Any Californians in MA? (Boston, Orange: vacation home, schools, organic)

[CALGUY]

I was born and raised in Ma, and once the cold and snow got the best of me, I moved west to So Cal.
This has been my home for 36 years, and I wouldn't want to ever live in Ma again.
Some "visitors" to our great state think we are a bunch of off the wall lunatic, liberals, and I think you could find those type of people living in any state.
For the most part, California (at least in So Cal, ) is populated by mostly young and middle age folks so along with that comes younger, independent people with younger thinking minds.
We are not much on "know your neighbors" because neighbors come and go.
We are more in line with "self", and imediate family.
We are a huge melting pot for all kinds of people around the globe, hence we don't have that closeness that someone stated is prevalent in Ma.
Frankly, we don't much care for that closeness.
We are consumed in providing for ourselves and family.
As for towns here in California that would rival Newton, There are many.
It all depends on which part of this great state you want to call home.
As for towns like Newton in So Cal, a few come too mind.
Orange county has some great "town like" places to live, among them,Laguna, (especially if you like the beach, and are into art) Lake Forest, Laguna Nigel, Capastrano, Placencia.
Further south in SanDiego, and Imperial counties, there are some great places to live.
There is a town called Jullian which boast an apple extravangza every year, and draws people from all over the state to it's tiny little hamlet.
You can find these kinds of towns all throughout the state, if you look for them, which brings to mind a television series on a couple times weekly.
It is on PBS, and it is called "California dreaming"
It segments towns like Jullian, and the rest of the little known, and seen things going on throughout the state.
In spite of the hustle and bussel of Los Angeles county, there are still some nice areas that could rival Newton.
Among them I would consider Calabasas, Agoura hills, Santa Clarita to name just a few.
To the west in east Ventura county is Semi Valley.
Now THERE is the ideal location to raise a family.
Northern California has an abundance of "Newton like towns scattered about.
Any town that is a burb to Sacramento would offer what Newton does.
So, If Newton and Massachusetts are not your cup of tea, there is much to investigate here in the golden state.
There isn't enough money on the planet to make me come back to Massachusetts, not even for a visit.
Bob.

[clevedark]

Originally Posted by rankineus2000

Is there any suburb in califrornia that compares to newton, i am looking to move toe Califronra due to personal reasons and i want to live in a great place comparable to newton, thanks for your help

Where are you moving to in California? That's like most of the west coast....Although Pasadena does come to mind if you need to be near LA.

[camer]

I'm from CA; my parents and sibs live in Northern CA; I visit often. This is my 17th year in New England. It took me awhile to adjust (only about 10 years) for all the same reasons you mentioned but I can honestly say that the lifestyle is now more to my liking (being 17 years older I'm finding the slower pace more agreeable). I love the 4 seasons as well as the strong sense of history and tradition. I'm glad we are raising our children out here versus CA. We have plans to relocate next year; CA was an option but we chose the DC area.

[camer]

Originally Posted by puffle

Smarty,
Thank you again for answering my question. I have read in a recent forum in Newton that Newton North has an air quality problem where 70% is unhealthy, there is mold and asbestos, etc. Sounds like the school is falling apart and won't be replaced for years. I like the fact that the South is freshened up and very academic, but worry that my average student (son) will be lost and left in the dust. California schools do not prepare you for an east coast education. We also want to live in a part of town where he can explore on his own, hang out with friends, and avoid as much snobbery as possible. HELP!

Hello,
Brand new Newton North is currently under construction. State of the art. Will be done 2011-ish. New school Superintendent and Mayor coming in, thank God! The past 10 years have not been kind to the Newton schools. The high schools have dropped considerably in their national ranking although still better than average. Many problems on the horizon. I would seriously consider Needham, Wellesley, Dover. Much more stable school systems which have managed to keep their edge. Goodluck.

[2KidsforMe]

2 1/2 years after I started this thread, we are still in MA. Never made it back to CA, and doesn't look like we ever will. Not to CA bash, but I see the difference in lifestyle we have here vs. what my friends/family deal with with their kids. Problems such as marginal public schools, crime, air pollution, crowding, and water shortages. Ugh. MA is now my home, and I almost feel like I'm from another planet when we visit Orange County now. I always leave with my head spinning. I do understand, though, the desire to try something new (ie. those from MA who wish to move to CA). The need for a change brought us here in the first place.

