"laid back California lifestyle" (fit in, motel, taxes)

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by jc76

I'm 32 with no tattoos or piercings and never plan on getting any. It's not for me, we have lots of that here in the midwest but those people cant get good jobs, it seems out in CA I have seen many people in professions with tattoos etc. That's on eof the many differences between here and there. Here you gotta have real short hair, no sideburns and usually they request no facial hair. Basically to get good employment here ya gotta go with the innocent little churchboy look. That all ties in with how CA is more laid back and we are all uptight.

Here there is active discrimination against "normalcy." Is that a good thing?

[MrsBrianO]

So true it was so exciting to live here but now I can't get my head above water and thats the least of my worries now giving how many screwed up things are going on in CA. I guess you can be laid back if you are independently wealthy or a stoner.

[Huckleberry3911948]

working 3 jobs wearing raybans and a hawiian shirt. forgot what the beach looked like.
married to a shopaholic who gave birth to 3 student loan machines.

that would be us.

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Good point. However, I think California goes the opposite extreme. It's sort of 'anything goes'...tatoos, piercings, etc. Some of the things people think are beautiful to me are just gross/ugly/tasteless

I appreciate that when I visit the Jacksonville, Florida area the people there are not inked up with tatoos like so many people here are.

I don't see anybody working in corporate jobs out here looking like you described. Record stores, pizza joints, etc yeah. What does it matter to you what people do to themselves?

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by jc76

I'm 32 with no tattoos or piercings and never plan on getting any. It's not for me, we have lots of that here in the midwest but those people cant get good jobs, it seems out in CA I have seen many people in professions with tattoos etc. That's on eof the many differences between here and there. Here you gotta have real short hair, no sideburns and usually they request no facial hair. Basically to get good employment here ya gotta go with the innocent little churchboy look. That all ties in with how CA is more laid back and we are all uptight.

Yes, you are right, even a lot of professionals here have tatoos, etc.

Like I said, your area is too far to one extreme. CA, in my opinion, is too far in the other direction.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

There is massive intolerance here of people who are thought to be "hick" or are in general very "traditional American" in manner and appearance.

The saddest thing about this is, many Native Californians who are from modest backgrounds get thusly tarred and discriminated against by the new in groups here.

It's an ugly carpetbagger dynamic at work.

I think you overstate it a little, but yes, I do agree with you to a point.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by City Boy

I don't see anybody working in corporate jobs out here looking like you described. Record stores, pizza joints, etc yeah. What does it matter to you what people do to themselves?

I hate looking at it. And I do think it's symptomatic of a value system that exhalts the superficial over the substantive. Not in every case, of course, but in general.

I'm sure you probably won't agree.

[ryanst530]

Originally Posted by bluewatergirl888

I hear so many people say that they want to move to California because the people are so "laid back", and they want that "relaxed surfer lifestyle". I am wondering if this really exists any more. It seems that most people who live in California are working their butts off to make ends meet, and sitting in traffic for hours to and from work. I'm just wondering how many people can have a laid back attitude given this way of life. I would think even those in the entertainment industry would be stressed out, with always having to look good, dealing with the Paparazzi, and just generally having to keep up appearances. What are your thoughts?

"California" IS pretty laid back as a general rule of thumb. But again, this is all subjective... like saying "california" is sunny and 72 degrees year round . When in reality, California both sets the US record for highest temperature recorded (death valley), and the highest snowfall recorded in the US (Sierra Nevadas) Sierra Snowfall

The reality is that it all depends on where you live in California. I live in a city where the cost of living is below the national average, the average income and education level is relatively high, unemployment is practically zero, the commute time is about 5 minutes in heavy traffic, and the cost of a 3 bd/2bth home runs about $105,000

It all depends on where you live... "California" is not just Huntington Beach. its a huge and diverse state. But yeah, compared to most other states on the "east coast", people here are fairly laid back.

[ryanst530]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I appreciate that when I visit the Jacksonville, Florida area the people there are not inked up with tatoos like so many people here are.

Tatoos are just trashy and disgusting. I despise people who have them... Absolutely low life, TRASH!

I do not and will never wear tatoos or piercings of any kinds. And if I see someone with them, I will treat them like crap. I just cant stand it... it serves no purpose other than to annoy me. Man I hate tatoos....

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by ryanst530

tatoos are just trashy and disgusting. I despise people who have them... Absolutely low life, trash!

I do not and will never wear tatoos or piercings of any kinds. And if i see someone with them, i will treat them like crap. I just cant stand it... It serves no purpose other than to annoy me. Man i hate tatoos....

lol