How True Are the stereotypes of People living in SoCal and NorCal?

[TiffaNYC]

Originally Posted by Krispytopher

I would need to know where exactly you are considering moving too in order to comment. For example, SF or Berkly are hippy towns, but areas like Clovis are super conservative. Just a bit north of Clovis gets you even more conservative and racist to boot, so we ( being an incredibly diverse and massive state) have every type of community/people/city/town everywhere in the state. Only choice is do you want desert, ocean, urban, or mountainous views?

Agreed. You're going to find people with certain mindsets/personality types more in specific areas/cities than others in some cases...like someone mentioned Berkeley/SF are "hippie" towns. I agree that you're going to definitely find more "granola/hippie" types in Berkeley than, say, Hayward - that's for absolute certain. It depends on what city/area you're talking about. You're going to find more surfer/beach-dude guys living in Malibu and Venice than you are going to find in an area like Van Nuys or something (tip: don't ever live in Van Nuys).

[breeze823]

Originally Posted by novaman

I'm really thinking hard about moving to Cali. Either NorCal or SoCal. We are concerned though about how well we'd fit in in either local. We all are familiar with the stereotypes of SoCal residents- shallow, materialistic... and honestly the few people we have common contact with from those parts actually fit the bill for the most part.
But we also hear of the stereotypes of the NorCal residents- ultraliberal hippies.... but the folks I know from there aren't so much like hippies, although they do lean more liberal

I'd be coming from the more serious and more conservative DC metro area, so I'm not sure how we'd feel and fit in.

Any thoughts?

wow, that was harsh...i'm a socal native and met more "shallow and materialistic" people living here in swva in their little mcmansions.

and don't say cali!

honestly though, some of the nicest people are from socal

[TiffaNYC]

Originally Posted by breeze823

wow, that was harsh...i'm a socal native and met more "shallow and materialistic" people living here in swva in their little mcmansions.

and don't say cali!

honestly though, some of the nicest people are from socal

Yes, please don't say Cali. No one from California says Cali. And no one who lives in San Francisco says San Fran or Frisco.

[seain dublin]

Originally Posted by novaman

I'm really thinking hard about moving to Cali. Either NorCal or SoCal. We are concerned though about how well we'd fit in in either local. We all are familiar with the stereotypes of SoCal residents- shallow, materialistic... and honestly the few people we have common contact with from those parts actually fit the bill for the most part.
But we also hear of the stereotypes of the NorCal residents- ultraliberal hippies.... but the folks I know from there aren't so much like hippies, although they do lean more liberal

I'd be coming from the more serious and more conservative DC metro area, so I'm not sure how we'd feel and fit in.

Any thoughts?

First off you will have to get a passport. And do you speak Spanish?

Cali is in South America.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

people of color and immigrants are the main cultural elements these days.

No they're not. Immigrants tend to pick up most of the cultural traits of the majority race in the country almost completely within a couple generations. California's no different (still).

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by novaman

I'm really thinking hard about moving to Cali. Either NorCal or SoCal. We are concerned though about how well we'd fit in in either local. We all are familiar with the stereotypes of SoCal residents- shallow, materialistic... and honestly the few people we have common contact with from those parts actually fit the bill for the most part.
But we also hear of the stereotypes of the NorCal residents- ultraliberal hippies.... but the folks I know from there aren't so much like hippies, although they do lean more liberal

I'd be coming from the more serious and more conservative DC metro area, so I'm not sure how we'd feel and fit in.

Any thoughts?

Try Eastern CA. We are neither North or South. The liberal/hippy/shallow/materialistic types all live in Western CA

[pacific2]

Originally Posted by novaman

We all are familiar with the stereotypes of SoCal residents- shallow, materialistic... and honestly the few people we have common contact with from those parts actually fit the bill for the most part.

Originally Posted by novaman

So if we head to Socal, where should we move to? Our housing budget will be 1-1.5 million although up to 2 million is very doable. Our desire is to be close to great shopping and great restaurants. I love the Mediterranean climate and don't want it too hot. We lean conservative and would want to be in close proximity to a great vibrant church. Work proximity will be a non issue as I will be retired, and good schools will also not be important as my younger will be heading off to college. I like being close to or on the water. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

So this means you are very different from the stereotypical shallow and materialistic Southern California resident?

Actually, you do differ in at least one important aspect, you can put much more money, 1-2 million dollars, into a material possession.

[EclecticEars]

There are smug, hyper-leftie, "smell my own farts because I'm so righteous" types in San Francisco and Berkeley, and to a lesser extent in Marin and Oakland. There are uber-workaholic techies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. (Okay, that second one actually is quite true.)

There are uber-materialistic, spoiled, bratty types in west L.A., Santa Monica (that's actually quite true), and parts of south Orange County. There are thugs and cholos all over much of L.A. County.

These labels are stereotypes often attributed with geographic pockets or sociocultural sectors of either the Bay Area or Greater L.A. Admittedly, these stereotypes aren't entirely untrue, but you're bound to meet such a diverse array of people in either area that you'll find them difficult to "pigeonhole" socially. At least IMO.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

You must not be aware of the recently passed law...if you call it Cali, you are denied entry due to stupidity.