Grass Valley vs Paradise vs Solvang (Sacramento, Santa Barbara: section 8, 2014, apartment complex)

[tikkasf]

Looks like someone with some very useful information posted for you, Redh. I guess your first difficult decision is either to wait longer or choose between Paradise or Solvang. Wasn't there some sort of deadline with either the Paradise or Solvang apt ? Have you seen actual photos of either apt? Since you know the address of both, have you tried Google Street to explore the surrounding neighborhood ?



https://images.search.yahoo.com/imag...hspart=mozilla

[redhummingbird]

Yes-that information was great. And most definitely--it's a tough decision whether to wait longer or make the choice between Paradise and Solvang. There is a deadline in terms of choosing. Solvang apts open in mid-April and the Paradise apts are available in May so I need to make a decision.

I've seen pictures of the Paradise apts. They are pretty standard looking but a good deal for the price. The Solvang apartments don't have pictures. I'm not sure why except that it seems the property management company isn't that well organized. I can't even seem to get what unit I would be in. They have people sign leases upon move-in which apparently is standard practice with these types of units. It makes me a little nervous to consider moving down there (it turns out a family member might be able to help so it wouldn't cost very much) without having a solid feeling that I have an apt. I'm not sure why I can't even get a unit number so I can have electricity and cable turned on prior to moving in. But I love the area!

I've been using google street views to look at both Paradise and Solvang. Both are beautiful. I even rented the movie Sideways (filmed in the Santa Ynez Valley) to get a sense of the town. Lol. It didn't help but I did enjoy the movie.

That link you posted is gorgeous! I then searched youtube and watched a video of that area. There are many reasons to move to both areas and two big reasons not to (rain vs no balcony).

I gave myself through the weekend to decide.

Nothing is coming up in this area. I thought I'd found a place in Fair Oaks which would be fine (less rain than Paradise) but a review stated two residents had been assaulted and there was a home invasion.

If nothing comes up this weekend in this area I'll make the choice between Paradise and Solvang. I've already been approved for Solvang and would get approved for Paradise no problem. I wish I weren't sensitive to the rain issue and I wish I didn't need a balcony! I'm appreciative of your support. It feels like a lot is at stake if I make the wrong choice. Were I healthy it would be a different situation.

What would you do if you were in my shoes?

[tikkasf]

It's a decision/s that only you can make. Family and friends that really know you can hopefully give input that can help you make the 2 decisions you need to make. Once the decisions are made, no looking back. The only comment I will make in regard to what I would do if in your shoes......Is that I would really try to make that one day trip to Paradise soon. As you stated before, it's about 90 miles and you have a Uber driver available. If you make the one day scouting trip to Paradise and for whatever reason decide it's not for you, then at then at that point you have just one decision to make.....either wait to see if something else turns up or go with Solvang

[mgforshort]

The other advantage Paradise has over other places we visited is the central location. Paradise is a great town on its own, but being a 20-minute drive from Chico makes it even better. The Pacific coast, the redwoods, the casinos of Lake Tahoe are not far from us. We hated to go anywhere in the Los Angeles area because we never knew if that 60-mile trip would become a half-day-long traffic jam or not. Up here, the roads are good, traffic is reasonable, and most of the time we can drive at the speed limit, or much faster if the deer hazard or the police wouldn't be around. And we are within a 3-4 hour drive from these following cities:
Paradise Sacramento 96
Paradise Grass Valley 73
Paradise San Francisco 196
Paradise Penn Valley 66
Paradise Reno 161
Paradise Incline Village - Lake Tahoe 147
Paradise Orland 35
Paradise Grants Pass 260
Paradise Willits 170
Paradise Mendocino 210
Paradise Oroville 22
Paradise Arcata 227
Paradise Carmel 275
Paradise Dunsmuir 135

[redhummingbird]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

The other advantage Paradise has over other places we visited is the central location. Paradise is a great town on its own, but being a 20-minute drive from Chico makes it even better. The Pacific coast, the redwoods, the casinos of Lake Tahoe are not far from us. We hated to go anywhere in the Los Angeles area because we never knew if that 60-mile trip would become a half-day-long traffic jam or not. Up here, the roads are good, traffic is reasonable, and most of the time we can drive at the speed limit, or much faster if the deer hazard or the police wouldn't be around. And we are within a 3-4 hour drive from these following cities:
Paradise Sacramento 96
Paradise Grass Valley 73
Paradise San Francisco 196
Paradise Penn Valley 66
Paradise Reno 161
Paradise Incline Village - Lake Tahoe 147
Paradise Orland 35
Paradise Grants Pass 260
Paradise Willits 170
Paradise Mendocino 210
Paradise Oroville 22
Paradise Arcata 227
Paradise Carmel 275
Paradise Dunsmuir 135

Great point! I see a specialist in Northern CA. I just checked how far. It's about a 3 hour drive from Paradise.

