East Coast vs. West Coast Lifestyles (Los Angeles, Wallace: home, buying, good schools)

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

Adults who dress like teens:



I thought that was true everywhere nowadays. Glad to hear Fon that you're one of the last holdouts of the cardigan sweater/plaid sport shirt/hush puppies crowd.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by family first

Need some opinions on the two coasts as a possible opportunity may present itself on having the choice between "New England" and California. I would really like to hear from any of you who have experienced living on both coasts and what is your general overview of the two. The move would be based on job transfer. Family with 3 small kids under 10 years. Some of the questions would involve: sense of community, weather, cost of Living (housing), state politics, kids fitting in with schools, acceptance of new family to new state...etc. If you have been there and done that, what cities and towns are you comparing on each coast. Thanks for any input.

Where in New England?
Where on the coast of California?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

if you lean right of center, stay away from just about all of the major west coast cities except perhaps San Diego which is currently about 50/50, but this may not last. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle are out of the question. That's if we are right in assuming this. New Englad as mentioned is also not really an option if you're more right leaning.

Would someone actually use regional politics as a top ten discriminator (job outlook, taxes, local economy, housing costs, traffic, weather, distance from relatives, even religiosity, etc) for deciding where to live? The difference between the most "liberal" (whatever that means) and the most "conservative" places is in the noise when other things such as cost of living, housing, etc are considered.

[Fontucky]

I lean right of center (except for my pro-gay marriage stance and my disdain for religion) and I get along just fine in this heavily Democratic/Catholic area in which I live.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Lots of good comments here and I agree with just about everything. Just to reiterate I guess; if you lean right of center, stay away from just about all of the major west coast cities except perhaps San Diego which is currently about 50/50, but this may not last. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle are out of the question. That's if we are right in assuming this. New Englad as mentioned is also not really an option if you're more right leaning. Remember all but one state that voted to legalize gay marriage are in New England.

Another cultural difference is the way people in the northeast, New England in particular relate to others. New Yorkers are know for being rather blunt and loud. New Englanders are more in your face type personalities. This can cause a lot of people to be taken aback by them. They are very straight forward but are generally harmless and are actually quite caring people. People on the west coast are often quite friendly but at the same time can come across as rather reserved or introverted. Seattle in particular has this stigma. There are several rather subtle differences between each west coast city but it takes time spent in them to see these differences.

The weather anywhere on the west coast will be better than the weather anywhere on the east coast for the most part. You take your pick of various mild climates; mild and wet (Seattle) to mild and dry (San Diego). Of course are mentioned micro-climates prevail even in Oregon and Washington. The climates start to become much more varied once you go inland away from the coast. Unlike most places in the country where the climate is the same for hundreds of miles around, a drive of anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours can take you into another climate entirely.

I won't repeat the taxes and government parts as others have explained that much better than I ever could.

To say that New England isn't an option if you're "right leaning" is just silly.
Maine, for example, is not a liberal state nor is New Hampshire and Massachusettes just put a republican in Ted Kennedy's senate seat.
(right on MA ).
And, setting politics aside (always a good idea), New England is older, rather conventional, set in its ways, less open to change, less chaotic, less expansive and the people are more conservative in nature.
And unless you're in urban areas of the northeast (like Boston or N.Y., Philly, etc.), your "in your face" stereotype is not really accurate.
Generally, New Englanders are more reserved, quite respectful of others space and less open than those on the west coast but there is also a depth to northeasterners that is often lacking in people on the west coast and the friendliness of the west coast is kinda ... thin ... superficial (i'm speaking generally). The "interpersonal" openness of the west coast can be deceiving.
That's part of my perspective regarding New England and i've spent a lot (too much) of time there.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Charles

Would someone actually use regional politics as a top ten discriminator (job outlook, taxes, local economy, housing costs, traffic, weather, distance from relatives, even religiosity, etc) for deciding where to live? The difference between the most "liberal" (whatever that means) and the most "conservative" places is in the noise when other things such as cost of living, housing, etc are considered.

I've known a few people over the years who've used that as a factor but that's just me.

[Gentoo]

To say that New England isn't an option if you're "right leaning" is just silly.
Maine, for example, is not a liberal state nor is New Hampshire and Massachusettes just put a republican in Ted Kennedy's senate seat

Which is why I purposely avoided using the terms "democratic" or "republican". I bet a Mass. republican likely is more left leaning than a Ala. democrat.

And unless you're in urban areas of the northeast (like Boston or N.Y., Philly, etc.), your "in your face" stereotype is not really accurate.

Unless you're in Meridith NH.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Which is why I purposely avoided using the terms "democratic" or "republican". I bet a Mass. republican likely is more left leaning than a Ala. democrat.

Unless you're in Meridith NH.

I was responding to this statement of yours > "New England as mentioned is also not really an option if you're more right leaning."

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by coyoteskye

I was responding to this statement of yours > "New England as mentioned is also not really an option if you're more right leaning."

I'm not the only one who said that by the way.

[coyoteskye]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

I'm not the only one who said that by the way.

so therefore ..... ?