Where do tree hugging, vegetarian liberals belong in OC? (Los Angeles: college, place to live)

[cabolissa]

If you liked Santa Cruz, you're not going to like OC generally. Having said that, I'd suggest Laguna Canyon - it's a haven for the artistic crowd, and still has the old California feel similar to Malibu Canyon, rather than the masterplanned communities OC is known for.

[jaynetarzana]

Thanks cabolissa. We've come to terms with the fact the OC is not for us.

Good luck on your move to Austin. It is the only place in Texas I could consider living. Are you excited? I take if from the exclamation marks in your status that you are.

[cabolissa]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

Thanks cabolissa. We've come to terms with the fact the OC is not for us.

Good luck on your move to Austin. It is the only place in Texas I could consider living. Are you excited? I take if from the exclamation marks in your status that you are.

Yes, I'm excited for the change in cost of living. We're not in your price range, we can only afford a $200K home, so it's much more realistic for us there. And the people I met there so far have been very friendly. Everything moves just a tad slower there. I'm tired of everyone in a hurry all the time.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

DH would work out of Pomona.

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

We've come to terms with the fact the OC is not for us.

So now what?

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by cabolissa

Yes, I'm excited for the change in cost of living. We're not in your price range, we can only afford a $200K home, so it's much more realistic for us there. And the people I met there so far have been very friendly. Everything moves just a tad slower there. I'm tired of everyone in a hurry all the time.

Then it is very exciting indeed! We aren't in the price range we want to be in yet. We still have to save a 20% down payment. After our moving expenses to come back to California, it is going to be at least another year before we can consider buying and $650K would be our absolute breaking point. That would be assuming that I am back to work part-time after the kids are in school. So there are many hurdles yet to make. I wish you the best in Austin. I hope you will visit us on the CA forum to let us know how you are doing down there.

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by Charles

So now what?

Thanks for your concern Charles. You have been a wealth of information. DH knows that NorCal is better for us even though we both prefer the warmth of OC. So now we are concentrating on Scotts Valley (Santa Cruz) and Albany/Kensington in the East Bay. He will works out of the Salinas office twice a week. So the commute to the East Bay would be crazy, so most likely we will land back in the Santa Cruz area which is not a bad thing. We had a very nice life there until we had to sell our house. I am looking forward to being back with all of my friends there. The living sure was easy for a tree hugger in those parts (well except for the cost of living).

[ceeglass]

Where do tree hugging, vegetarian liberals belong in OC?

Definitely on the 5 Fwy headed north to Portland, Oregon. You'll love it there. You'll fit right in.

[jaynetarzana]

We checked out Portland right after 9/11 and it definitely wasn't our scene at all. Too rainy, dreary and dirty for us. It was actually too hippie (we're the very clean, well dressed types with hippie values).

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

We checked out Portland right after 9/11 and it definitely wasn't our scene at all. Too rainy, dreary and dirty for us. It was actually too hippie (we're the very clean, well dressed types with hippie values).

Jayne, I think you are going in the right direction for your needs and desires, especially if you end up back in Santa Cruz..Good luck,

Nita

[jaynetarzana]

Thanks Nita. I sure hope so. It feels so good to be going home. Santa Cruz is where my 22 month old daughter was born (at home). I feel great about bringing both of my girls home to the state where they were born.