What makes the Northern half of California better than the Southern Half? (Los Angeles: month to, universities)

[sav858]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

It's been 4 years since I've lived there, but I still remember the warm evenings and nights. I used to have to run our A/C all night much of the time. And I remember "cold" mornings in the summer being rare. I worked from home regularly the 2 years before we left and I clearly remember wearing shorts July through mid September on those days. Sure, you'd get a cool day every once in a while, but it was very uncommon. What you're describing is what I remember of the coastal areas or the inland Bay Area in the spring and fall.

In any event, I'm sure San Diego is still warmer than San Jose overall, and probably a lot more consistent year round. Living there for the past 8 years might have made the inconsistencies stand out a little more to you because of that. Having lived here in Denver for a few years, I'm on the other side of the spectrum - the weather out here is wildly inconsistent year round compared to the Bay Area, so it's the consistency that stands out in my memories. It's probably a simple matter of perspective.

Yep, people can get spoiled by the weather here and get real finicky when it's not absolutely "perfect", like me. I complain when it's below 65 degrees as I get cold more easily now than before. But I do realize I am being REALLY picky when I'm complaining about temps below 65 as most people roll their eyes at me when i say it's "cold", haha.

But I might be describing weather more common closer to spring or fall b/c cold nights/evenings are fairly rare in the inland areas. Eventhough it's really not "cold" when I visit in summer, I do notice the difference at night in how the air feels b/c it's drier and therefor cools off quicker and more compared to where I live now.

I think for a lot of people the Bay Area and SoCal probably have the best weather b/c neither place is too hot or cold year round with very little in the way of severe weather. Bay Area weather is great overall but after living in SoCal it's made me a weather snob.

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by sav858

Yep, people can get spoiled by the weather here and get real finicky when it's not absolutely "perfect", like me. I complain when it's below 65 degrees as I get cold more easily now than before. But I do realize I am being REALLY picky when I'm complaining about temps below 65 as most people roll their eyes at me when i say it's "cold", haha.

But I might be describing weather more common closer to spring or fall b/c cold nights/evenings are fairly rare in the inland areas. Eventhough it's really not "cold" when I visit in summer, I do notice the difference at night in how the air feels b/c it's drier and therefor cools off quicker and more compared to where I live now.

I think for a lot of people the Bay Area and SoCal probably have the best weather b/c neither place is too hot or cold year round with very little in the way of severe weather. Bay Area weather is great overall but after living in SoCal it's made me a weather snob.

I can definitely see where you're coming from. It's a little funny to see people complaining about Bay Area weather... but when you're from San Diego, well, that explains it.

[BayDude]

Originally Posted by user_id

Regardless, I agree that its always the Northern Californians that post these sorts of things and actually take it seriously. I think politics plays a big role here though, the Bay area is much more liberal than Southern California so anybody that gravitates in that direction is going to prefer the bay area. Southern California is more mixed politically, with only small pockets of liberal areas in West LA.

True. The discrepancy is only going to get worse. The Bay Area is becoming more and more blue with each passing presidential election. Also most of the ultra-leftist congressmen come from the Bay (Pelosi, Boxer etc) as well as the assemblymen they send to Sacremento. SoCal tends to elect more republicans and moderate democrats to sacremento. So there is a political divide there.

The only county in the Bay with a high republican cook pvr rating is contra costa (along 680), and even thats changing.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by Ludachris

I can definitely see where you're coming from. It's a little funny to see people complaining about Bay Area weather... but when you're from San Diego, well, that explains it.

I complain about the weather everywhere I go.

Its always too hot for me. Living in Oakland, San Francisco and Tiburon for most of ones life acclimates a person to only one kind of summer. Sunny and Cool.

Natural Air Conditioning suddenly becomes an expectation and not appreciated for the gift it is. A little trip past 20 miles in any direction except west confirms that this precious cool air is confined to the zone closest to SF. It feels like an added perk that was included in our mortgage agreements prior to finalizing the purchase. LOL

Its very easy to get used to it but very hard to leave it and go anywhere even slightly warmer. One gets uncomfortable very fast outside of that weather comfort zone.

Anything above 75 is considered sweltering.

Imagine then the irritation my friends in Brazil must be feeling at me going on and on about how hot it is here as we approach the beginning of summer.

[Curmudgeon]

Having lived in San Diego, Newport Beach, the Inland Empire, Bakersfield and Sacramento I can attest to the many micro-climates that make California somewhat unique as a state. I also have to chuckle a bit at the differences in everyone's perceptions and druthers. It truly points out the "diferent strokes for different folks" phenomenon.

As for us, something we both missed was a land of four different and distinct seasons; none of them particularly harsh, just very different. Now we're there and enjoying it but it would never do for those who cherish balmy weather year-round or those who value cooler summers. To each their own. That we can all settle in areas and states that suit us is one of the strengths and wonders of our great land

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Having lived in San Diego, Newport Beach, the Inland Empire, Bakersfield and Sacramento I can attest to the many micro-climates that make California somewhat unique as a state. I also have to chuckle a bit at the differences in everyone's perceptions and druthers. It truly points out the "diferent strokes for different folks" phenomenon.

As for us, something we both missed was a land of four different and distinct seasons; none of them particularly harsh, just very different. Now we're there and enjoying it but it would never do for those who cherish balmy weather year-round or those who value cooler summers. To each their own. That we can all settle in areas and states that suit us is one of the strengths and wonders of our great land

How did you like the fall colors? Weren't they great this year..

Nita

[observer53]

Without regard to the latitude figures, which I don't dispute, just looking at the way people use the term "southern California" in the vernacular, I don't think anyone considers Monterey or Big Sur, etc., to be "southern California".

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Having lived in San Diego, Newport Beach, the Inland Empire, Bakersfield and Sacramento I can attest to the many micro-climates that make California somewhat unique as a state. I also have to chuckle a bit at the differences in everyone's perceptions and druthers. It truly points out the "diferent strokes for different folks" phenomenon.

As for us, something we both missed was a land of four different and distinct seasons; none of them particularly harsh, just very different. Now we're there and enjoying it but it would never do for those who cherish balmy weather year-round or those who value cooler summers. To each their own. That we can all settle in areas and states that suit us is one of the strengths and wonders of our great land

Ain't that the truth. Gotta love the sheer amount of options we have in terms of unique places to live in this country.

What makes one half of California better than the other? Or one state better than another? One's perspective. It's that simple.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by nmnita

How did you like the fall colors? Weren't they great this year..

Nita

Short lived but gorgeous! Of course, we've now gathered and burned about 60 bushels of the leaves with more to come but it's all good!

[Clarks]

I consider Santa Barbara to be in Southern California, and Lompoc and Santa Maria to be in Central CA. I can't make a clear line between southern and northern. Bakersfield is not in Southern California, neither is it in Northern California. I would draw a line roughly, Santa Barbara, Ojai, Gorman Mojave, south of that is So Cal.

I do not consider the SF bay area northern CA. I would draw a line from Point Reyes, to Napa, to just north of Sacramento, to Tahoe, north of that is Northern CA, south of that is Central CA, and the bay area is the Bay Area, its own entity. As Sac is Sac, neither northern nor southern.

I base this on geography, biomes, and culture.