Myth or Reality: Is Northern California really more laid-back than Southern California? (San Diego: crime rate, earthquakes)

[ccm123]

Bay Area is definitely more "laid back".

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by ccm123

Bay Area is definitely more "laid back".

But is it also more "laid?"

[git45]

Originally Posted by Rwarky

Do you feel or believe that Northern California is actually more laid-back than Southern California? Is this notion a myth or reality?

They're far more similar than either would care to admit

[kttam186290]

Originally Posted by ccm123

Bay Area is definitely more "laid back".

Not to me. You have to work harder to earn less in the Bay Area due to cost of living, which seems to stress people out more.

In the Bay Area, you'll pay $700k or $800k for a small house in a nice area like Walnut Creek or San Ramon and you can come down to Southern California and pay half of that for the same house and same quality of life in a town like Moorpark, Newberry Park or Valencia, which are just as nice as Walnut Creek or San Ramon.

Because of the population density in the Bay Area vs. the sprawl in So Cal, I think the density weighs heavier on people and creates tension whereas the sprawl -- say what you will about it -- causes people to "find their place" and relax more.

Then there's the whole issue of "having a cause" in the Bay Area that you don't deal with much in So Cal. Nothing wrong with "having a cause", but hearing about it all of the time gets monotonous and adds pressure. People in So Cal have "causes" too, but they're not as in-your-face about them.

I guess if you can live a Bohemian/Hipster lifestyle and have Daddy & Mommy foot the bill, the Bay Area is a pretty chill place.
...but for people who have to work, earn a living and try to earn enough to live in a decent area, it isn't as "laid back".

[04kL4nD]

LA is just as stressful as the Bay Area. People just don't whine as much about life being hard up here

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by kttam186290

In the Bay Area, you'll pay $700k or $800k for a small house in a nice area like Walnut Creek or San Ramon and you can come down to Southern California and pay half of that for the same house and same quality of life in a town like Moorpark, Newberry Park or Valencia, which are just as nice as Walnut Creek or San Ramon.

Because of the population density in the Bay Area vs. the sprawl in So Cal, I think the density weighs heavier on people and creates tension whereas the sprawl -- say what you will about it -- causes people to "find their place" and relax more.

The SoCal towns referred to here lurch more to the right-wing ideology than the NorCal towns mentioned. Many will gladly pay more to avoid that stuff.

If L.A.'s sprawl causes people to "find their place", it also causes them to "stay in their place", since they can't go anywhere else with all the freeways clogged up. Sad state of affairs, having to be virtually imprisoned in Newberry Park or Thousand Stumps, pondering another trip to the mall.

[kremit]

n please. Sacramento has cows and rice fields. How much more laid back country can you get? bay area is a pushy nightmare. s cal is meh. People acknowledge turn signals and let you buy groceries without hassle. central cal is chill then west.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

The SoCal towns referred to here lurch more to the right-wing ideology than the NorCal towns mentioned. Many will gladly pay more to avoid that stuff.

If L.A.'s sprawl causes people to "find their place", it also causes them to "stay in their place", since they can't go anywhere else with all the freeways clogged up. Sad state of affairs, having to be virtually imprisoned in Newberry Park or Thousand Stumps, pondering another trip to the mall.

You're not really avoiding that stuff by living in Walnut Creek and San Ramon, sure they may lean more to the left but they're not exactly "liberal".

Also with the exception of people going to SF I find most people I the Bay Area tend to stay in their place as well when it comes to the East Bay, Penninsula, and South Bay. Few people i know ever goes to South Bay or the Penninsula from the East Bay for anything really as there is no need. I don't really see how people pondering their next trip to the strip mall in Thousand Oaks is any different than people doing that in San Jose or Pleasanton, much of the Bay Area is suburban sprawl as well.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by sav858

I don't really see how people pondering their next trip to the strip mall in Thousand Oaks is any different than people doing that in San Jose or Pleasanton, much of the Bay Area is suburban sprawl as well.

Difference is, there isn't the gridlock on the scale of SoCal, and there are more interesting places to visit in the Bay Area. Weekend local vacations are the norm up here; more the exception down there.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

Difference is, there isn't the gridlock on the scale of SoCal, and there are more interesting places to visit in the Bay Area. Weekend local vacations are the norm up here; more the exception down there.

That's pretty debatable and subjective, unless you're really into nature I personally don't think there are more interesting places to visit in Northern CA at all. Between LA and San Diego there is far more to do and see IMO than the Bay Area and Sacramento EXCEPT for nature related places as the forests and mountains are better up here.