those who wanted to move to CA (Los Angeles, Pittsburg: buying, private school)

[timelesschild]

Camarillo is very beautiful indeed - I agree that he should see it - and it seems fairly reasonably priced as well.

[jc76]

Originally Posted by drewcrewof2

jc, you are funny and correct. I have lived just about everywhere in the US... I grew up as a service brat and moved every year. I have family in Indianna (daughter) and monster family in Arkansas and Georga we visit. I have lived in CA now for 50 years and here we live outdoors ALL YEAR 'ROUND! I live near the coast north of LA (Camarillo) and the weather is always almost perfect. Very few bugs, even then only for a month or two. Lots of sun, temps 50 to 80, ocean 10 mins away. No cultural issues to worry about, great schools (how would i know?) and close enough to LA to drive to a good job. Fresno now is indeed another story. Come by Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks - Camarillo before you firmly plant your seeds. C pix.

Hey thanks for the info I actually drove through there on the highway from LA going up to Santa Barbara this past Christmas. I didn't stop though just stayed on the highway. Maybe I will check that out more in depth this fall when I come out. Is Camarillo part of Ventura County? Pardom my ignorance but I remember going through Ventura County and it was my kind of place. Stopped at a few little stores and people seemed pretty nice. BTW, as I was doing that I was on the phone with my fam back home and it was 12 degrees and snowing buckets!

[worldlyman]

Originally Posted by amirelez

Why did you move in the first place? Did you not like Houston? I am planning to move there soon. Could you give me some opinions of what you like and dislike about Houston? Anything is appreciated.

I lived in San Diego for four years. I found that I loved Houston a lot better. Different strokes for different folks.

Houston is more of an open cross sector society compared to colonialist, closet-racist San Diego where there's a feeling of anti-Latino vibes.

Socio-economic segregation is very bad in San Diego in comparison. Just say "South Bay" is where you live, and your friends in the more wealthy enclaves from Carmel Mountain to Via Rancho will quietly pigeonhole your mode of living.

And that's when you're in the "middle class" range.

It doesn't feel quite that bad as it's more open and checkerboard here in Houston, warts and all. There's no pretense here in this town, in comparison.

Houston's a lot more interesting in its character and makeup than most parts of SoCal in my opinion. What Houston lacks in mountains and 66 degree late June weather, it makes up for it in other aspects.

Houston's got better and more varied restaurants than San Diego and Orange County...more sophisticated nightculture (i.e. Theater District) yet there's the lower end hip hop culture and everything in between. And even the character of some of Houston's coffee bars is more interesting than what I've seen in more platform L.A.; the use of old Victorian houses and odd bungalows as cafes is more prevalent here in H-town...and that definitely adds to the texture of this city.

[blmccloud]

I don't understand that so many people keep saying housing in california is unaffordable, but people have been living there for years so how'd they do it???
Every state has its problems right now.
It is compairing your own pros and cons of moving to wherever you choose that matters.
Each person is different and I think the problem with some of the threads on here is that people ask for facts about things like housing or employment and instead get opinions!!!
Base your own decision on facts not opinions. Determain your own needs and/or wants based on the fact and go from there.

As for us... Our pros of moving to California far out weigh the cons. So, next year we are going for it!!!

[timelesschild]

Originally Posted by blmccloud

I don't understand that so many people keep saying housing in california is unaffordable, but people have been living there for years so how'd they do it???
Every state has its problems right now.
It is compairing your own pros and cons of moving to wherever you choose that matters.
Each person is different and I think the problem with some of the threads on here is that people ask for facts about things like housing or employment and instead get opinions!!!
Base your own decision on facts not opinions. Determain your own needs and/or wants based on the fact and go from there.

As for us... Our pros of moving to California far out weigh the cons. So, next year we are going for it!!!

This is absolutely true. We had a similar experience. For us, it was the correct move, to take the job in LA. For someone else, with different circumstances, it might be disastrous. We love it here.

Oh, and yes, we are a middle-class family with children. It is possible.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by FresnoFacts

California beach life? No. But I prefer being able to hike the Sierras myself.

Ag has dropped as the main driving force around here, still important but not like it was. There is a shift toward other industries like manufacturing, tech, and tourism.

I think Fresno is going through a change like Sacramento and other areas have before it.

You and I are old enough to remember when Sacramento was called "Sacratomato" or "the Big Tomato". I can remember when San Diego was better known as a Navy town and gateway to nights in Tijuana.

