO have a valid license AND insurance. Well i am indeed a TROLL for living here, but more the type that you see on lord of the rings, not in these forums.
To anyone thinking about living here, add to the list of Bakersfield gifts: valley fever, asthma due to smog from all the trucks going through I5 highway unregulated.
Stay away like an I-Pod with no tunes, it'll leave you feeling blue.
How's that for a troll?

Well you might want to know that the DMV fees are a state controlled item and any where you go In Ca. it will not matter, if you haven't noticed the housing slump is nation wide and houses are being repossessed all over.
I won't bash a child because they can't speak English because it's not their fault, I do understand what your saying and you will find it everywhere. The facts are some people like to gripe and complain about everything and they will never be happy anywhere they live because they are only looking at the negative.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by gorideaquad

were posting before I was even born. HUHA

Yes and I'm sure your Mommy and Daddy wouldn't like it that you are up so late playing on their computer.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by Roaddog

The facts are some people like to gripe and complain about everything and they will never be happy anywhere they live because they are only looking at the negative.

Roaddog, some people think the grass is greener elsewhere. If people talked about their spouses they way they talk about cities on these boards the divorce rate would double.

When I read the California boards and also other state boards there is always someone complaining about someplace. I guess no place is good enough.

Originally Posted by JetJockey

A better choice would be Santa Maria, at least you're close to the beach.

Santa Maria had a 9.9% unemployment rate in November, Bakersfield a 7.2% unemployment rate. Right now I think jobs are more important than the beach.

[JetJockey]

Originally Posted by killer2021

I would definitely recommend it. Being able to rent a 1 bedroom for 500/month sure kicks butt. Don't listen to these other people. Only live near the coats if you want to be poor. Yea, the job situation sucks but it'll come through.



I even agree more with that statement. Texas, very good economy - the state has a balanced budget, ranked #1 for fortune 500 HQs (yup, more than NY), ranked #1 for exports, ranked about 10th lowest taxes, no state income tax (high real estate taxes but homes are 1/4th of what they are in CA).

I live about 15 minutes away from San Luis Obispo and I rent two bedrooms (master and a second) in a 4 bedroom house for $650 a month.... it's there if you actually look, but you can't depend on craigslist or classifieds... you actually have to get off your ass and ask people. Plus, I have a great job that I worked my rear end off for, so I'm doing pretty good. If you dig around and make an effort it's not hard to live comfortably in the coastal areas.

[City Boy]

I never understand people who live for cheap housing. Sure I can buy a cheap place in Alturas ,Yreka or Bakersfield, but who the hell wants to live there? Not me. I'd rather live in an over priced 1 bedroom condo in a area like the Bay Area , LA or San Diego, NYC etc than a 1500 Sq foot house in a wasteland. So you have your big house, then what? Hermit life? Great.

Like Jetjockey said, there is affordable housing on the coast you just don't look hard enough.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by City Boy

I never understand people who live for cheap housing. Sure I can buy a cheap place in Alturas ,Yreka or Bakersfield, but who the hell wants to live there? Not me. I'd rather live in an over priced 1 bedroom condo in a area like the Bay Area , LA or San Diego, NYC etc than a 1500 Sq foot house in a wasteland. So you have your big house, then what? Hermit life? Great.

Like Jetjockey said, there is affordable housing on the coast you just don't look hard enough.

And thats what you should do, live where you enjoy it, not everyone wants to live in the same place.

[sheri257]

As far as jobs, business and growth, the inland areas of California is definitely where the future of the state is headed (the current recession notwithstanding). More population and more businesses are moving there and will continue to do so.

However, the inland areas do not provide the quality of life that most people envision when they move to California. The weather isn't as good, you're not close to the coast, you don't have the same amenities etc. And, of course, the coast is going to be much more expensive.

It really depends on whether you have the job skills and work in an in-demand profession where you can make enough money to afford to live comfortably on the coast. If you have that then, definitely go for it.

