Love for oc lost (Los Angeles, San Diego: 2010, credit card, student loans)

[OChomepro]

If you're a 40+ (or even mid 30+) an alternative to Foxfire in Anaheim Hills is Brio Tuscany Grill in the small shopping center at the corner of Camino Del Avion and Niguel Road in Dana Point / Monarch Beach area. Good house band and good dancing that gets a little wilder and louder as the dinner crowd thins out. Much smaller than Foxfire and not as annoyingly crowded.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by finzup2

Now, I live in Alabama. Southern Hospitality is a myth... a facade of "honey" "sweetie" and "god bless" to hide a deeply rooted and barely changing system of old money and family ties -- not to mention overt racism and sexism.

You get what you give. Bitter, much?

Originally Posted by finzup2

Just TRY to break into "real" sororities at Alabama or Ole Miss if your mother isn't Daughters of American Revolution and your daddy isn't a wealthy, wealthy man...The "new" sororities are more diverse, but also less desirable.

Looks like you just demonstrated the snobbish-ness you abhor.

Originally Posted by finzup2

...and in 2008, there is still not 1, not 1, black woman in an historically white sorority on the Alabama campus.

One of the sororities did pledge a black woman...yes, I know it was 2001, but how many African-American students actually go out for a sorority at UA? That has been a big part of the problem. Most of them would prefer to pledge one of the historically-black Divine Nine.

[justhere]

Originally Posted by chgodon

The View was taken over by a demographic that creeped women out.
(now closed)
. . .
Greg Topper still performs but should retire. He may have been great in the 80's but can he play one song straight thru? Sorry not impressed with his vocal twang. Starts out with a slow song ang BAM...right into a fast song. Same freakin beat/sound to every song.

[rksinco]

Yes to almost everything mentioned. I lived in OC (south) for 23 years. After getting married and having a son decided enough was enough, and now we live in Colorado.
I've learned everyplace has it's problems. You do get used to a certain sophistication and groomed look in OC that I missed at first....not so much now.
I know many who think OC is heaven on earth, and even more who say the same about Colorado.
I enjoyed growing up in OC, and there are things I miss a lot:

In N Out
Rainy days at the beach (3-4 times a year!)
No shoveling the driveway
grasses are green all year
The beach (when it's not a pain in the arse getting there and parking)

But seriously, for every one thing I miss, there are many things I don't. Many people I know still think the country revolves around OC, but I'm thrilled to have a decent house in a normal neighborhood, where kids still play football in the street until dark and have snowball fights, and adults hang out and talk to "strangers" who happen to walk by, or just friendly waves to people because they live on your street.
It's been great to see that you can have a good life outside OC.
I love going back for visits but after 3 or 4 days, I'm ready to get back to my open country and mountain views.
Snow and cold isn't as fun for adults, but it's not the end of the world...throw a coat on and it's fine. Still better than faking a life in a $700,000 house with no yard.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by rksinco

Yes to almost everything mentioned. I lived in OC (south) for 23 years. After getting married and having a son decided enough was enough, and now we live in Colorado.
I've learned everyplace has it's problems. You do get used to a certain sophistication and groomed look in OC that I missed at first....not so much now.
I know many who think OC is heaven on earth, and even more who say the same about Colorado.
I enjoyed growing up in OC, and there are things I miss a lot:

In N Out
Rainy days at the beach (3-4 times a year!)
No shoveling the driveway
grasses are green all year
The beach (when it's not a pain in the arse getting there and parking)

But seriously, for every one thing I miss, there are many things I don't. Many people I know still think the country revolves around OC, but I'm thrilled to have a decent house in a normal neighborhood, where kids still play football in the street until dark and have snowball fights, and adults hang out and talk to "strangers" who happen to walk by, or just friendly waves to people because they live on your street.
It's been great to see that you can have a good life outside OC.
I love going back for visits but after 3 or 4 days, I'm ready to get back to my open country and mountain views.
Snow and cold isn't as fun for adults, but it's not the end of the world...throw a coat on and it's fine. Still better than faking a life in a $700,000 house with no yard.

Hypothetically, if housing got cheaper in OC, to the equivalent of Denver, and if your commute was equivalent too, would you move back?

[rksinco]

Originally Posted by Charles

Hypothetically, if housing got cheaper in OC, to the equivalent of Denver, and if your commute was equivalent too, would you move back?

That's a GREAT question. My wife and I talk about that quite often. A year ago we probably would say yes, but now with more time passed I think we're pretty happy out here. We still prefer the slower pace...we're down closer to Colo Springs. Also just access to the mountains and all the recreation that we love, and that is so hassle-free here.
But I'll never say never.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by rksinco

we're down closer to Colo Springs.

Where abouts? We just moved from the Monument area to Huntsville.

[rksinco]

Originally Posted by Charles

Where abouts? We just moved from the Monument area to Huntsville.

I actually teach in Monument but we live out east...kind of between Black Forest and Falcon. Meridian Ranch is the development. I love Monument but it's a little too pricey for teacher salaries out here.
Why'd you leave Colorado?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Charles

Hypothetically, if housing got cheaper in OC, to the equivalent of Denver, and if your commute was equivalent too, would you move back?

Originally Posted by rksinco

That's a GREAT question. My wife and I talk about that quite often......I'll never say never.

It might be a very realistic question

Southern California real estate prices have fallen off a cliff - Los Angeles Times

Jobs go begging at Northrop Grumman in Southern California - Los Angeles Times as Northrop Grumman Job Search returned 600 engineering jobs in California.

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by finzup2

Now, I live in Alabama. Southern Hospitality is a myth... a facade of "honey" "sweetie" and "god bless" to hide a deeply rooted and barely changing system of old money and family ties -- not to mention overt racism and sexism. Just TRY to break into "real" sororities at Alabama or Ole Miss if your mother isn't Daughters of American Revolution and your daddy isn't a wealthy, wealthy man. Girls only date men in certain fraternities and in 2008, there is still not 1, not 1, black woman in an historically white sorority on the Alabama campus. The "new" sororities are more diverse, but also less desirable.

Plastic surgery? Have you seen Hoover High in Birmingham on MTV? And moms try to outdress their daughters on college campuses across the south.

Drugs? The wealthier the school (public or private) the worse they are. Cars? Puh-lease..... drive around here before you think the OC is bad. Except here, they are gas guzzling Escalades and Hummers and Duallies for single women and frat boys.

It is funny how people say OC is snobbish when you compare it to southern society. When I lived in OC I never encountered the same kind of class society that I grew with in the south.

I was born in Mississippi, grew up in New Orleans where I was expected to attend debutante balls. Then I went to Ole Miss because my father was an alum who insisted I go to school there. I did the sorority pledge thing, etc. but, needless to say, I left after the first year.

Sounds like the south hasn't changed much, nor did I ever expect it to. But I will say any OC snobbishness and materialism does seem to pale in comparison.