The Truth about California from a former west coast Girl... (Los Angeles: credit, landscaping)

[dancingirisheyes]

Originally Posted by skyway31

The bolded comments are enough to discredit anything you post. There is more scenery in California than any other state, by a gaping margin. Of course, if you just hole up in your one ****ty area, you'd not know this.
Obviously you live in or near the desert. Because I don't think I've ever experienced above 90 degree temps here..ever. And probably could count on my hands the number of days over 85 degrees. But, of course, I live near the coast.

Man, this is a really rude forum. So far, not loving my experience here at City-Data. Its unfortunate that someone can't state their own experience without another calling them a liar. Crazy stuff. I guess the Orange County bubble is truly individualized. We can't even accept that people within our own county might have a different life than our own.

Anyway, I live in Fullerton. Considerably hotter than the coast. For the past few years, August through October have been miserably hot. 90+, easily. Its not ****ty but scenic? Hardly. I'd have to drive pretty far to get any decent scenery. Or I can visit the beach on a winter weekday when its not mobbed with crowds I suppose. But sorry, I don't consider the general towns of Orange County all that scenic. Perhaps we have different opinions on what is scenic.

[dancingirisheyes]

Originally Posted by skyway31

Just provide the caveat that one should not move to Corona or some desert town worlds away from the coast and cities. If you live in a part of California where the temperature hits 100 degrees with any frequency, you moved to the wrong part of the state.

Originally Posted by skyway31

If home ownership is essential to someone, then they'll have to assess their finances relative to what places cost. If they don't make enough to buy in a decent area-and home ownership means more than quality of locale of residency-then moving out of California would be a good option. I would not recommend one buying a place in, say, San Bernadino or Riverside counties just for the sake of living in California.

Agreed on both counts. I would rather pay the same amount for a house in Washington and deal with rain then to buy a house in the IE and deal with worse heat and poor air quality (I have an asthma kid so the smog issue can't be overlooked). I'm not wild about the idea of living on the San Andres fault line either but I realize this really isn't the most sound reason for moving. Its really the weather/air/traffic that is preventing me from moving to the IE and considering a move to WA instead.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by dancingirisheyes

Man, this is a really rude forum. So far, not loving my experience here at City-Data. Its unfortunate that someone can't state their own experience without another calling them a liar. Crazy stuff. I guess the Orange County bubble is truly individualized. We can't even accept that people within our own county might have a different life than our own.

Anyway, I live in Fullerton. Considerably hotter than the coast. For the past few years, August through October have been miserably hot. 90+, easily. Its not ****ty but scenic? Hardly. I'd have to drive pretty far to get any decent scenery. Or I can visit the beach on a winter weekday when its not mobbed with crowds I suppose. But sorry, I don't consider the general towns of Orange County all that scenic. Perhaps we have different opinions on what is scenic.

i happen to agree with you. If one considers the beach towns in OC, it is quite pretty, certainly parts of it, but overall, the inland area like Fullerton is anything but scenic. It is like many parts of So Calif, one track or shopping center on top of another. I agree about the temps as well, the ocean cities or those very close have great summer breezes, you get close to the middle part of the county and it can be hot in August, Sept and even part of Oct.

Don't let a few people scare you off, we do all have our opinions and that is what these boards are all about.

Nita

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by dancingirisheyes

Man, this is a really rude forum. So far, not loving my experience here at City-Data. Its unfortunate that someone can't state their own experience without another calling them a liar. Crazy stuff. I guess the Orange County bubble is truly individualized. We can't even accept that people within our own county might have a different life than our own.

Anyway, I live in Fullerton. Considerably hotter than the coast. For the past few years, August through October have been miserably hot. 90+, easily. Its not ****ty but scenic? Hardly. I'd have to drive pretty far to get any decent scenery. Or I can visit the beach on a winter weekday when its not mobbed with crowds I suppose. But sorry, I don't consider the general towns of Orange County all that scenic. Perhaps we have different opinions on what is scenic.

I've never been to Fullerton. I've been to Orange and near Disney etc. Fullerton may not be scenic. Certainly, many of the "general" towns in north and east OC are indeed not scenic. But, those are just a handful of places. Like raelyn, you're looping the entire freaking state of California into your experience of a bland place like Fullerton. If you said that there are many run-of-the-mill, unscenic towns in OC, I'd agree. But there are many georgous, highly scenic places in OC too. And, the state of California?? No other state has as much scenery as California. It's size and vast range of scenery is unsurpassed by any other state.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by dancingirisheyes

Agreed on both counts. I would rather pay the same amount for a house in Washington and deal with rain then to buy a house in the IE and deal with worse heat and poor air quality (I have an asthma kid so the smog issue can't be overlooked). I'm not wild about the idea of living on the San Andres fault line either but I realize this really isn't the most sound reason for moving. Its really the weather/air/traffic that is preventing me from moving to the IE and considering a move to WA instead.

Yeah I have no problem with any of this. Some of the worst places for quality of life are in California. If you're forced to live in these places, it's certainly not worth it. IE sucks IMO. Fortunately, the IE is merely ONE place in California. It does not reperesent the entire state by any means.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by dancingirisheyes

California girl my entire life too. I've lived in the San Gabriel Valley, South OC, North OC and my sister's family lives in the Inland Empire.

