What's your opinion on Imperial County in general (Los Angeles, San Diego: RV park, low crime)
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What's your take on Imperial County----in general.
Is it a safe place to live. What do people do, besides drive to San Diego. Is there lots of crime. Are people friendly.
Not going to be there for the summers, so how the winters?
Cost of living, etc.
Thanks all!
What's your take on Imperial County----in general.
Is it a safe place to live. What do people do, besides drive to San Diego. Is there lots of crime. Are people friendly.
Not going to be there for the summers, so how the winters?
Cost of living, etc.
Thanks all!
Crime: Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
What's your take on Imperial County----in general.
Is it a safe place to live. What do people do, besides drive to San Diego. Is there lots of crime. Are people friendly.
Not going to be there for the summers, so how the winters?
Cost of living, etc.
Thanks all!
We hunt there every fall. It's hot as @#$@#$. People fish the canals and most head to the river to cool off. Low crime cause it's surrounded by nothing. Typical small desert town. I was surprised at all of the new McMansions.
In general, its pretty spectacular in its own way. We go out every year in the spring for the wildflowers in the Anza Borrego Desert. Its pretty stunning to go out there with a wide angle lens and take some snaps.
Its one of the only areas relatively close to San Diego that has little light pollution at night.
Its AMAZING to see the sky out there although the terrain around you may feel like being on Mars.
My wife has a friend works with the Blue Angels and we went to visit her once in El Centro. Some parts are decent, others not so much.
Never been to the Salton Sea so cant comment on that.
Fall is a nothing short of a "convection broil" in the summer. Its hot and can be windy...not fun being outdoors. Winter at night is freezing. If you have never felt desert cold before, its a rude awakening with little to no moisture in the air.
While its great for a visit a couple of times a year, its unlikely I would ever live there.
One thing to be careful of, is that the Salton Sea occasionally smells horrid. I don't know if that's mostly during any particular time of year or if it just happens randomly.
In general, its pretty spectacular in its own way. We go out every year in the spring for the wildflowers in the Anza Borrego Desert. Its pretty stunning to go out there with a wide angle lens and take some snaps.
Its one of the only areas relatively close to San Diego that has little light pollution at night.
Its AMAZING to see the sky out there although the terrain around you may feel like being on Mars.
My wife has a friend works with the Blue Angels and we went to visit her once in El Centro. Some parts are decent, others not so much.
Never been to the Salton Sea so cant comment on that.
Fall is a nothing short of a "convection broil" in the summer. Its hot and can be windy...not fun being outdoors. Winter at night is freezing. If you have never felt desert cold before, its a rude awakening with little to no moisture in the air.
While its great for a visit a couple of times a year, its unlikely I would ever live there.
I went camping out there about 10 days ago.
It does look like Mars in some places. I'll try to post a panoramic view tonight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by oddstray
One thing to be careful of, is that the Salton Sea occasionally smells horrid. I don't know if that's mostly during any particular time of year or if it just happens randomly.
The reason why I started this thread was because last year (during the winter) I took a little roadtrip from where I was living at the time (Utah) to LA.
I decided to take a little tour of the American Southwest. So I drove around Arizona and SoCal before heading home, where I am originally from (New Jersey).
I don't know why. But I fell in love with both Imperial County & San Diego County.
Now I want to primarily live in San Diego (I'm a city boy, and I go crazy in rural areas, but I still love them) and spend my free time in Imperial County (perhaps even buy a property to spend the winters, we'll see )
Someone here described it as like living on Mars. That's why I love it. The remoteness of it all intrigues me. Yet, in less than two hours I can be in a "metropolis" like San Diego. Also, the desert and I have a bit of history. I love the desert. I guess because I grew up in the fast-paced NYC area, and the desert and Cali lifestyle seems so foreign and interesting to me.
I also want to buy a dirt bike or something once I make it out there.
This may sound silly to say, but I never knew America had sanddunes. I mean, it looks like the Middle East. I knew we had desert, but not like that!
I've also been to NM/Arizona, but NM is kinda cold (during winter) and Arizona doesn't really do it for me. Though I did enjoy my time spent in Yuma last year.
