The real deal on the OC... (Orange: land, republican, friend)

[RobE]

Here's the thing about Orange county as far as crime goes: your chances of being murdered or held up on the street are pretty slim compared to L.A. If you are going to be a crime victim it will likely be opportunistic theft (leaving a purse of laptop on the front seat of your car and somebody pulls a smash and grab) or burglary. There is also a ton of theft that occurs at businesses. Most of the holdups will be convenience stores and the like. There are also a lot of homeless in Anaheim, Santa Ana and Fullerton running the usual sorts of scams to obtain money to buy drugs. Drug use is rampant. If you hang out in sleazy bars something could happen to you there thanks to the alcohol use.

Now if you are a gang member, deal drugs, engage in prostitution or some other nefarious activity, your chances of being jacked at some point are high. You will also run across illegal aliens who don't respect the culture here and will blast their music at high volumes at 2 a.m. or they will live 20 to a house or apartment. But nowhere in Orange County, except maybe in Crow Village in Stanton or Delhi in Santa Ana, would I feel as unsafe as I would in places such as Inglewood, downtown L.A., parts of Hollywood or Panorama City. Those places are true war zones and are far scummier than what you will encounter anywhere in OC.

That's not to deny the real crime problems in OC (like the four times higher than the national average of car theft just in the City of Orange). But compared with L.A., still pretty safe.

[breakaway]

But it seems like you have to be very rich to live in that area.

[Sal Monella]

"Here's the thing about Orange county as far as crime goes: your chances of being murdered or held up on the street are pretty slim compared to L.A."


True, but the sheer boredom of living there might actually increase your chances of blowing your own brains out in desperation.

[phoenixxphyre]

Originally Posted by Julianq101

Isn't it amazing how different people can have such varied opinions on the same place?

It just goes to prove that the "reality" that we experience is personal. Some of you have experienced the OC to be a horrible place while others experience it as the best place in the world... Considering that everyone is debating over the same county, it shows that it isn't the place that drives the experience - it's the person experiencing the experience!

I've always known that if you expect a good experience, you tend to get one, but the posting on this forum confirms it 100%.

I think that there is good and bad all over, and if you look for the good you will find it. The opposite is also true.

I was in California (OC and San Diego) on vacation many years ago and I loved it. I loved everything about it. But maybe my opinion wont count for much - afterall I came there on vacation expecting it to be the best place in the world. I wasn't let down.

I currently live in Toronto, and if I could live in the OC and San Diego, I would move in a minute. In fact, that is my long-term plan! My primary reason for wanting to move usually peaks in January and February when it's freezing in Toronto. Minus 20 celcius tends to test your level of positive mental attitude! I sometimes reconsider relocating by July when it's balmy hot in Toronto.

Reminds me of a story I heard (which may have been on here...although I've a feeling it came out of a book or movie...) about a man being led to his new living quarters who said he loved it before ever getting in the door. The person showing it to him said 'but you haven't even seen it' and he said 'but I already made up my mind that I would love it, so I do.'

I'm not so incredibly happy I can't stand it in OH (although I'm not such a fan of where I live or the complete lack of jobs that aren't industrial or service related) because I try to find things I do like about the place while I live here. I'm looking to relocate, likely to CA for opportunities in editing that just don't exist here (or most places, besides NYC which I have little interest in). I haven't decided for sure where I'll go or when, but I've already made up my mind that wherever I choose, I'm going to like it and it's going to be an improvement over my current situation (working full time, making less than 8/hr at a hotel with no benefits or real chance of advancement and no job opportunities in the field I want to get into, and crappy weather and a lack of any kind of geographical features besides).

And if the unforeseen happens and I completely hate it (which I doubt), trial and error. I have the rest of my life to find the place I want to be, so anywhere but here is worth a shot, why not OC?

[Sal Monella]

"Reminds me of a story I heard (which may have been on here...although I've a feeling it came out of a book or movie...) about a man being led to his new living quarters who said he loved it before ever getting in the door. The person showing it to him said 'but you haven't even seen it' and he said 'but I already made up my mind that I would love it, so I do.'"


A person who can talk him/herself into 'loving' something before they even know what it is or what it's like sounds pretty foolish to me.

[Caliguy2007]

Just because you felt it was boring there,doesn't mean it's gonna be boring for everyone.

I happen to like what OC offers,especially since I like Outdoor Activities

Originally Posted by Sal Monella

"Here's the thing about Orange county as far as crime goes: your chances of being murdered or held up on the street are pretty slim compared to L.A."


True, but the sheer boredom of living there might actually increase your chances of blowing your own brains out in desperation.

[Sal Monella]

"Just because you felt it was boring there,doesn't mean it's gonna be boring for everyone."

Well sure. There are people who can do hard time in a prison cell and still manage to not get bored.

[Lanatlve]

dude i grew up in la i know we have people from other states move here it california land of opprutunity the weathers a big part to

[wendyn]

OC has been a great place to live and raise my family. My husband (latino) and I (white) have 3 children and live in a wonderfully diverse and socially active area in North Santa Ana. I have a handful of fabulous friends and a wide range of aquantances of all races. We meet people when we're out and often fall into pleasant and in-depth conversations with people we've just met. Yes, OC has some residents who want to interepret art as life, i.e. The Real O.C. and Laguna Beach t.v. shows but those are not the reality (rememeber they are for entertainment). Those of us who are true OC'ers know the reality and that reality is you make of it what you want from it. So, for me and my family it's about going to the beach, enjoying gorgeous days, barbeques with the neighbors and true friends. We're not ones to want to try and keep up with the Jones' that's simply too much work and life is too short and why? Our lives are good. I think that many people are quick to want and put all of OC in one catagory - OC is not just Newport Beach and the majority of people in Newport Beach are not what you see on The Real OC. So, for those of you who have surrounded yourselves with the shallow and pretencious expand your horizons and get out - there is more to the OC than that.

[fipster]

I grew up in the OC. Life was good until 25. Then it got really old. But now, I'm trying new things. Signing up for new recreational activities. OC has a lot to offer. It's not a boring place. Go kayaking or biking or swimming in the Ocean. Take a class at the junior college.