Raising kids in south Orange County (Irvine, Lake Forest: condo, house prices, find a job)

[OC Investor2]

[quote=Donna7;9299077

I do NOT think that OC is unique in its materialism and affluence. Secondly, I am even MORE sure that adults and most kids in other areas are NOT exposed to other socio-economic spheres and people as they go about their everyday lives (as stated above). People tend to stay within their sphere of influence and they associate with people in their socio-economic group.[/quote]


I agree that people often "stick to their own".

However having lived around a couple different "tony suburbs" in my day (Pepper Pike/Shaker Heights near Cleveland, The Main Line in Philadelphia) and now having been in OC for a decade plus I can tell you that the geographic and personal distance between the affluent and the hoi polloi is much bigger here in OC. The "bubble" here is so big it is very easy to be in it 24/7/365.

Back east if you want to enjoy a Ball game, a museum or other cultural amenity you have to go from your tony burb into "the city". In OC, not so, You go to Anaheim to see the Angels or the OCPAC in Costa Mesa to see a play or Irvine Meadows to see an outdoor concert.

Back east a trip out of town means a drive to the airport "in the city" - usually through some of it's best parts . In OC, you head down the 405 to JWA, in Irvine/Newport Beach.

Want to hit a club? In Philly you go to Roxborogh or down to the riverfront. In Cleveland (back in the day) the Flats at the lakefront. In OC you go to Newport Beach.

In many places a tony suburb is just that - a sub of the larger, more diverse Urb(an) city. OC is a standalone "Edge City" where many have little or no interest or need to go to the "mother ship" city of LA. And that is the difference I am refering to.

[OC Investor2]

I do NOT think that OC is unique in its materialism and affluence. Secondly, I am even MORE sure that adults and most kids in other areas are NOT exposed to other socio-economic spheres and people as they go about their everyday lives (as stated above). People tend to stay within their sphere of influence and they associate with people in their socio-economic group

I agree that people often "stick to their own".

However having lived around a couple different "tony suburbs" in my day (Pepper Pike/Shaker Heights near Cleveland, The Main Line in Philadelphia) and now having been in OC for a decade plus I can tell you that the geographic and personal distance between the affluent and the hoi polloi is much bigger here in OC. The "bubble" here is so big it is very easy to be in it 24/7/365.

Back east if you want to enjoy a Ball game, a museum or other cultural amenity you have to go from your tony burb into "the city". In OC, not so, You go to Anaheim to see the Angels or the OCPAC in Costa Mesa to see a play or Irvine Meadows to see an outdoor concert.

Back east a trip out of town means a drive to the airport "in the city" - usually through some of it's best parts . In OC, you head down the 405 to JWA, in Irvine/Newport Beach.

Want to hit a club? In Philly you go to Roxborogh or down to the riverfront. In Cleveland (back in the day) the Flats at the lakefront. In OC you go to Newport Beach.

In many places a tony suburb is just that - a sub of the larger, more diverse Urb(an) city. OC is a standalone "Edge City" where many have little or no interest or need to go to the "mother ship" city of LA. And that is the difference I am refering to.

[NaplesRes]

I think OC is a suburb of LA. The LA Angeles illustrates this. Many people in OC still work and play in LA.

Let's not act like OC is this huge affluent suburb. It's mostly middle class with some high end and some tough areas. And it's spread throughout the count. Parts of San Juan Cap, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Lake Forest, etc all have their tougher areas.

I maintain that in south oc there are many people living well above their means due to materialism pressure and don't think that is a great climate to raise children in. I think a middle class area that is ok being middle class or a true wealthy area where showing off money is looked down apon is a better environment.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by NaplesRes

I maintain that in south oc there are many people living well above their means due to materialism pressure and don't think that is a great climate to raise children in. I think a middle class area that is ok being middle class or a true wealthy area where showing off money is looked down apon is a better environment.

We were in the same boat in Thousand Oaks when we bought new in 1997. Everyone in our neighborhood seemed more affluent than us. They were all getting this exotic landscaping and hardscaping and pools and fancy German cars, etc.

What did my kids see their old man doing? Renting a trencher, putting his own sprinklers, landscaping, trees, and grass and driving a plain old F-150. So, in that sense, I relayed my values to them in an environment which might otherwise be considered showy.

