Is Thousand Oaks more liberal or conservative? (Oxnard, Pomona: home, preschool)

[jaynetarzana]

We are trying to figure out where in California to settle down with our two young children. We are eco-conscious, vegetarian liberals and would prefer to live in a place that is more liberal than not. We live in Santa Cruz right now, but the grungy hippie / drug addicted homeless / gang activity issues here are not exactly making us feel like this is the best place to raise our kids.

I've been doing research and it seems that Thousand Oaks is clean, safe and family oriented with great public schools. But so far I have been unable to find any posts mentioning it's politics. Thanks in advance!

[Charles]

TO almost seems apolitical to me. I lived there nine years and sensed that most people's concerns revolved around their families, quality of life, and community.

Maybe when people have kids they lose the extreme idealism commonly characteristic of college students and younger 20 somethings; I think they call this "mellowing with age". Reminds me of the Don Henley lyric: "Out on the road today I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac."

Conformity replaces individualism when people enter that stage in life. People might not want to take social risks. The way a person presents himself at a preschool or school function goes a long way in social circles. Nobody wants to be outcast.

[profesora]

TO is a great area to raise kids if you're in CA. I lived there for a year (am from VA and hadn't been in Ca before then) - of what I saw of Ca it was the area I definitely liked the most. Schools are good (am a teacher and taught there) and if it weren't for the economy and extreme expense of living there I'd love to go back... The posting about being apolitical I would agree with. Anywhere in the area there (TO, Simi Valley, or Newbury Park) would be fine IMO.

[Charles]

One more thing to add. TO is a great place to live, but if you aren't working in the Conejo Valley (Amgen, Farmers, Countrywide, Teradyne, Dole for example) or down on Oxnard Plain (Point Mugu or Port Hueneme for example), then you most likely will have a bad commute east on the 101 into the valley or LA.

Where is the man commuting to?

[uptown_urbanist]

My limited experience with Thousand Oaks (have visited, but never lived there) is that it's very suburban - I wouldn't think that a car-oriented area would be a good fit for an eco-conscious liberal, although maybe I am making assumptions based on my own tastes. My impression as that it is clean, nice in a bland way, safe, and has good schools, but everyone drives an SUV or minivan.

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by Charles

One more thing to add. TO is a great place to live, but if you aren't working in the Conejo Valley (Amgen, Farmers, Countrywide, Teradyne, Dole for example) or down on Oxnard Plain (Point Mugu or Port Hueneme for example), then you most likely will have a bad commute east on the 101 into the valley or LA.

Where is the man commuting to?

Working from home.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

To answer the question, Thousand Oaks is conservative. We vote Republican leaders into office in the area, more so in TO, Simi, Moorpark, and Camarillo, than other parts of the county. Not to say that a large Liberal population isn't in the area. The truth is that liberalism seems to be growing everywhere in the state. Tony Strickland barely won his state seat this past year, infact the election was not decided untill this year. Elton Ghallagly (Spelling) is a long time congressman that is Republican and somewhat conservative. At the same time I don't think it matters in this area. You will have many like minded people in the area to associate with.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

Working from home.

Sounds like you will have no problem.

Looks like the situation has changed:

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

If we were in southern California, DH would work out of Pomona.

[jaynetarzana]

He was already working from home 3 days a week and now he is working on being able to work from home full time. There is no reason for him to go into an office. With technology, he can do everything from home.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

He was already working from home 3 days a week and now he is working on being able to work from home full time. There is no reason for him to go into an office. With technology, he can do everything from home.

Hi Charles and Jaynetarzana,

Sorry guys, I had to laugh when I read this one. Charles' running joke is when he asks someone on CD about their potentially problematic commute they respond with "it doesn't really matter since I work from home in my PJs." LOL...

Derek