Anything good to say about OC?? (Los Angeles, Santa Ana: housing, rent, jobs)

[YLresident]

Originally Posted by slang75

I'm reading a lot of nice things about the weather, schools and physical location. But, not much about people. I've noticed, since arriving in June, that not many people talk about the "folks" in orange county as much as they do things like weather and geography.

I sometimes wonder if there is a super capitalist experiment being conducted here. I think the Irvine Company is actually Dharma...Namaste.

I've mentioned on a number of threads about the great neighborhood that I live in--which includes having fantastic neighbors... but I also went to CSUF and met loads of great up-and-coming OC young people and I work at UCI with an entire university full of great, intelligent, and fun OC people. I rarely run into "plastic" people--even when I shop at South Coast Plaza.

If you look and/or act stuck up, angry, or mean, that's what you'll attract (not to say that you are, but in general)--I try to have a smile on my face wherever I go and am genuinely nice to people I meet, so I tend to meet courteous, unassuming people--that's the image that I make an active effort to project. If you want to meet good people anywhere, you have to also be personable and open.

Yes, people here in OC are often in a hurry or seem pre-occupied... but we're not necessarily pre-occupied with just our own well-being, but with the lives of our loved ones and responsibilities to get back to after work (and the 1-2 hours travel time home). I can't speak for everyone, but I should hope that many of us here would appreciate a random interesting conversation or other friendly engagement during our busy days--it's a welcome respite from the the hustle and bustle so many of us are caught up in every day.

I'm sorry if you've seemed to only come into contact with our less pleasant residents, but Orange County definitely has so much more than just weather, schools, and our location--but it's also those wonderful things we talk about on these forums all the time that make it possible for so many great people to live and grow here. Our schools (and especially our PARENTS) teach our children to be thoughtful and intelligent, and those same children grow up to participate in various recreational, charitable, and occupational activities made possible by both our convenient location and incredibly awesome year-round weather.

The unsavory folks here (just like anywhere) are just bad eggs who have chosen not to take advantage of the all the great things Orange County has to offer.

[5FLgirls]

Originally Posted by YLresident

I've mentioned on a number of threads about the great neighborhood that I live in--which includes having fantastic neighbors... but I also went to CSUF and met loads of great up-and-coming OC young people and I work at UCI with an entire university full of great, intelligent, and fun OC people. I rarely run into "plastic" people--even when I shop at South Coast Plaza.

If you look and/or act stuck up, angry, or mean, that's what you'll attract (not to say that you are, but in general)--I try to have a smile on my face wherever I go and am genuinely nice to people I meet, so I tend to meet courteous, unassuming people--that's the image that I make an active effort to project. If you want to meet good people anywhere, you have to also be personable and open.

Yes, people here in OC are often in a hurry or seem pre-occupied... but we're not necessarily pre-occupied with just our own well-being, but with the lives of our loved ones and responsibilities to get back to after work (and the 1-2 hours travel time home). I can't speak for everyone, but I should hope that many of us here would appreciate a random interesting conversation or other friendly engagement during our busy days--it's a welcome respite from the the hustle and bustle so many of us are caught up in every day.

I'm sorry if you've seemed to only come into contact with our less pleasant residents, but Orange County definitely has so much more than just weather, schools, and our location--but it's also those wonderful things we talk about on these forums all the time that make it possible for so many great people to live and grow here. Our schools (and especially our PARENTS) teach our children to be thoughtful and intelligent, and those same children grow up to participate in various recreational, charitable, and occupational activities made possible by both our convenient location and incredibly awesome year-round weather.

The unsavory folks here (just like anywhere) are just bad eggs who have chosen not to take advantage of the all the great things Orange County has to offer.

I know I'll probably sound whiny but I have to chime in here. Since moving here (as I stated in my other post), I've met some nice people. Unfortunately, my first DOZEN or so interactions with people in the OC were slightly rude. Comments made towards me include, "Are you a babysitter?" "Are those all your kids?" "Are you Mormon?" "Have you ever heard of birth control?" Believe it or not, these were random and unsolicited comments made to me and my children. Thankfully I've also been told that I'm blessed and it's very special to have four children by other people. The sad thing is that I've gotten such negative comments when I go places with my kids that I immediately think someone is going to be negative now, which is sad. I don't always have a smile on my face but when I have a two year old throwing a tantrum in a public place, I'm already stressed out and I don't need a comment such as "You should have stopped two kids ago, lady." headed my way. I try my hardest to teach my own children to be kind and sensitive and polite to others but we haven't come into contact with too much reciprocity in the last three months. People ask me if I'm happy here and I still can't come up with a definitive answer. People where we used to live weren't overly friendly and didn't go out of their way but never in all the years I lived in Florida did anyone make me feel uncomfortable to go places with my children.

[technocrat]

5FLgirls: It's sad that you encountered those rude people, but remember they are everywhere, every state, county or city in the nation. But what is encouraging is the fact that most people are not like that: be it California/OC
or Florida. I have traveled extensively and can attest to that: but have always managed to ignore them. Most people I have encountered in my 12 years in OC has been nothing but friendly. It is one of the 3 main reasons why I will return to OC for good.