I'm still surprised that California is so full of its own self-worth that the home prices are what they are EVEN in the middle of our economic crisis. I own my own business and my husband works for the government. We make $160K/year, have no credit card debt and we cannot afford a house. We could GET a house. But we'd be living check-to-check just to make the mortgage payment on anything that is in a modest, safe neighborhood with a decent school district. I think that says a lot when honest, hard-working people can't even get a modest home. My sister paid more than half a million for 1600 sq. ft. in Corona. CORONA! And even though she was able to move into the nicer areas of Corona, there is still crime happening every few months within blocks of her home! (Mainly attackers targeting women joggers or trying to take children). And what happened once the economy turned? Her rate increased, her mortgage went up so high she couldn't afford it and now she's looking at a foreclosure. Her husband has a great job, a higher education and excellent credit. In what world should a guy like that be losing his home?

California needs to wake up and realize its not all that its cracked up to be. The smog, the traffic, the crowds, the over-development, the lack of scenery, the fact that all of the activities are amusement parks and shopping malls, the crime, the terrible schools, the state's financial crisis, the overcrowded jail/juvenile units, the unrealistic social pressures that are poison for today's family unit, the earthquakes (which have been excessive in the past few months??!!) and the fires EVERY SINGLE SUMMER/FALL. Everyone raves about the weather and truly, November - June are beautiful. But the summers are miserable if you don't live near a beach. 110+ and smoggy..... not my idea of beautiful weather. And all of these things really lower the value of California in my eyes. I'm certainly not willing to pay half a million for a mediocre house here.

So, since we've found some common ground to agree on, here is where I took issue. In bold, you are referring to the entire state of California. Really, you were just talking about Fullerton and vicinity. But, you said California. You did not accurately describe all of California. You may have accurately described Fullerton and/or the IE. That's it.

[dancingirisheyes]

Originally Posted by skyway31

I've never been to Fullerton. I've been to Orange and near Disney etc. Fullerton may not be scenic. Certainly, many of the "general" towns in north and east OC are indeed not scenic. But, those are just a handful of places. Like raelyn, you're looping the entire freaking state of California into your experience of a bland place like Fullerton. If you said that there are many run-of-the-mill, unscenic towns in OC, I'd agree. But there are many georgous, highly scenic places in OC too. And, the state of California?? No other state has as much scenery as California. It's size and vast range of scenery is unsurpassed by any other state.

True. And that's the problem I think. The average joe cannot afford to live in those beautiful places. I feel like, having lived in California my entire life, its just crazy that to live in the run-of-the-mill/smoggy/unscenic/overpopulated areas, we have to pay nearly half a million dollars for a house that will give us less than 2000 sq. ft. But I guess the difference between us is that I don't feel like those are just a handful of places. I feel like that's So. Cal general and the beautiful, coastal cities are the exception. So I don't feel like this state has been managed well at all and its the "idea" of California that drives our housing costs up when the reality is worth far less.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by skyway31

I've never been to Fullerton. I've been to Orange and near Disney etc. Fullerton may not be scenic. Certainly, many of the "general" towns in north and east OC are indeed not scenic. But, those are just a handful of places. Like raelyn, you're looping the entire freaking state of California into your experience of a bland place like Fullerton. If you said that there are many run-of-the-mill, unscenic towns in OC, I'd agree. But there are many georgous, highly scenic places in OC too. And, the state of California?? No other state has as much scenery as California. It's size and vast range of scenery is unsurpassed by any other state.

I don't think anyone would deny California has a vast array of scenery and it is a wonderfully beautiful state, but to say, no other state is as pretty is a bit of a little biased. Because of the size of the state it is very diversified in its scenery as well as in other ways but I can think of a couple other states I have visited that took my breath away as well. Believe it or not, PA is one. You have mountains, rivers, lakes, the ocean, flat lands, greenery, delightful old cities and towns, country roads and about anything else one can think of. Another state, is right here in AR, no we are missing the ocean, which in itself, is Gods masterpiece, but we still have so much natural beauty it is unbeleivable. NM is another breath taking palce in certain areas. What about OR and Washington? I could go on, some of the New England states. I just don't think there is such a state as the most beautiful...

Nita

[pecosbill]

Originally Posted by dancingirisheyes

True. And that's the problem I think. The average joe cannot afford to live in those beautiful places. I feel like, having lived in California my entire life, its just crazy that to live in the run-of-the-mill/smoggy/unscenic/overpopulated areas, we have to pay nearly half a million dollars for a house that will give us less than 2000 sq. ft. But I guess the difference between us is that I don't feel like those are just a handful of places. I feel like that's So. Cal general and the beautiful, coastal cities are the exception. So I don't feel like this state has been managed well at all and its the "idea" of California that drives our housing costs up when the reality is worth far less.

Dancinggirisheyes, I agree with you but unfortunatly this is the case all over the world. Attractive places are expensives because many people like to leave their. California Southern coast is very similar to the french riviera... It is expensive and not everyone could afford to leave their otherwise have to make sacrifices on space or scenery... No offense to people leaving in Kansas but their is a reason why Kansas is cheap and why California is expensive. Again overcrowded is depending upon where you come from and what you expect. California as a state is the 8th world economy... Wouln't be the case if like in Wyoming ( love Wyoming) you have I believe less than a million people leaving. Polution comes with it like any major city... Fact of life.
As I said before I am ready to pay a premium to have what California as to offer and it appears that many people do...

Anyway as in any forum all opinions count and are based upon everyone owns perspectives and experiences.

Pecosbill

[dancingirisheyes]

I totally agree, I have no issue with how the beautiful parts of CA are priced. I just feel like the mediocre parts of CA are priced as though they're goldmines and they just aren't. In so many of these areas, they're selling pits for premium.