Long Beach, Newport Beach, or other? (Los Angeles, San Diego: to live in, price, moving to)

[Avalon08]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

^This is very true, and it's a common misconception among people from the Midwest and East Coast. While winters in Southern California are mild, they are, by no means, warm in the same regard as winters in Florida. FWIW, I've used my heat more in the past few weeks than I did in all the years I lived in South Florida.

If the OP is looking for year-round beach weather and affordable real estate in close proximity to the beach, they probably should have moved to Florida instead.

Well, I haven't lived in SoCal for 15 years and I know the "climate may have changed", but I found the reverse as far as winters there v. FL. I RARELY used my heat in CA. Sometimes it got a little nippy, but it was generally moderate. Here in FL (I'm on the Gulf coast), we can have long stretches of cold weather that dip down from up North (polar Vortex, anyone?). But it's a crapshoot. This winter has been absolutely gorgeous in FL from November on. Only two chilly days and hardly any rain.

BUT, back to CA, that beach can be COLD, especially late afternoon. The Pacific doesn't warm up like the Atlantic or Gulf, so the breeze coming off it is cold. It was always chilly near the beach at night, even in summer. Again, maybe things have changed. But yes, people need to understand it's a different scene from what they may be expecting.

[spontaneous_traveler]

Originally Posted by Bert_from_back_East

If the OP is looking for year-round beach weather and affordable real estate in close proximity to the beach, they probably should have moved to Florida instead.

We visited Los Angeles, Orange, Laguna Beach, and Manhattan Beach a few weeks ago (the weekend of February 18). It was in the 50s with 40 mph winds and rained pretty much all 6 days. What did we do? We played and walked on the beach and in the pools! We are from Minnesota. It's 50 BELOW ZERO. Anything above 40 degrees IS year-round beach weather to us, haha.

[sacreole]

Originally Posted by spontaneous_traveler

We visited Los Angeles, Orange, Laguna Beach, and Manhattan Beach a few weeks ago (the weekend of February 18). It was in the 50s with 40 mph winds and rained pretty much all 6 days. What did we do? We played and walked on the beach and in the pools! We are from Minnesota. It's 50 BELOW ZERO. Anything above 40 degrees IS year-round beach weather to us, haha.

Well OP, I'm glad you took the So Cal winter in stride. No doubt much warmer and agreeable than in Minnesota. California, in particular the coast, has a "Mediterranean climate," characterized by mild wet winters and warm to hot dry summers. During the late spring/early summer, the coastal areas will experience the "June Gloom," which a cool, cloudy overcast, also known as the marine layer. This will last from the early morning hours to the early to mid-afternoon. And as others have mentioned, the sea temps are fairly chilly due to the cold California offshore current. So, don't expect Florida or Hawaii. The highest the sea temps will be in the upper 60s to low-mid 70s in the late summer months.

[saibot]

You'll be surprised how quickly you will adapt to the temperatures here, or anywhere. After my sister spent a year in Seattle, she came back wearing T-shirts in 50 degree weather and laughing at us because we thought it was "cold." After a few months, she was back to jeans and sweatshirts at that temperature like the rest of us.

[djg06]

I totally agree about getting used to the temperature pretty quick. I am now wearing a light jacket in the 60's....in Chicago I was in shorts and a short sleeve shirt haha!

Also people here say Cali and SoCal, I have not met one person to ever be upset with me about saying Cali, March makes it 7 months I have lived here so call it what you want and if they get upset then let them go on there way....

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by djg06

I totally agree about getting used to the temperature pretty quick. I am now wearing a light jacket in the 60's....in Chicago I was in shorts and a short sleeve shirt haha!

Also people here say Cali and SoCal, I have not met one person to ever be upset with me about saying Cali, March makes it 7 months I have lived here so call it what you want and if they get upset then let them go on there way....

They have lived there 8 months.

[djg06]

I understand I've lived here for a short time but I've met a lot of people at work, going out, etc. it seems to be a big deal on this forum but not outside of the forum, but let's get back on topic and actually help the original poster.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by djg06

I understand I've lived here for a short time but I've met a lot of people at work, going out, etc. it seems to be a big deal on this forum but not outside of the forum, but let's get back on topic and actually help the original poster.

It doesn't really matter to me what people call it. It is just fun at times to post here.

Now they have been given some good advice and if it was me I would look at an area that easily fit my COL as it is easy to get to many beaches and no city has everything they want. Living in any city you end up driving all over to experience all that is available. Living in SoCal is not like living in a normal city. It is like living in one VERY extensive city and you do not stay in your neighborhood, you go to all the parts of the "city" that has things you enjoy. Choosing a city in SoCal is more like choosing a neighborhood in other States.

[BB_210]

I've lived here for the last 35 years, I've never heard anyone actually say Cali or socal out loud.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by max210

I've lived here for the last 35 years, I've never heard anyone actually say Cali or socal out loud.

47 years for me. I've heard a few teenagers and people from out of state say Cali. SoCal, I've only seen written. Otherwise--it's always California, all four syllables.