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Hello - my husband, 2 daughters (14 and 8) and I are moving to the OC this summer for a fabulous career opportunity, but we are diehard, lifelong NYC folk so this is a VERY big deal for us. The job is in Irvine and we are hoping our older daughter will go to the Orange County HS of the Arts (in Santa Ana) as she is in a preeminent arts and academics high school in Manhattan now. I am already beginning to accept I'm not going to be able to replicate NY life but want to make the segue feel as comfortable as possible. (I've never lived without a doorman for perspective)!
Do you have any suggestions in terms of neighborhoods that marry interesting families (we are somewhat liberal and Jewish - I know not the typical profile in the County!), community oriented so we can meet people, not too cookie cutter, proximity to commercial life... And ideally flavor of CA beach life (if we're going to do this might as well). We saw Newport Heights and thought that could be an option? Do any families live in apts/condos? Other thoughts? Good school for my younger one is a need as well.
Please keep any comments back positive and constructive - in trepidatious enough! Thank you so much for your input.
The thing about the area's you are looking into (Newport Heights, etc.) are that they are pretty Republican, as are most of the desirable areas of South Orange County. I am a Republican too. I am also second-generation immigrant (Fillipino side) and fifth generation (Mexican-American side). I am a moderate Republican. Many (not all) California Republicans are pro-choice, most of us are pro-law enforcement, pro-military and pro-fiscal restraint. I have gay family members and I love them and support them, so that's never been an issue with me either. California Republicans, on the whole though, are much more moderate and usually are mainly concerned with fiscal spending and less with social issues.
If you want to live in a place close to Orange County that is somewhat more reminiscent of New York on a political level, then I would suggest Long Beach, which is right over the border in L.A. County. It is a port city with a university and several museums, as well as the Aquarium of the Pacific. You will also find more fellow liberals and Democrats there too, more Green and socialist causes, more interesting architecture and a more eclectic/artsy/liberal vibe. But the crime rate is also higher and neighborhoods are dodgier as well (correlation? hmmm....?) Long Beach also has a larger African American population, which is missing from the South Orange County cities. Long Beach will give you that high rise condo overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a doorman in the lobby. That will be harder to find in Orange County.
Much of South Orange County is also very cookie-cutter and has strict HOAs to boot. So put any ideas of being a "rebel against conformity" out of your head. Not gonna happen. People who live in South Orange County are proud suburbanites who are drawn to its conformity, are pro-law enforcement since lots of cops live there, are not afraid to fly the U.S. flag or vote Republican. Even Laguna Beach, with its wealthy gay population and art galleries, is still very Republican. Think: Palm Springs-by-the-Sea!
If you insist on Orange County, then look into Santa Ana or Anaheim (the two Democratic cities in the county). If you want a more NY-esque and urban environment, then go for Long Beach!
The thing about the area's you are looking into (Newport Heights, etc.) are that they are pretty Republican, as are most of the desirable areas of South Orange County. I am a Republican too. I am also second-generation immigrant (Fillipino side) and fifth generation (Mexican-American side). I am a moderate Republican. Many (not all) California Republicans are pro-choice, most of us are pro-law enforcement, pro-military and pro-fiscal restraint. I have gay family members and I love them and support them, so that's never been an issue with me either. California Republicans, on the whole though, are much more moderate and usually are mainly concerned with fiscal spending and less with social issues.
If you want to live in a place close to Orange County that is somewhat more reminiscent of New York on a political level, then I would suggest Long Beach, which is right over the border in L.A. County. It is a port city with a university and several museums, as well as the Aquarium of the Pacific. You will also find more fellow liberals and Democrats there too, more Green and socialist causes, more interesting architecture and a more eclectic/artsy/liberal vibe. But the crime rate is also higher and neighborhoods are dodgier as well (correlation? hmmm....?) Long Beach also has a larger African American population, which is missing from the South Orange County cities. Long Beach will give you that high rise condo overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a doorman in the lobby. That will be harder to find in Orange County.
Much of South Orange County is also very cookie-cutter and has strict HOAs to boot. So put any ideas of being a "rebel against conformity" out of your head. Not gonna happen. People who live in South Orange County are proud suburbanites who are drawn to its conformity, are pro-law enforcement since lots of cops live there, are not afraid to fly the U.S. flag or vote Republican. Even Laguna Beach, with its wealthy gay population and art galleries, is still very Republican. Think: Palm Springs-by-the-Sea!
If you insist on Orange County, then look into Santa Ana or Anaheim (the two Democratic cities in the county). If you want a more NY-esque and urban environment, then go for Long Beach!
Some good and bad information here. Firstly, I lived in the Palm Springs area for 25 years and it has very little in common with Laguna. Palm Springs is estimated to be 60% gay and I was just there visiting again a few months ago. You can't go anywhere without seeing older gay men, not even the same in Laguna where you see mostly families or younger people. The lifestyle is very different too. Second, saying Anaheim is a democratic city is completely false. Ive lived here for 8 years. Republicans still heavily outweigh Democrats here. Anaheim was just ranked the 7th most conservative big city in the country in a recent study and just a little over a year ago it was ranked as 3rd best in the country.
The thing about the area's you are looking into (Newport Heights, etc.) are that they are pretty Republican, as are most of the desirable areas of South Orange County. I am a Republican too. I am also second-generation immigrant (Fillipino side) and fifth generation (Mexican-American side). I am a moderate Republican. Many (not all) California Republicans are pro-choice, most of us are pro-law enforcement, pro-military and pro-fiscal restraint. I have gay family members and I love them and support them, so that's never been an issue with me either. California Republicans, on the whole though, are much more moderate and usually are mainly concerned with fiscal spending and less with social issues.
