Going from NorCal to SoCal.. what to expect? (San Diego, San Jose: living in, moving to)

[KellyB.]

I spent all of my time growing up in both Sacramento, CA and in various places of the bay area (San Francisco, Berkeley ect.) I have always been curious about living in southern california but I hear it is incredibly different from the bay area lifestyle. How so? What should I expect? Any details would be helpful. What are the people like? The weather? The scenery? EVERYTHING. Thanks in advance!

[Mach50]

Totally dependent on where in SoCal you are moving to, from NorCal.

If you are used to Folsom, Roseville or Walnut Creek and you are moving to Orange County or San Diego I don't think it will be much different IMO.

[sav858]

It's different but not that different, I think some people from NorCal just get culture shock b/c they're too used to their Bay Area bubble and for some reason expect a place hundreds of miles away with a different climate to be exactly like Norcal.

Climate is sunnier and warmer and b/c of that people dress a little different, usually wear less clothing. It's not as green and not nearly as many trees and forests b/c its drier too.

Its less liberal and not as hippy as Northern CA and not as political/activist as the Bay Area, which some people have an issue with. I don't find the people in either part of the state to be much different, both have good and bad types imo.

As long as you come with an open mind and realize the place will be different and you're not constantly comparing it to Northern CA then you should be fine. Learn to appreciate the good things about SoCal rather than focus on the differences then you should be able to adjust.

[bhcompy]

People don't say "hella" down here. If you use the phase "that's hella cool" you'll get punched in the face. Well, maybe not, but people will look at you funny.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

People don't say "hella" down here. If you use the phase "that's hella cool" you'll get punched in the face. Well, maybe not, but people will look at you funny.

Conversely, you won't hear people inject "like" into sentences in NorCal...
"that ride is, like, so gnarly" it would just be "that ride is gnarly", "I love Frys but, like, it is so far"...

http://neatorama.cachefly.net/images/2006-06/stop-saying-like.jpg (broken link)



These posters were posted around UCSD ...

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

People don't say "hella" down here. If you use the phase "that's hella cool" you'll get punched in the face. Well, maybe not, but people will look at you funny.

Nah, it just means they'll just know your from NorCal.

I always said hella when I was living down there out of habit, and nobody looked at me weird-usually they just asked "are you from up north?"

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Conversely, you won't hear people inject "like" into sentences in NorCal...

Ridiculously untrue.

[Twinkle Toes]

Ummm .... okay ... So like, how come Gwen Stefani (who is from SoCal) has a song called Hella Good? Can yo guys, like, tell me or something? That would be hella stellar if you like, could.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Bunjee

Ridiculously untrue.

I don't hear it nearly as much in Norcal, at least I don't hear anyone say it in the BayArea and I have split the last 4 years living in the Bay and OC.

In SoCal it seems every other word is like.

[Bunjee]

I have allegiances to both SoCal and NoCal. Born in SF, raised in LA, lived in San Jose 5 years, SF 5 years and Oakland 2 years. Now back in the 'burbs down here. I found absolutely no stunning differences in speech patterns. Yeah, they say "like" up there too.