How long have you lived in OC & where? (Los Angeles: how much, new house)

[pinkgonegreen]

Since so many posters have offered such valuable advice on OC, I'd like to see what cities you lived in and during what years you lived there in the OC? I think this will help others to weigh their decisions and see how much cities and time periods cause differing views of OC! :-)

[RobE]

Lived 43 years in OC and resided in Buena Park, Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills. Also used to spend so much time during the summers at Newport Beach I can almost call myself a former part time resident there. *lol

Still love it, even with the horrendous traffic. But I cashed out and was able to buy a brand new house up here in Washington lock, stock and barrel, so I have no debt.

[Raelyn28]

So you were the lucky ones who had a home, made a huge profit and headed North?? I basically left in 2001 and unfortunately was never able to afford a home so left with nothing. Moved to Oregon and now reside in Washington also. I love it here, simply amazing and cheap!!!

I lived in Southern Cal for 22 years.

Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Buena Park, Fullerton, Anaheim, Tustin, La Habra, Yorba Linda... Had/have friends in Anaheim Hills, Mission Alieso, Irvine, Yorba Linda, Brea. Also have friends in Redlands which is San Bernadino County and Vista which is North San Diego County. I also lived in San Diego County for awhile (Oceanside and Vista). I went to school in San Diego. I moved to California from the midwest in 1979 and live there until 2001.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by mommyntheoc

Since so many posters have offered such valuable advice on OC, I'd like to see what cities you lived in and during what years you lived there in the OC? I think this will help others to weigh their decisions and see how much cities and time periods cause differing views of OC! :-)

I never lived in OC. But I know how to get information to help me make wise decisions. I also provide this information and these data sources to people who ask questions on City Data.

However, I did live in Ventura County and Los Angeles County since 1961 (until 2006). I've bought and sold four homes, two in Southern California (1988, 1997, 2006)

[Coldjensens]

I lived in Balboa (Newport Beach) for four years (one year on a boat in the fun Zone, and a few months during this time I was technically in Costa Mesa within walking distance of Newport), then moved to Orange for five years, and then lived in Santa Ana for 9 years. Now (for the past 3.5 years) my primary residence is in Michigan, but I spend about 20 to 30% of my time in California. I generally stay in Santa Ana when I am in CA. I also lived in Laguna beach for 4 months while I was an intern during school. I also lived for short periods in Newport Heights, Mission Viejo, Los Angeles (West Hollywood) and in Burlingame. I worked from offices in Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, Los Angeles, and Santa Ana Heights. A lot of my work is in the inland empire, particularly Riverside and Rancho Cucamonga. A considerable majority of my friends live in South County (Cota De Caza, Ladera Ranch, MV, Aliso Viejo, Laguna and Laguna Nigel), so I have spent quite a bit of time in those cities. I am very active and I do not watch TV so I get out to a lot of different communities while working in various religious, social, and chaitable organizations.

[OC2Jax]

One year in Irvine in The Colony ('89-'90).

HATED IT.
Beyond rude people who thought their caca didn't stink.

Moved to Santa Ana Heights. ('90-'08) Near Mesa/Irvine Ave.

Much nicer environment and neighbors. Close to Upper Newport Bay bike paths and the beach. Close to Orange Coast College, Southcoast Plaza, and Fashion Island. I really enjoyed living in that area.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Born in Santa Ana, moved to Fountain Valley when I was a year old.

Spent the next 29 years in Fountain Valley and the past 6 back and forth between Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa a couple of times.

I drive all over OC for work so I get a pretty good feel for parts of the county I'd want to live in and what parts I wouldn't, along with traffic patterns.

[Raelyn28]

Be careful what you say EscapeCalifornia, there are those on this OC forum that don't like the Truth. They will ream you for being honest. By the way.. I love your username. Great idea!!
Have a nice day...

[missionhome]

Born in Pasadena, but I was raised in Placentia from then through college (23 years) (I went to CSU Fullerton).

Then I moved away and lived in Arizona, Florida, and Texas while my husband was in the military.

We have been in Orange County for 24 years since returning.
He was restationed at El Toro and we came back and moved to the very first development in what is now Aliso Viejo. In 1989 we moved to Laguna Hills to a entry level home for our first son born in 1990. When we were planning for our third child, we bought a larger home in Mission Viejo in 1994 and have been there since.

[Fontucky]

Capistrano Beach and Mission Viejo, 1960 to 2004. Prior to 1960, Inglewood. Since 2004, Fontana.