Where to Live in California? (San Diego, Stockton: transplants, good schools, organic)

[Countrymomof2]

Hello
Currently we live in the central valley and can't wait to bust out.We are transplants from the Bay and want to continue up the mountain. We have so many choices of where to relocate... Can you help us?
So, we have looked and love Folsom area, but pricey, Tehachapi is nice near Nevada, our family and kinda cheap. But I want more mountain aroma, Good schools and activities for my two young kids. Folsom seems to have all that we want, but Can you suggest somewhere else? That has good schools, some shopping, safe and has to have PG&E

[DMenscha]

Keep heading up the hill from Stockton, Calaveras County is still close to the bay area and has everything you need. Less expensive than Folsom and certainly less crowded.

Calaveras County California Gold Country, Wine Country, Big Trees, Sierra skiing, Yosemite vacations

[karenabcde]

Here's one-
Three Rivers, California has great schools.
It is at the base of Sequoia National Park.
It has a high standard of living and banana belt climate.
Recreational activities are everywhere. Hiking, biking, laking, canoeing, skiing and more.

People are friendly and hard-working.
There is a mix of people including organic farmers who sell produce at the Santa Monica Farmer Market, movie stars (I know two and there are probably more) artists, business people, National Park people that work in the Sequoia Park, and people who are from everywhere. There is a small town newspaper.

Oh-how to get there? Go to Visalia and hang a left up the hill about 25 miles.

[FresnoFacts]

You want a town to have PG&E for job reasons with the company?

I think that eliminates Three Rivers, they are SCE. Isn't Tehachapi also SCE?

Looking at the PG&E service map
http://www.energy.ca.gov/maps/UTILITY_SERVICE_AREAS.PDF (broken link)
there are a lot of towns from Sequoia NP north along the Sierras. Maybe someone can come up with ideas.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Countrymomof2

Can you suggest somewhere else?

Where are you going to work?

[karenabcde]

If you are inclined to having your own businesss, Three Rivers has one or two of everything- a couple dentists, docs, about 20 landscapers, a river rafting company, a chocolatier (killer hand made chocolates-people drive all the way from LA for this) and so on. If you just want PGE for electicity, the other guy is right, they have Southern California Edison. But as far as that goes (power needs) there are people on and off the grid, people with geothermal, and so forth. It is such a fun place. I went today and there are tons of people visiting from Europe. Be sure to stop at the Gateway Restaurant there ON THE RIVER right before the entrance to the Sequoia National Park. The view, the food, the nice people......If you can't tell-this is like my favorite place compared even to Santa Barbara, Ojai, San Diego, Catalina, I mean this just beats the heck out of everywhere else for me. Okay, I'll shut up.

[CA central coast]

I like what I've read about Three Rivers' weather. I 've lived my whole life on the coast in SLO County, so I've never lived in reality when it comes to weather. I've been through there a couple times on my way to the park. Nice place, nice weather, next to Sequioa NP. I think I'll look into that place.

[ColfaxTeri]

If you liked the Folsom area, how about Newcastle, the areas off 193 are nice or between Auburn Folsom Road & Newcastle, for more forest Colfax, Grass Valley, Chicago Park. Peardale/Chicago Park is one of my favorite areas, not too far from I-80 (about 5-7miles), Rollins Lake is nearby and easy drive to Grass Valley/Nevada City.
Also Meadow Vista is popular with families.