Irvine is an awesome place to live.. (Santa Monica, Highland: cul-de-sac, crime)

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Mach50

They take currency there? I thought they still worked off the barter system? Tell the truth, you pay in Chickens.

Nah! We now pay in invading species -- armadillos from TX and illegal immigrants (geese) from Canada! Not to mention Californios on whom it's now open season.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Mach50

Here is Curmudgeon off to pay his HOA for the month:

Dang! They won't let me rep you again. Must be based in CA.

We have a special going since it's Easter so that's worth a quarter of a year! Then it's back to chickens.

[esya]

I don't know; we went around with a realtor and he said that it cost about 800 a month to heat it to 78 degrees in the winter without solar panels, that his (very small) condo assoc decided not to heat it in the winter. it's outside of course. Is this accurate? To us it's irrelevant as we are not interested in maintaining one for single family use. Being from Colorado I'd prob swim year round; otherwise I can stay here!

[esya]

I would not disagree that it's lovely, but a lot depends on personal preference. My sister lives on a farm in rural Idaho, there is NO noise from cars, roads, trucks, over head planes or anything but the sounds of nature. when you are there, it's pretty compellingly wonderful.

[esya]

Mach--I agree with your sense of aesthetics completely. Too much attention paid to moving out and communting in. It's more efficient to live in and traveling out, as that's usually done on weekends or breaks. However, as an example, the city to beach trip or the city to mtn trip is then congested completely on the holidays--no transit for that, only for going into work. What to do?
I have been completely urban since 1994, in denver, and I love everything except the noise and light pollution. I want more quiet and I want less light at night when I sleep. I guess I'll have to build me a cave.

[esya]

Well there are a lot of people who think the burbs is the only way to raise a kid, but that is just not the only way to keep your kids safe. I am always amazed at the number of people who move to a cul de sac or small town then let the kids run all over the place in the streets. It's an illusiion of safety, that's all. Since I have an adult daughter who will never drive, being close to food, drugstores, and basic entertainment is not a fantasy, it's a necessity. It's not fun to walk 3 miles across parking lots to buy groceries.

[esya]

That's funny. Walking in NYC is wonderful except maybe in a Nor'easter (sideways rain with hurricane force winds). I do love to drive but I hate to commute.

[esya]

Exactlly--if you don't have kids anyplace is easy because it's all about what you want. What's hard is getting mixed needs for a family met.

[esya]

Charles, you make very good points. However unless you live in an isolated place (huge gated suburb or remote rural) eventually you will deal with all of these items except the last one. I note you live in Huntsville, a far cry from anywhere, and "Hampton Cove" sounds suspiciously like a traffic controlled development. Is it?

[esya]

I can't see the home handyman carrying two by sixes or a new water heater that way--then you get delivery.