Do you think that California is the place where everyone comes to start anew? (San Francisco: real estate, home)

[jxndean]

I've always heard that California is the quintessential frontier to start over again. People come to Cal to make a better life for themselves and find who they are as a person so to speak. I've heard that Cal is like a different country in that it doesn't even feel like it should belong in the U.S. because its so different than any other state in the Union.

With that being said, what do you think makes California the state that it is? (No negative comments please)

Do you think its the diversity, beautiful weather, or laid back liberal culture?

Are there any experinces that you had when moving to California that took you aback about their culture??

Any input is great.
California haters not welcome.

[Gentoo]

I think it could be all of the above. It's too diverse to say things like "liberal culture" or "beautiful weather" when these things themselves are so highly variable around the state. I can go on and on about California's diversity. Once you fully understand this, you will see that the reasons people come to California are endless.

[Curmudgeon]

I will have to agree that it's all of the above. Even though my wife and I, both natives, recently moved elsewhere, California propvides a far greater diversity of choices than anywhere else I can think of and can decidedly be a "new frontier" for those looking for adventure and possibilities. Were we younger we'd have stayed.

The only "taken aback" I can think of for an open-minded individual are the costs.

[ElectroPlumber]

Originally Posted by jxndean

I've always heard that California is the quintessential frontier to start over again. People come to Cal to make a better life for themselves and find who they are as a person so to speak. I've heard that Cal is like a different country in that it doesn't even feel like it should belong in the U.S. because its so different than any other state in the Union.

With that being said, what do you think makes California the state that it is? (No negative comments please)

Do you think its the diversity, beautiful weather, or laid back liberal culture?

Are there any experinces that you had when moving to California that took you aback about their culture??

Any input is great.
California haters not welcome.

It's like any other state. It's great if you have the skill set to make a living. That's the way it is nowadays. You can't eat sunshine or beautiful weather.

[CA central coast]

California is the most diverse state in everything you can possibly imagine.

"Land of milk and honey". That's gone IMO. Because it is TOO expensive. It's harder to build wealth here by being middle class, especially when referring to real estate. The opportunity isn't there like it once was, it's there, but you need lots of money.

[mateo45]

Originally Posted by jxndean

I've always heard that California is the quintessential frontier to start over again. People come to Cal to make a better life for themselves and find who they are as a person so to speak. I've heard that Cal is like a different country in that it doesn't even feel like it should belong in the U.S. because its so different than any other state in the Union.

With that being said, what do you think makes California the state that it is? (No negative comments please)

Do you think its the diversity, beautiful weather, or laid back liberal culture?

Are there any experinces that you had when moving to California that took you aback about their culture??

Any input is great.
California haters not welcome.

I think all of what you say is quite true. There is a certain "mythical" quality about the "Golden State", and except for Alaska, Cali (and the W. Coast in general) is still the "end of the frontier", where alot of folks come to start a new life for one reason or another. But seems like they've also been the sorts of folks who are independent and confident enough to be able to break away from the familiarity of their previous families & friends in order to make that move. And originally hailing from the east coast myself many years ago, I much prefer the habit of folks out here to judge people more on their own merits, rather than on things like their family, race, which school they went to, etc..

But have also noticed a curious by-product of California's popular association with "seeking a better life". Judging by all the Cali-bashing ex-pats, seems like the ones who failed to find that life here (and felt "entitled" to it), do eventually leave, but not without continuing to blame California for their "lack of success" in that department.

[uptown_urbanist]

I think the myth of starting fresh in California is definitely still around. It also is different from most (or all?) other states in the sheer level of its diversity of every kind. People, landscape, weather, everything.

I would also agree with the others who have pointed out that the laid back "liberal culture" is not something you find everywhere in CA, either; cities like San Francisco and LA are very liberal and have major voting power, but you'll also find very conservative areas of the state. There is no "California" culture, as it's simply too big and too vastly different to have one thing in common other than state of residency. And even that can get touchy if you talk to some of those state of Jefferson people up in the northern part of the state!

The skyrocketing cost of living and current economic situation certainly makes it a tough place to move to at the moment, though. I think the California myth does attract a group of people who do have unrealistically high expectations, and then when reality sets in (as the odds are that it will) then they do blame California for their problems. If you have problems back home they're probably not going to magically go away if you change locations, and it costs a lot more than in many places (not all, but many) just to get the basic trappings of middle class life. Some cities or towns in California are cheaper than others, of course, but generally the people who really buy into the myth don't seem to be seeking their fortune and fame in a more affordable city like Fresno or Bakersfield.

[Ceece]

I am a native and I remember when I started meeting people who relocated here and being confused by their image of CA. Seeing my home through the eyes of others was interesting since I had no idea that things were all that different here than they were anywhere else. I naively thought the USA was pretty much the same wherever you went (hey, I was young!) Obviously the geography offers a lot, and the weather is nice, and occasionally we have a boom-industry going on. When I did a little traveling myself I started to see the differences. I like CA because it's home to me, but I don't know that I would come here to start anew or whatever. I'd probably want to stay with something familiar and close to family/friends if I had the choice. And if I was used to living in an inexpensive area I know I wouldn't consider CA at all. I'm much too frugal for that.

[Kibbiekat]

Originally Posted by jxndean

I've always heard that California is the quintessential frontier to start over again. People come to Cal to make a better life for themselves and find who they are as a person so to speak. I've heard that Cal is like a different country in that it doesn't even feel like it should belong in the U.S. because its so different than any other state in the Union.

With that being said, what do you think makes California the state that it is? (No negative comments please)

Do you think its the diversity, beautiful weather, or laid back liberal culture?

Are there any experinces that you had when moving to California that took you aback about their culture??

Any input is great.
California haters not welcome.

Then you aren't looking for a real answer. I lived in Fresno for 34 years. California has some really nice towns, some beautiful scenery, and, of course, the ocean.

What gets me is people who have this romanticized idea of what it is like, and lump the whole state together, thinking it is what they see on TV. It is not so. The Fresno/Bakersfield area (San joaquin Valley) is more like Texas or Oklahoma, scenery and culturally, than the beach that some people have in their minds.

Some of California is great in some places, and not so great in others. The great places aren't affordable. That's why we left.

[DMenscha]

The flag of the city of San Francisco depicts a phoenix, which of course is a bird which is reborn from ashes. I think that that pretty well sums up the attitude of Californians.