[PALA79]

Hi everyone
We live in Chicago and planning to Move to Talega by end of next year.
We have 2 months old and 30 months old girls.
I would like more information about living in San Clemente specially TALEGA. Schools, safety whether etc anything.
Job or traffic is not a issue , my wife staying home with kids, I'm running my companies in Chicago so at least for few years don't care about traffic.

Please write anything ... also we thinking about Corona because size / prices of the houses are great but it kind of to far to ocean ... i love boating.

[sbilly]

How do you compare southern Marin County in the SF Bay Area to OC?

[missionhome]

Originally Posted by sbilly

How do you compare southern Marin County in the SF Bay Area to OC?

Not really able to be compared. Orange County is FAR larger with 3 million people while Marin has just 247,289 people. OC would be 41% of the entire Bay Area's population. Orange County's less desirable areas like Santa Ana alone out populate affluent little Marin County. Orange County is far more diverse in its ethnic groups and socioeconomic status than Marin. Everything varies by the city, neighborhood, area, etc... of OC one lives in while Marin is fairly homogeneous (because it is so small and affluent). Marin would probably be similar to just Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, just two cities in OC, in socioeconomic status and diversity.

[catherine2009]

I suggest Thousand Oaks/ Westlake Village (the Valley). I have tons of friends from OC since my family is there. I hear this all the time & I've noticed it. My entire family are down to earth & positive people living simple lives so there's no competitions or headaches at the end of the day. Life's too short! We can afford anything but you only sleep in one bed & drive one car. Nowadays, all my JONES friends are too afraid to admit they all in debts; they all in OC. It's how you feel at the end of the day that matters vs. what ya have. Simple is stress free & peaceful where you can pay off that mortgage vs. most losing their homes nowadays or high in debts to show off. It's true about OC...the Valley is where everyone IS relaxed and happy

[GxGSieteUnoCuatro]

Originally Posted by varnba

I believe that its because some of the areas are quite populated w/ gangsters, so it all depends on the city you are plannin on living in

honestly there are no real gangs down there, maybe a few kids who write on a wall occassionally but not like other areas where gangs control neighborhoods and the drug and sex trafficking in them..

[Coldjensens]

Originally Posted by PALA79

Hi everyone
We live in Chicago and planning to Move to Talega by end of next year.
We have 2 months old and 30 months old girls.
I would like more information about living in San Clemente specially TALEGA. Schools, safety whether etc anything.
Job or traffic is not a issue , my wife staying home with kids, I'm running my companies in Chicago so at least for few years don't care about traffic.

Please write anything ... also we thinking about Corona because size / prices of the houses are great but it kind of to far to ocean ... i love boating.

HAve you made arrangements for boating when you get here? To keep a boat on the water, you are mostly looking at Newport Harbor, Huntingon Harbor and ** unless you go up to the long beach area. Any boat big enough to take out any distance into the ocean is not going to be on a trailer. In any event I am not aware of any place that you can do a trailer launch into the ocean. (There must be some place). The marina all have long waiting lists (often years to get a slip) and are pretty expensive. If you are looking at a map and thinking that you can launch into one of the rivers and run down to the ocean - the rivers are just dry beds of gravel for most of the year.


Most boating in smaller boats takes place at "the river" about 4 hours drive from most parts of OC. That is where you go to water ski, wake board, etc. Ocean boating is pretty much crusing in larger boats. Although there is a group that water skis out to catalina island once a year, it is pure torment and you need to be in exemplary physical condition. You can fish in all sizes of boats, but I personally would not go out much into the ocean in anything less than 30'


If you are looking at Corona, also consider Anaheim Hills. It is simlar with a slightly shorter commute.

Corona is very different from Orange County. It is hotter, smoggier and does nto get the ocean breezes. Traffic between Corona and OC is horrible. Very possibly the worst traffic anywhere. There are some bigger houses for the moeny, but to me personally, it is not worth the trade off.

Keep in mind that you do nto need as big a house in Southern California as you do in Chicago. You do not have to store three completey different wardrobes. Unless you go to the mountains to ski, you do not need a coat, boots, gloves, hats etc. A jacket is enough. Further you conceptually spend more time outside, so you do nto need as much space inside. However this depends on you. IN part, you will trade months of cold weather keeping you indorrs for weeks where it is too hot to do anything outside. THe closer that you are to the Ocean, the less of a problem you will have with excessive heat. Heat in Corona is a serious issue. IN the beach communities it is far less often a problem.

Sorry, I cannot tell you anything about Talega. I am more famailiar with Central and Northern OC.