Good/Bad about living in Orange County (West Hollywood, Laguna: real estate market, neighborhoods)

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by runnergrl

Thank you for your insight...fortunately because I have adjusted to relocating so many times...I am real good about putting on great outward appearances...you have to to survive and get in there and get on with living. I think because it is such a greater challenge here...I have to work much harder at finding people who are "normal", it is exhausting. I have never been such a place that is actually true in what people say about it(this thread is an example, plus my own experiences in the 2 yrs here).

Luckily my children are doing great despite my shortcomings in acceptance. They are the light right now that keeps me focused...and I do have faith that one day I can get back to that place where the heart is.

We left many friends and family behind so I know how you feel. One BIG plus for us is that we moved within 1/2 hour of our oldest daughter so we could be near her when we have our first grandbaby this April.

Hang in there and remember that it will all be better in the end. Why so many relocations? You must be a trooper to pick up and move that many times, I could never do that. Good luck!

[Fialian]

I have tried for 3 years to stay happy and positive here in So OC and I am having a real tough time even finding other women friends/moms to relate to. I agree there are so many pretentions and shallow people with superficial values here. I am looking for community. I am looking into moving to Portland OR. Any feedback on that?

[BreaOC]

There are so many negative posts in this thread, and that is OK because the original poster is asking for the good and bad. So you got the bad, here's one good!I grew up in Orange County, and given it's changed drastically in 25 years. It's the fifth most populous county in the nation. The counties population itself is larger than all but 15 of the metropolitan areas in our country. A lot comes with that, both good and bad. There is crime, smog, traffic. But truthfully I have never had a crime done against me, and Los Angeles/OC is one of the safer large cities in the nation. The smog can be a pain, mostly because when they skies are clear and blue it is absolutely beautiful! The palm trees against the blue skies, the green foothills, the mountains, it's beautiful. The traffic, yes it can be bad, really bad at times. However there are many ways to avoid it for the most part. I refuse to live more than 10 miles at the very most from my work place, and my work day generally starts at 6am and ends at 3pm so I am fortunate to miss the traffic. Generally you know when you are going to hit traffic and if you choose to venture out during that time then you have to factor that in. Southern California is expensive, yes. But the pay with most employers should make up for that. If it doesn't then perhaps it's time to look for a new employer. I have said it in other posts and will say it again, my partner and I make $75,000 a yea. Have two vehicles one new one used, both paid off, live in a beautiful 10 year old condo turned apartment so we have all the amenities of a home (large kitchen, large porch/deck, full size washer and dryer) with an absolutely amazing view for $1400. As for schools we are in the Villa Park School district, easily one of the best districts in Orange County. We generally put a couple hundred aside every month and have very little debt. We are incredibly happy here. The only time we worried about money was when I was on medical leave and the radiator on one of our vehicles cracked and had to be replaced. Even then we were fine. The weather here is perfect, the shopping is amazing. You don't have to be swimming in money to make it here. A lot of it just has to do with your own attitude. If you move to an area with a negative attitude you will have a negative experience. I have lived in three states and ended up back in California. It's not for everyone, but no place is perfect. I have been back here for about a year and a half and have made more friends than in any of the cities I lived in in the Midwest. I can't imagine why some people have problems meeting people here. There are millions of people and they aren't all snobs or pretentious. I like to think I'm a very nice, fun person and I seem to attract the same, we're here if you look LOL. Give it a chance. Realize that there are very few people that post regularly on here from our area, it represents an incredibly tiny percentage of the people that actually live here. Like many have said before, most people that live down here are too busy enjoying life to get online and either boast or complain. I'm still on medical leave, that's my alibi

Our view, even on a hazy day!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Fialian

I am looking into moving to Portland OR. Any feedback on that?

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[runnergrl]

Originally Posted by Fialian

I have tried for 3 years to stay happy and positive here in So OC and I am having a real tough time even finding other women friends/moms to relate to. I agree there are so many pretentions and shallow people with superficial values here. I am looking for community. I am looking into moving to Portland OR. Any feedback on that?

Wait...we currently live in thousand oaks up in ventura...and I have been here for 2 yrs...I feel like I am in a bubble...just about all of the moms around that I am friendly with are natives here...either from the valley...or fromthe immediate area. In trying to make peace because of my husband's job...I am trying to be open to checking out other burbs that would be a better fit for me. We came down to Irvine a few weekends ago to get a feel for it...and upon first impressions...I liked it better than where we are...but I was very cautious because of ...well all the negative rap. Still willing to continue checking out OC...but the housing needs to come down more for us to make the move work. I wish I could find a community that had lots of tranplants from out of state so that I knew that people would be willing to nurture relationships to endure their time here for however long it is.

BTW...you would love Portland...Eugene is nice too...little college town...where the university of OR is. Cost of living is cheaper and it is definitely a bit rural once you get outside portland...it reminded alot of my home state GA...except the the mtn ranges you can see in the distance. lush green fields and pasteurs with grazing animals. I had a girlfriend who lived in Portland and the moved to AZ(where we met) and she absolutley LOVED Portland...so much so...that she didnt like to visit because it made her sad about not living there. She is married and had kids.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by runnergrl

Wait...we currently live in thousand oaks up in ventura...and I have been here for 2 yrs...I feel like I am in a bubble...just about all of the moms around that I am friendly with are natives here...either from the valley...or fromthe immediate area......I wish I could find a community that had lots of tranplants from out of state so that I knew that people would be willing to nurture relationships to endure their time here for however long it is.

So opposite of my experiences living in TO from 1997 to 2006. Every dad at the park on Saturdays was from boston or new york or China or India or something. No one I ever met was from the valley (where I grew up).

I finally got to meet native California neighbors....when I moved to Colorado.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Charles

So opposite of my experiences living in TO from 1997 to 2006. Every dad at the park on Saturdays was from boston or new york or China or India or something. No one I ever met was from the valley (where I grew up).

I finally got to meet native California neighbors....when I moved to Colorado.

That's the same thing we experienced. We have probably met more people from CA in TX than we knew in CA. We knew very few native Californians in CA. There were a lot from out of state and out of country too.

[krazy_dude]

if any1 frm orange county is on here and is between 16 and 25 n u hav msn let me no if u wanna chat sumtime n i'll giv u me addy

[flo2900]

Originally Posted by Charles

So opposite of my experiences living in TO from 1997 to 2006. Every dad at the park on Saturdays was from boston or new york or China or India or something. No one I ever met was from the valley (where I grew up).

I finally got to meet native California neighbors....when I moved to Colorado.

[flo2900]

Originally Posted by dtran103

The thing is, the salaries tend to be higher in places like Orange County to offset the high price of living.

Not true!