People overly negative about CA and Orange County (Laguna: new house, neighborhood)

[jkanderson521]

Never thought I would say this, but I am finding that people are tending to be a bit too negative about CA, particularly Orange County.

I left Orange County almost two years ago after living there most of my life because in this season, it was the best move for our family. However, there is a part of my heart that will always call Orange County home, and someday yet, we may return to the land of our birth. Of all the places in SoCal, to me, OC was truly as one called it, the crown jewel.

Some might disagree, but for families, I think that OC is a wonderful place if you can afford it. There are so many family minded people here that it embodies some of the best attributes of community that I can think of. Sure there are plenty of negatives, but while I was here, I met so many people who welcomed my family and I into their homes and lives in a way that I have not experienced elsewhere.

People are so open and inviting, it is easier to really get to know people in OC than many other places. I find that there is a warmth and optimism here that is unique in CA, and a celebration of families that is far different from the selfish cynicism that defines much of the rest of CA.

I hope that CA can pull itself out of the hole it has dug for itself. I hope that my beautiful native home, Orange County, can survive the crumbling of the state around it.

For those that do seek to move here, be honest, be open about the challenges, they are real, and they are difficult. Yes, California is in a near state of terminal decline, yes, CA has one of the worst state governments, yes, the taxes, corruption, political special interests, fees, general political foolishness is obscene... But there are good places with wonderful people left in CA. If you are a warm, loving, family minded, caring, and creative person, you will find few places in California that are better than Orange County! You will find many wonderful, hardworking, caring people who will welcome you and are hoping that you will be part of their community. If you are one of these people, CA needs you, as so many of us have tired and left, but there are other great people looking to make a change and OC would be a great home for them. Hopefully you will find that to be true so that the wonderful qualities that made OC what it is will not be lost forever, washed away with the tide of destruction that is eroding my beautiful Orange County.

Good luck to all of you and may wherever you live be truly called home!

[Raelyn28]

Overly negative or truthful?? Seriously, people are thinking of moving there RIGHT NOW in this economy? You better be prepared to have a lot of people angry at you when they can't make it financially or when they end up living in a dump in a bad part of town.

I am all for the positive aspects of Orange County and believe me there are many good things about it. After all I was married there and had my two boys there. I also became a Christian there and I have some very good friends there who, by the way, are struggling tremendously and giving me updates on a weekly basis.

I also have two step-children that currently live there. My oldest lives with his grandma because he cannot afford to live on his own.

Anyway, I think that people are not trying to trash the area but they are trying to keep people from making a huge mistake if they don't have to. Maybe when the economy picks up and things stabilize then one could think of moving there but unless you have a REALLY good job with great income I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.. At least not right now.

Sorry you percieve people as being negative but I disagree totally disagree. You are probably missing it because you don't live there anymore and everyone knows that for the most part absense makes the heart fonder.. It is human nature to miss what we don't have.

By the way, where did you move anyway? Just curious.

[AKgirlinCA]

People that grew up in SoCal tend to view it with rose colored glasses on.

[cheekymamie]

Originally Posted by AKgirlinCA

People that grew up in SoCal tend to view it with rose colored glasses on.

Born and raised in SoCal and I never got a pair of those rose-colored glasses. I don't think most of us natives are dillusional as to the "state" that California is in. My hubby and I want to take our 3 kids elsewhere for better schools, better values, and a new house that won't cost $900K and up like in the OC. We're actually planning on moving to Texas by next summer and in a month we're flying into Austin to check ou that area, as well as the Dallas area.

I know California is so unique for all its good points, but unfortunately the cons are outweight the pros for now. Way over priced and not worth the value.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by cheekymamie

I know California is so unique for all its good points, but unfortunately the cons are outweight the pros for now. Way over priced and not worth the value.

Would you stay if housing prices fell another 35%?

[NaplesRes]

Originally Posted by jkanderson521

Never thought I would say this, but I am finding that people are tending to be a bit too negative about CA, particularly Orange County.

I left Orange County almost two years ago after living there most of my life because in this season, it was the best move for our family. However, there is a part of my heart that will always call Orange County home, and someday yet, we may return to the land of our birth. Of all the places in SoCal, to me, OC was truly as one called it, the crown jewel.

Some might disagree, but for families, I think that OC is a wonderful place if you can afford it. There are so many family minded people here that it embodies some of the best attributes of community that I can think of. Sure there are plenty of negatives, but while I was here, I met so many people who welcomed my family and I into their homes and lives in a way that I have not experienced elsewhere.