If not, maybe you can do what I did. After moving to inland California for cheaper housing ... I went back to school and changed careers to I could afford to move back to the coast because, that's ultimately where I was happiest.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by sheri257

As far as jobs, business and growth, the inland areas of California is definitely where the future of the state is headed (the current recession notwithstanding). More population and more businesses are moving there and will continue to do so.

However, the inland areas do not provide the quality of life that most people envision when they move to California. The weather isn't as good, you're not close to the coast, you don't have the same amenities etc. And, of course, the coast is going to be much more expensive.

It really depends on whether you have the job skills and work in an in-demand profession where you can make enough money to afford to live comfortably on the coast. If you have that then, definitely go for it.

If not, maybe you can do what I did. After moving to inland California for cheaper housing ... I went back to school and changed careers to I could afford to move back to the coast because, that's ultimately where I was happiest.

And thats exactly how it should work, if a person isn't happy where they live then they should do something about it instead of complaining.
I enjoy the coast and visit often but I don't want to live there, bakersfield has been good to me, i enjoy the mountians and the coast and I'm not far from either, I have a good job, nice home and vehicles plus money in my pocket to do anything I enjoy so i have no complaints.
Everbody is different, we all have likes and dislikes and it does no good to complain and bash a place just because it doesn't suit that person because the next person may enjoy it.
There are plenty of places I wouldn't prefere to live but I won't bash them because I know that just because I don't wish to live there doesn't mean someone else wouldn't.
I'm glad to see you took action and ended up in the right place for yourself, you made a good point.

[JetJockey]

Originally Posted by Roaddog

And thats exactly how it should work, if a person isn't happy where they live then they should do something about it instead of complaining.
I enjoy the coast and visit often but I don't want to live there, bakersfield has been good to me, i enjoy the mountians and the coast and I'm not far from either, I have a good job, nice home and vehicles plus money in my pocket to do anything I enjoy so i have no complaints.
Everbody is different, we all have likes and dislikes and it does no good to complain and bash a place just because it doesn't suit that person because the next person may enjoy it.
There are plenty of places I wouldn't prefere to live but I won't bash them because I know that just because I don't wish to live there doesn't mean someone else wouldn't.
I'm glad to see you took action and ended up in the right place for yourself, you made a good point.

You make an excellent point. I don't think I could ever live more than a couple of miles from the coast, because I hate the feeling of being 'landlocked'. Plus, hiking around the coast is a big hobby of mine and it just wouldn't be the same anywhere else. On the other hand, if you prefer the landscape/weather/activities of the inland areas then go for it I LOVE where I live and though I've been offered higher paying jobs elsewhere I enjoy my life far too much right where I am to disturb it for a little extra cash.

[Roaddog]

Originally Posted by JetJockey

You make an excellent point. I don't think I could ever live more than a couple of miles from the coast, because I hate the feeling of being 'landlocked'. Plus, hiking around the coast is a big hobby of mine and it just wouldn't be the same anywhere else. On the other hand, if you prefer the landscape/weather/activities of the inland areas then go for it I LOVE where I live and though I've been offered higher paying jobs elsewhere I enjoy my life far too much right where I am to disturb it for a little extra cash.

Exactly, I work with a few people who do not like it here and in our industry there are jobs everywhere, all you have to do is get your name out and sooner or later you can live where you wish, my hats off to people who do so instead of being unhappy where they live.
the thing with me is I just don't say anyplace sucks or tell someone they will hate it because I don't know that, each person will be different, I don't tell people they should move here either, I will give them the good and bad and let them make up their mind. For myself i have lived in many towns, a lot of them were not in Ca. I decided to stay here because of the things I enjoy which are bot based on the city but more on location, I enjoy riding motorcycles and I can go to the mountians or coast in a short time, I can do all the mix of things I enjoy right from here so it suits me fine.
Each person has to wiegh what they want out of life and then act on it, the real purpose in life is to be happy and if a persons not happy where they live then they need to act on that and just because a person hates this or that doesn't mean everybody feels the same way.