But San Diego/Imperial and I seem to be a match made in Heaven.
Are there any cities that are more preferable to live. And where are these McMansions being built? El Centro? Imperial?
I spoke to someone who is a native that now lives in SD and he said to stay away from Caleixo and Brawly.
What say you?
Last edited by xpxexaxcxex; 01-24-2012 at 05:01 PM..
Now I want to primarily live in San Diego (I'm a city boy, and I go crazy in rural areas, but I still love them) and spend my free time in Imperial County (perhaps even buy a property to spend the winters, we'll see )
Someone here described it as like living on Mars. That's why I love it. The remoteness of it all intrigues me. Yet, in less than two hours I can be in a "metropolis" like San Diego. Also, the desert and I have a bit of history. I love the desert.
You should visit the area along the Colorado River (in the winter) from about Laughlin, NV in the north down to Yuma, AZ including Parker and Lake Havasu. Some of this is in eastern San Bernardino County. Beautiful country!
The Imperial county desert is truly beautiful. I've been camping out there a couple of times, and it's really easy to forget that you're in southern California! Imperial Co is like the lost, forgotten corner of SoCal, and many residents here don't even know it exists.
Growing up, I was the only one in my family who liked the desert, and my parents thought I was crazy!
You should visit the area along the Colorado River (in the winter) from about Laughlin, NV in the north down to Yuma, AZ including Parker and Lake Havasu. Some of this is in eastern San Bernardino County. Beautiful country!
I would love to go on another road-trip and tour the greater desert terrain of America in the future. I remember driving from Sedona to Phoenix in the morning (right after the sunrise) and as a New Jerseyan. I had never seen something so freakin' beautiful and different in my life. The American West facninate me. I loved stopping by desolate forgotten towns too. Many were friendly , some where suspicious and surprised to see me, and others were rude , but I think they just weren't used to seeing out-of-towners.
San Bernardino and Riverside have been on my list for some time. Would love to spend a couple of days in Palm Springs. And Yuma was cute and fun to visit. I wouldn't live there personally, but I could definitely understand why people do choose to winter there. Cute, fun, safe winter haven I found it to be.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dallas Cowboys Fan
The Imperial county desert is truly beautiful. I've been camping out there a couple of times, and it's really easy to forget that you're in southern California! Imperial Co is like the lost, forgotten corner of SoCal, and many residents here don't even know it exists.
Growing up, I was the only one in my family who liked the desert, and my parents thought I was crazy!
I can't explain it (I think it is because I am from the N.J./NYC area) And as someone from the Northeast, let me explain it this way---Once you go beyond the Pennsylvania border it is like the entire country just OPENS up. Everything seems so huge, vast, and endless. You feel alone, but in a good way. You feel isolated, but not really at the same time.
Also coming from a cold climate. When I am in the American Southwest desert, I feel as though I am giving the FINGER to Jack Frost!!!!
Like, I got over on him. I found a way to escape Old Man Winter.
As a Northerner. You kinda feel "giddy" walking around in a t-shirt, eating outside in the middle of FEBRUARY!!!
Winter was always a time where we hide until April. Where we dread doing simple task like grocery shopping, or walking to dog. Because it is to dang cold outside.
Whereas in the Sun Belt you can continue doing the things you do during the summer.
I was sleeping in my car in this RV park when I was in Phoenix last year. And everyone was like. "Oh my gosh! It's to cold at night. It goes down to 43º at night." And I just jokingly tell them that they are spoiled by the Sun, and 43º is really not that cold. I had a thermal blanket and a warm jacket which kept me warm. Plus the body heat I made while snuggling in the backseat of my car.
I too want to be spoiled by the Sun. Even when I was in Los Angeles staying at a hostel. I would see some people wearing winter coats during a cloudy 65º day. And I am like... Are you serious? There called clouds people!
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, some where suspicious and surprised to see me
, and others were rude 
, but I think they just weren't used to seeing out-of-towners. 
Even when I was in Los Angeles staying at a hostel. I would see some people wearing winter coats during a cloudy 65º day. And I am like... 