People are so open and inviting, it is easier to really get to know people in OC than many other places. I find that there is a warmth and optimism here that is unique in CA, and a celebration of families that is far different from the selfish cynicism that defines much of the rest of CA.

I hope that CA can pull itself out of the hole it has dug for itself. I hope that my beautiful native home, Orange County, can survive the crumbling of the state around it.

For those that do seek to move here, be honest, be open about the challenges, they are real, and they are difficult. Yes, California is in a near state of terminal decline, yes, CA has one of the worst state governments, yes, the taxes, corruption, political special interests, fees, general political foolishness is obscene... But there are good places with wonderful people left in CA. If you are a warm, loving, family minded, caring, and creative person, you will find few places in California that are better than Orange County! You will find many wonderful, hardworking, caring people who will welcome you and are hoping that you will be part of their community. If you are one of these people, CA needs you, as so many of us have tired and left, but there are other great people looking to make a change and OC would be a great home for them. Hopefully you will find that to be true so that the wonderful qualities that made OC what it is will not be lost forever, washed away with the tide of destruction that is eroding my beautiful Orange County.

Good luck to all of you and may wherever you live be truly called home!

I think it is more that since the TV shows OC has been glamorized into something it isn't save a couple coastal regions. People that have lived here for awhile always perceived OC as basically a bunch of LA suburbs. So now you get a lot of OC folks (particularly those not living in Newport/Laguna) trying to create their own identity and one not based on reality and that leads to people pointing out the reality. It's basically a collection of mostly middle class suburbs with a fair bit of materialism over the past few years. Some view the cookie cutter tracts as clean, new and great place to raise a family. Some view it as dull/sterile and too much materialism to raise a family.

[AKgirlinCA]

Originally Posted by cheekymamie

Born and raised in SoCal and I never got a pair of those rose-colored glasses. I don't think most of us natives are dillusional as to the "state" that California is in. My hubby and I want to take our 3 kids elsewhere for better schools, better values, and a new house that won't cost $900K and up like in the OC. We're actually planning on moving to Texas by next summer and in a month we're flying into Austin to check ou that area, as well as the Dallas area.

I know California is so unique for all its good points, but unfortunately the cons are outweight the pros for now. Way over priced and not worth the value.

That's great! Your kids will thank you someday....def. spend some extra time in Dallas...check out Allen, Plano, and McKinney...all northern suburbs that offer a superb quality of life excellent for raising children. And a beautiful home in a neighborhood with great schools should only cost you about $140k. When people look at you shocked about "the weather" smile and say that's what pools and a/c are for

[AKgirlinCA]

Originally Posted by Charles

Would you stay if housing prices fell another 35%?

That still doesn't address the poor public school system that continuously faces cuts, traffic that will steal your soul, illegal immigrant population that is out of control, sprawl that never ends, a govt. inept at managing this overly populated state, and umm high costs on EVERYTHING. And the materialism that you simply can't escape....I think this is a horrible place for raising children and I want to give my future kids a chance....I'm finding it nearly impossible to find work here w/out being bilingual. I know this will be prevalent in North Texas too, but I won't have as many of the other issues to deal with.

[AKgirlinCA]

I forgot to add: awful air quality. My kids deserve to breathe clean air.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by AKgirlinCA

poor public school system
traffic that will steal your soul,
illegal immigrant population that is out of control,
sprawl that never ends,
a govt. inept at managing this overly populated state,
and umm high costs on EVERYTHING.
a horrible place for raising children
impossible to find work here w/out being bilingual.

There are large regions in Southern California with excellent schools: Conejo Valley, Orange County southest of the 55 freeway for example.

California School Performance Maps

California School Performance Maps


Traffic is bad if you A) commute during rush hour and B) work a long way from your home. You can beat 80% of traffic working a 6-230 schedule (which many southern California employers are willing to accommodate).

Illegals consume resources but they also work cheap and keep costs for some things low. It isn't completely one sided.

Sprawl, so what?

Can't comment on the CA government. Too complicated.

High cost on housing and gasoline. Everything else isn't much different. A lot of people expect housing costs to decline and what extra is spent on gasoline may be offset by the savings on home heating and air conditioning.

Great place for raising children. Outdoor activities year round, health conscious culture, high density of higher educational facilities, extracurricular science, math, engineering, robotics clubs. Maybe more secular.

Bilingual is irrelevant for most professions.

Finally, there is no substitute for the effect year round pleasant weather has on a person's psyche.