[YLresident]

Originally Posted by 5FLgirls

I know I'll probably sound whiny but I have to chime in here. Since moving here (as I stated in my other post), I've met some nice people. Unfortunately, my first DOZEN or so interactions with people in the OC were slightly rude. Comments made towards me include, "Are you a babysitter?" "Are those all your kids?" "Are you Mormon?" "Have you ever heard of birth control?" Believe it or not, these were random and unsolicited comments made to me and my children. Thankfully I've also been told that I'm blessed and it's very special to have four children by other people. The sad thing is that I've gotten such negative comments when I go places with my kids that I immediately think someone is going to be negative now, which is sad. I don't always have a smile on my face but when I have a two year old throwing a tantrum in a public place, I'm already stressed out and I don't need a comment such as "You should have stopped two kids ago, lady." headed my way. I try my hardest to teach my own children to be kind and sensitive and polite to others but we haven't come into contact with too much reciprocity in the last three months. People ask me if I'm happy here and I still can't come up with a definitive answer. People where we used to live weren't overly friendly and didn't go out of their way but never in all the years I lived in Florida did anyone make me feel uncomfortable to go places with my children.

Sorry to hear about the unwelcome responses from unfriendly folks... perhaps they're just amazed you're able to survive in our area with so many children--kids costs an arm an a leg to raise already, and coupled with the high cost of living in OC, you must be a sight to see. My friend's family, with her 8 brothers and sisters were certainly a sight to see. We always marveled at how they were able to survive financially--a health dose of government assistance was prolly what got them through K-12. I don't know how many of them went off to college.

And, some people are just rude--no matter where they go. I might chat with my mom about seeing a mom with a big horde of kids (omg, how does handle them--my niece and nephew drive me up the wall...), but I would walk right up to you face and tell you that you should've stopped two children ago. That's horrible! That's like completely discounting the value of your youngest children's lives!

I hope that your neighbors, your children's friends' families, and your fellow moms at the park are more kind to you and your brood... it's only the people you care about that really matter anyway.

[fipster]

I grew up in Garden Grove. Had plenty of friends. Went to college in Irvine and made more friends. Since then, I've worked in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, and Tustin. I think the people here are just fine.

[OC2CC Dreaming]

I would like to add...very quickly...that I went shopping in Costa Mesa on "black" Friday and yesterday, conceivably the most stressed-out shopping days of the year...and was engaged in conversations by no less than three very nice strangers. I saw a lot of examples of the holiday spirit, including from the poor retail salespeople (let's all be extra nice to them this time of year please!) I second what was said in an earlier post...it's all about the attitude you put out. I like to think I am approachable and friendly, and that's the kind of people I will be likely to attract in daily interactions.

Have a great holiday season.

[missionhome]

I'm really sorry 5FLgirls. My sister in law has four kids and three of them are triplets! Trust me, there are nice people out there. She has survived and doesn't come in to contact with people like that often. I think you ran into some "bad eggs."

[fipster]

i currently work in orange. i find the place to be so blah. everyone is nice and all, but still. i currently live in tustin and the place is just as blah. at least when i was in irvine, there were college students from all over the place to meet. i'm begining to think that oc is all about the coastal cities - like huntington and newport. at least there's a surf culture there. if you live in away from the coast, it's like living in any other city in the US.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by fipster

i currently work in orange. i find the place to be so blah. everyone is nice and all, but still. i currently live in tustin and the place is just as blah. at least when i was in irvine, there were college students from all over the place to meet. i'm begining to think that oc is all about the coastal cities - like huntington and newport. at least there's a surf culture there. if you live in away from the coast, it's like living in any other city in the US.

I lived in the same area for 9 years, and mostly you're right. Lots of '60s and '70s tract houses and nothing really unusual. Although I like Old Town (downtown) Orange, and there are a few nice restaurants there. It's kind of like a little escape from bland suburbia.

[dldavis]

There are lots of good things about the OC. The weather is not always gloomy. There are only 2 seasons Spring and summer. Today's high will be 70-72 which is pretty much all year around. The beach is wayyyyy cool. I spend every weekend there because its free. We surf and boogie board at Strands Beach off selva rd and pch. The schools are good. Everyone always seems to want to move to Irvine because the schools are so good but everyone looks alike and the houses all look alike. You are better off in either Aliso Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point or San Clemente and Mission Viejo. The housing has come down alot. No matter what anyone says because I have been out there looking and working with a realtor you can get a good deal right now and probably even better for the rest of the year. I have found 3 bd 2 bath for 315k. You can find 2bd 2 bath all day long from 300k to 275k. That is still high but within 5 years you will make some money/equity. We have some of the best colleges, both state, uc's and community colleges within a 50 mile radius. My oldest son currently goes to Cal Poly Pomona (which i would never live) but the college is great. My youngest 21 goes to Saddleback Community college which is fantastic. Of course San diego is 50 miles away to the south and is fantastic. 50 miles to the north you have LA which is fun at times. Traffic is awful and thats that. I dont drive the freeway much because out here everyone drives fast I mean fast and then all of a sudden you come to a complete stop, no slowing down just a dead stop. It is terrifiying but you get use to it, just leave lots of car lengths in between. The further south you go the better as far as mentality. It is more Repulican, the more north you go you have all the hollywood people that are really liberal. My boys love it here because of the colleges, the girls (they are the prettiest) I mean talk about the beautiful people we got them all over here. Tons of jobs especially in Irvine.

Hope this helps

Di