There seems to be a tipping point when an area gets close to 1 million residents. That is about the time in the 1980s when Sacramento changed or in the 1960s when San Diego changed. Fresno and the surrounding area is now just under that 1 million mark.

Just in the last 4 years Fresno has seen things started like a Shakespeare festival, a Fringe performance festival, several wine tasting trails, an increase in upscale dining, more live music (concerts and small clubs), art galleries, etc.

My personal feeling is that this area is going to change and surprise a lot of people in the next decade.

Good to hear and I hope for all your sakes the upward trend continues. Let's face it, communities have to grow in California because even though a number of us old timers are leaving, more are moving in and being born here.

With a new university, a new state hospital and other growth the employment picture has to be looking better, Let's hope the trend continues.

You're correct about the Navy town, where I was born almost 63 years ago, and Sacratomato, where we live now. I do, however, have it on good authority that Sacramento is no longer a one horse town. Just recently I saw three mounted police on the K Street mall!

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by timelesschild

This is absolutely true. We had a similar experience. For us, it was the correct move, to take the job in LA. For someone else, with different circumstances, it might be disastrous. We love it here.

Oh, and yes, we are a middle-class family with children. It is possible.

Yes, I completely agree. With 36 million ppl you are going to get the full spectrum of opinions from the disenfranchised to the well off and everything in between. And a large % of folks who got the shorter end of the stick end up making statements like 'go anywhere else' it is 'terrible' here! And it it is, for them. But not necessarily for the next guy walking down the street.

For us it was a great move back to CA from CO. We are living in Monterey now which is one of the nicest places in the country in terms of natural beauty. And the job I was offered allowed me to leap forward in my career. So while the gloom and doomers make it sound like everyone should get out before it is too late I disagree.

Is it not right for some? Yes, of course. Does it offer a better quality of life for others? Absolutely! And this is not just for the wealthy, but for the middle class as well. A person only needs 'one' good job.

Derek

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

You're correct about the Navy town, where I was born almost 63 years ago, and Sacratomato, where we live now. I do, however, have it on good authority that Sacramento is no longer a one horse town. Just recently I saw three mounted police on the K Street mall!

LOL, sorry I can't resist. Were the three police officers chasing a cow? That still seems to be some people's lingering view of Sac, as a cowtown. Not me though.

The encouraging sign in the Fresno area is that in spite of the current recession, the difference between Fresno County's unemployment rate and the state rate is much smaller than it used to be.

In the 1990s, unemployment in Fresno County ran at 6 to 8 points higher than the state rate.

Last month, Fresno County was only 4.5 points higher than the state, even with the slowdown in the economy and extreme drought in the rural farming communities.

The city of Fresno in April was about 3.5 points higher than the state while the city of Clovis was about 2.5 points lower than the state rate.

It appears job creation in the area has stayed ahead of population growth compared to the 90s despite job losses from the recession, drought, and housing bust.

Since there are not new farmlands being created, the jobs must be in other industries besides agriculture.

And its not just rodeos and tractor pulls around here. Its not SF or LA, but more interesting than people give it credit to be.

This weekend events around Fresno/Clovis included the 19th annual gay pride parade, an opera performance by the Fresno Grand Opera, an art museum fundraiser, an Armenian festival, a Serbian festival, the state high school track championships, a Latin jazz concert, various other live music ranging from metal to folk, etc.

[4beanie]

Originally Posted by blmccloud

I don't understand that so many people keep saying housing in california is unaffordable, but people have been living there for years so how'd they do it???
Every state has its problems right now.
It is compairing your own pros and cons of moving to wherever you choose that matters.
Each person is different and I think the problem with some of the threads on here is that people ask for facts about things like housing or employment and instead get opinions!!!
Base your own decision on facts not opinions. Determain your own needs and/or wants based on the fact and go from there.

As for us... Our pros of moving to California far out weigh the cons. So, next year we are going for it!!!

Ca housing is affordable if you have simple tastes and couple both want to work. You would probably not have much discretionary money to play with and you may have to wait alittle longer to retire. But it's doeable, we're just tired of doing it. Housing may be more affordable now that a year from now

[curious quetzal]

I would like to move to California despite the economic crisis. I currently reside in southwestern pennsylvania, which is much cheaper than california but not as progressive. I grew up in Pittsburgh and I now live in a town, that without its university would be just another small town mired in its sad yet important history of coal mining. The economy here is and has been awful for quite a while. It is discouraging that there are economic problems in CA as well, but I would like to leave the area I am in anyways. I should specify that I want to move to the Bay Area. It seems quite futuristic and open compared to what I am used to.