If you want to live in a place close to Orange County that is somewhat more reminiscent of New York on a political level, then I would suggest Long Beach, which is right over the border in L.A. County. It is a port city with a university and several museums, as well as the Aquarium of the Pacific. You will also find more fellow liberals and Democrats there too, more Green and socialist causes, more interesting architecture and a more eclectic/artsy/liberal vibe. But the crime rate is also higher and neighborhoods are dodgier as well (correlation? hmmm....?) Long Beach also has a larger African American population, which is missing from the South Orange County cities. Long Beach will give you that high rise condo overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a doorman in the lobby. That will be harder to find in Orange County.
Much of South Orange County is also very cookie-cutter and has strict HOAs to boot. So put any ideas of being a "rebel against conformity" out of your head. Not gonna happen. People who live in South Orange County are proud suburbanites who are drawn to its conformity, are pro-law enforcement since lots of cops live there, are not afraid to fly the U.S. flag or vote Republican. Even Laguna Beach, with its wealthy gay population and art galleries, is still very Republican. Think: Palm Springs-by-the-Sea!
If you insist on Orange County, then look into Santa Ana or Anaheim (the two Democratic cities in the county). If you want a more NY-esque and urban environment, then go for Long Beach!
The OP was looking for someplace close to the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana. So, that eliminates Long Beach, which isn't even like NYC. Besides, she has not signed on since 03/04/15.
Much of South Orange County is also very cookie-cutter and has strict HOAs to boot. So put any ideas of being a "rebel against conformity" out of your head. Not gonna happen. People who live in South Orange County are proud suburbanites who are drawn to its conformity, are pro-law enforcement since lots of cops live there, are not afraid to fly the U.S. flag or vote Republican. Even Laguna Beach, with its wealthy gay population and art galleries, is still very Republican. Think: Palm Springs-by-the-Sea! !
"Denny Bak, 31, who grew up as a son of a minister in Aliso Viejo, a small city in southern Orange County, figured that with his salary as a police officer and his wife’s as a nurse, they would easily be able to find a three-bedroom house with a small yard. But when the couple set out searching in the neighborhoods he knew best, homes were at least $800,000 — more than double what they could afford.
Eventually, they found an older, ranch-style home in La Mirada, another small city south of Los Angeles.
'We both grew up here and had this notion that we would have the same promises our parents had,' Mr. Bak said. 'It’s just not that easy. We make good money — probably more than our parents did — and it still feels like a struggle to stay here.”
Speaking of outdated, 5 year old article there...Of course OC is no longer the conservative stronghold it once was but as I pointed out above, Anaheim still ranks as one of the most conservative big cities in the nation. Then there is this...
Speaking of outdated, 5 year old article there...Of course OC is no longer the conservative stronghold it once was but as I pointed out above, Anaheim still ranks as one of the most conservative big cities in the nation. Then there is this...
The OP was looking for someplace close to the Orange County School of the Arts in Santa Ana. So, that eliminates Long Beach, which isn't even like NYC. Besides, she has not signed on since 03/04/15.
True, but as you know, many like to discuss things just for the sake of discussion.
The thing about the area's you are looking into (Newport Heights, etc.) are that they are pretty Republican, as are most of the desirable areas of South Orange County. I am a Republican too. I am also second-generation immigrant (Fillipino side) and fifth generation (Mexican-American side). I am a moderate Republican. Many (not all) California Republicans are pro-choice, most of us are pro-law enforcement, pro-military and pro-fiscal restraint. I have gay family members and I love them and support them, so that's never been an issue with me either.California Republicans, on the whole though, are much more moderate and usually are mainly concerned with fiscal spending and less with social issues.
If you want to live in a place close to Orange County that is somewhat more reminiscent of New York on a political level, then I would suggest Long Beach, which is right over the border in L.A. County. It is a port city with a university and several museums, as well as the Aquarium of the Pacific. You will also find more fellow liberals and Democrats there too, more Green and socialist causes, more interesting architecture and a more eclectic/artsy/liberal vibe. But the crime rate is also higher and neighborhoods are dodgier as well (correlation? hmmm....?) Long Beach also has a larger African American population, which is missing from the South Orange County cities. Long Beach will give you that high rise condo overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a doorman in the lobby. That will be harder to find in Orange County.
Much of South Orange County is also very cookie-cutter and has strict HOAs to boot. So put any ideas of being a "rebel against conformity" out of your head. Not gonna happen. People who live in South Orange County are proud suburbanites who are drawn to its conformity, are pro-law enforcement since lots of cops live there, are not afraid to fly the U.S. flag or vote Republican. Even Laguna Beach, with its wealthy gay population and art galleries, is still very Republican. Think: Palm Springs-by-the-Sea!
If you insist on Orange County, then look into Santa Ana or Anaheim (the two Democratic cities in the county). If you want a more NY-esque and urban environment, then go for Long Beach!
My kind of Republican!
Now to convince the folks in the interior of the state and country...
I know. A lot of New Yawkers are grabbing their newly found (in some cases) wealth and looking for warmer weather.
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hmmm....?) Long Beach also has a larger African American population, which is missing from the South Orange County cities. Long Beach will give you that high rise condo overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a doorman in the lobby. That will be harder to find in Orange County.