I also checked the weather averages. One site I checked (us climate data) said Paradise gets 7 inches or more of rain 5 months out of the year? Does that sound right? It's got me rethinking again. I've been googling pictures and watching youtube videos. It looks like a gorgeous area. I don't know if I can deal with that much rain so I'm trying to imagine what it would be like.

[tikkasf]

Paradise, California Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/w...tes-of-America

[mgforshort]

I think we got more rain this year than the average and we need it for sure.
But:
Rains cats and dogs. Hours and hours. Suddenly rain stops, sun is out, we take out the dog, or go for groceries.
Compared to the rain we had in Sarasota, Florida when I lived there, this rain is nothing. And because of the hilly terrain we don't worry about the floods.
The biggest danger up here is the fires in the summer and falling trees after a big rain or in a storm. Like everything in life, trees come with advantages and hazards.

[tikkasf]

Originally Posted by mgforshort

I think we got more rain this year than the average and we need it for sure.
But:
Rains cats and dogs. Hours and hours. Suddenly rain stops, sun is out, we take out the dog, or go for groceries.
Compared to the rain we had in Sarasota, Florida when I lived there, this rain is nothing. And because of the hilly terrain we don't worry about the floods.
The biggest danger up here is the fires in the summer and falling trees after a big rain or in a storm. Like everything in life, trees come with advantages and hazards.

I think one factor that would help Redh to know, is if Paradise has a fair amount of grey, overcast days, in addition to the days with rain.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by redhummingbird

I have options in these 3 areas in terms of affordable senior housing. I've pretty much decided against Sacramento unless something as affordable as the above comes along. I've been reading threads about the various areas. It sounds like the climate in Solvang would be perfect for me but the lack of medical care is concerning. I'm not able to travel due to the type of chronic illness I have.

The apartments in Grass Valley and Solvang are brand new 55+ communities. I've been having quite a bit of difficulty getting any information from the property manager in Solvang which is a bit concerning. She doesn't seem to know anything about the apartments (whether they are energy efficient etc...) nor the square footage.

I'm interested in a good climate (the drier the better), access to good medical care, senior friendly, liberal, lgbt friendly, easy to get around town, and not a depressing area, and good farmer's markets.

If anyone has info on any of this or any other comments about the areas I'd appreciate it. I have to make a decision by the end of next week.

Thanks!

my 2 Cents...
Grass Valley was an escape location from Sacramento in the 70's, now over grown.
Paradise grew out of overflow from above in the 80's/90's. Interesting in name only.
Solvang is in the #3 county in the nation... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...atural-beauty/
with 28 cruise ships making port in S.B.. You have knowledge of the area. Rich and famous from around the world come to the area for a reason.
Bottom line for many is how far their dollar goes. You?
Medical care is another factor. S.B. has excellent experienced Doctors because good, successful doctors want to live here.

[redhummingbird]

Originally Posted by sourdough

my 2 Cents...
Grass Valley was an escape location from Sacramento in the 70's, now over grown.
Paradise grew out of overflow from above in the 80's/90's. Interesting in name only.
Solvang is in the #3 county in the nation... https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...atural-beauty/
with 28 cruise ships making port in S.B.. You have knowledge of the area. Rich and famous from around the world come to the area for a reason.
Bottom line for many is how far their dollar goes. You?
Medical care is another factor. S.B. has excellent experienced Doctors because good, successful doctors want to live here.

I agree about Grass Valley. I don't want to live there. I don't know enough about Paradise to comment but I don't think I can deal with the rainfall. I went stir crazy here with just over 4 inches this month.

I'm now trying to find a way to visit Solvang. I agree about medical care. My sister works with someone who does the annual bike race in Solvang and said she'd move there in a heartbeat.

I've got to find a way around the balcony issue.

A place also just opened up in Fair Oaks which is about 15 miles from me. Less rain fall (23 inches) than Paradise. It has a tiny balcony.

So now the decision is between Fair Oaks and Solvang. Solvang is where I want to live if I can imagine myself living without a balcony. I like that it's near Santa Barbara and like that it's near where I got my PhD. I'd love to have access to that library again.

Part of the problem is I've been spoiled by living in a nice house with a least 1/2 an acre of land. I spend most of my time outside reading book, hanging out with the chickens, and taking pictures of the birds (and hawks that migrate through here).