Anything good to say about OC?? (San Diego, San Jose: housing, rent, jobs)

[RobE]

People up here in the Seattle-Tacoma area complain about the traffic, but it is nothing like what I have experienced on the 91 going east from Long Beach after about 2 p.m. and or the 55 pretty much anytime after about 1 p.m. heading north from Costa Mesa or Newport on a weekday. So for you folks who have to commute from Riverside/Corona to the OC or from the OC to L.A., you guys are saints to put up with it.

But the road system in California is actually laid out pretty well compared to the absolute travesty that is the road system in Washington. Really, they had to be doing major peyote when they devised the street and highway system in this state. Plus the communities in California, even the down at the mouth ones such as Anaheim, Santa Ana or La Habra are easier on the eyes than what we have up here. Plus property taxes and food prices are higher and it's a high crime rate state thanks to the meth plague. So if I could do it all over again, I never would never have left Orange County. Stay there you guys. I have lived in Asia too and loved it, but OC kicks ass even if all the politicians there are way to the right of me.

And it would get better if we had mass illegal alien roundups. Yes, I'm a liberal who is for strong border and immigration enforcement.

[fpbear]

Up until the 1990s I used to be able to sail down the 57 fwy in OC any time or day of the week. Wow, it has changed since then! Try driving 57S from Brea to Irvine in the morning, 8am. The traffic is STOPPED like a parking lot. When you get on the onramp, drivers are so frustrated they won't even let you merge onto the freeway sometimes, even though you're all going at 1mph. Another thing to try - take the 57S connector to the 91W on a weekend. The 91W in this area is often jammed for no reason.

Up until the 1990s Harbor Blvd was pretty empty near the Imperial Hwy intersection. Now, traffic backs up to Las Palmas a mile away. The change over just a few years has been dramatic.

In a few years from now, if you want to do any activities around OC, your life will be controlled by the traffic patterns. What day, time, you can do things, and how big of a chunk it will steal from your life.

OC traffic is now about as bad as LA was in the 1980s. LA traffic now (405 and 101 fwy) is the crystal ball into OC's near future.

[5FLgirls]

Thanks to those who talked about how great OC is! It is much appreciated. I'm not very concerned about traffic because I stay home and don't deal with rush hour too much. My husband's very good at finding alternate routes to get places. I guess I have to get used to the "colder" weather. I can't get over that AC is rarely used!

[Humanoid]

You husband is not going to find "alternate routes". He is going to get stuck in traffic like everyone else.

[RAMFEB31]

Originally Posted by 5FLgirls

Thanks to those who talked about how great OC is! It is much appreciated. I'm not very concerned about traffic because I stay home and don't deal with rush hour too much. My husband's very good at finding alternate routes to get places. I guess I have to get used to the "colder" weather. I can't get over that AC is rarely used!

At least U don't have to worry about hurricanes. Of course, if U listen to the latest and very old rumors, Earthquake is going to happen here any moment now.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

You husband is not going to find "alternate routes". He is going to get stuck in traffic like everyone else.

So true. If you can find the alternate, so can 3,000,000 other people.

[deaksus]

I'm not sure where exactly in OC you are moving to, but I can tell you that we are happy in South County. The weather is only "gloomy" during the spring if you are right on the beach; we are a couple of miles inland (Laguna Niguel) and the weather is ideal; blue skies and sun, virtually no humidity, and any coastal fog usually clears up before lunchtime. If you have children, you will appreciate how incredibly safe it is here; Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Dana Point, San Clemente, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Irvine - it's all good on that front! The only reason we ever consider leaving is the high cost of housing and earthquakes, but there is a good reason housing is expensive (because it is a desirable place to live), and every other place we've considered gets the occasional (or more than occasional) hurricane, tornado, or ice storm. If you have any specific questions I'd be happy to reply with a PM - Good luck!

[dennismpat]

Originally Posted by 5FLgirls

Thanks to those who talked about how great OC is! It is much appreciated. I'm not very concerned about traffic because I stay home and don't deal with rush hour too much. My husband's very good at finding alternate routes to get places. I guess I have to get used to the "colder" weather. I can't get over that AC is rarely used!

At least here in California, you won't have to deal with the snakes, fire ants, flying cockroaches (AKA palmetto bugs) , alligators and assorted other critters found in Florida (my family and I lived in Orlando when I was in elementary school). I lurk in the Florida forums and think I'm here in the California forums because of how so many people in Florida are looking to move out of there.

Also, here in California, you won't have to worry about hurricanes. However, you WILL have to be prepared for earthquakes!

Welcome to the Golden State.

[moonsavvy]

Well I'll chime in and say that Orange county is a big county. I'm curious to know which part you're moving to. Because you want positives I will say that you will love the weather, you'll love the beaches and the shopping is great!!

Mission Viejo mall is a nice mall, southcoast plaza is nice, and fashion island in Newport beach is nice. Have fun!

[kturbe]

Orange County is great, I have lived here pretty much all my life, grew up in Central Orange County and prefer South Orange County. I lived in Portland for a while and traffic was just as bad, travelled extensively and it is way better then Europe, Asia or Mexico. But what makes it so great, is the people, weather, balanced economy,pretty much you are 20 minutes to the beach or an hr away from LA or San Diego, Desert and/or Mountains. So many people I know who have moved away really want to move back! If you need any suggestions when you get in town just ask! I wouldn't want to live anywhere else