[camer]

Originally Posted by 2KidsforMe

2 1/2 years after I started this thread, we are still in MA. Never made it back to CA, and doesn't look like we ever will. Not to CA bash, but I see the difference in lifestyle we have here vs. what my friends/family deal with with their kids. Problems such as marginal public schools, crime, air pollution, crowding, and water shortages. Ugh. MA is now my home, and I almost feel like I'm from another planet when we visit Orange County now. I always leave with my head spinning. I do understand, though, the desire to try something new (ie. those from MA who wish to move to CA). The need for a change brought us here in the first place.

Yes, my head is also spinning whenever I return home from visiting CA.
I know materialism is everywhere but I guess I just can't handle it being in my face 24/7. CA is fun but the flash-in-your-face gets tiring. East coast materialism presents differently ....

[CALGUY]

Originally Posted by camer

Yes, my head is also spinning whenever I return home from visiting CA.
I know materialism is everywhere but I guess I just can't handle it being in my face 24/7. CA is fun but the flash-in-your-face gets tiring. East coast materialism presents differently ....

So what is wrong with a few baubels if one works long, hard hours to have them?
I think I detect a bit of jealousy about what we Californians are able to acheive.
We have an abundance of material things because we deserve them.
I don't see anything wrong with that.
California is far superior to any other state except for one thing, that being education.
We trail the country miserably in that catagory but, in everything else, we rule the roost.
As I stated in an earlier post, I left Ma many yeats ago, and naturally, time changes things.
From what I know of Ma, , mostly from it's political cronies (Barney Frank, Ted Kennedy, and his "BIG DIG" etc. I am so happy to no longer be living there.
I have some great memories of my early life there, and I cherish them.
At that time, it was a great place to call home.
Bob.

[Woof Woof Woof!]

Originally Posted by camer

Yes, my head is also spinning whenever I return home from visiting CA.
I know materialism is everywhere but I guess I just can't handle it being in my face 24/7. CA is fun but the flash-in-your-face gets tiring. East coast materialism presents differently ....

I lived in Southern California many years, and I have no desire to move back. I was tired of all the flash, the bling-bling, and the constant circus act. Everywhere I'd go, people were on their cell phones having 'important' conversations with their agents. I'm much happier here in Western Ma where people have their feet on the ground.

[camer]

Originally Posted by Woof Woof Woof!

I lived in Southern California many years, and I have no desire to move back. I was tired of all the flash, the bling-bling, and the constant circus act. Everywhere I'd go, people were on their cell phones having 'important' conversations with their agents. I'm much happier here in Western Ma where people have their feet on the ground.

on an UP note, Californians do not seem obsessed about the college you've graduated from. Part of the CA earthiness that I truly appreciate. "Where did you graduate from?" seems to be a standard question when you meet someone for the first time in New England, especially in Boston.

[holden125]

Originally Posted by CALGUY

So what is wrong with a few baubels if one works long, hard hours to have them? I think I detect a bit of jealousy about what we Californians are able to acheive. We have an abundance of material things because we deserve them. I don't see anything wrong with that. California is far superior to any other state except for one thing, that being education. We trail the country miserably in that catagory but, in everything else, we rule the roost.

Believe me, I'm not jealous. Southern California has become a giant plastic- and stucco-filled, traffic-choked sinkhole with a collapsing housing market.

I've got plenty of "material things" but, as you might remember from growing up around here, it's tacky to flash everything so overtly. Go to Martha's Vineyard and people with $40 million fortunes are driving 1989 Volvo station wagons.

And I hadn't gotten the memo that Californians are somehow more deserving of material things, or even that they have more of them. 3 of Massachusetts's 14 counties are in the top 50 in America by average income. None are in Southern California--the only CA counties on the list are in the Bay Area (SF, Contra Costa, Marin, San Mateo).

Originally Posted by CALGUY

From what I know of Ma, , mostly from it's political cronies (Barney Frank, Ted Kennedy, and his "BIG DIG" etc. I am so happy to no longer be living there.

I'd take our guys over the clowns on the other side of the aisle any day.