Moving From Columbus Ohio, To Lake Elsinore Area (Temecula: new home, pros and cons)

[Buckeye_Steve]

A quick background...I am currently in the process of starting my move to the Lake Elsinore area! I have lived in Columbus, Ohio my whole life. I have a fiancée and a 1 year old child. My fiancée and I are in a our mid 20's. A little over a year ago my parents and younger brother moved to Lake Elsinore (they love it). I have visited a few times and completely fell in love. I would have a place to stay (parents) and a job lined up for me, until we can get on our feet. My fiancée is a bartender, and I am currently going on 5 years managing a pawnshop for a large local based company.

Soon as my son was born I knew that for me, my main goal is giving my son opportunities I never had. Living in Columbus is not bad and I don't hate living here at all, But I also feel like there is not much here for our family anymore. I want to get out, explore, enjoy life, spend time with family, the older I get, the more I want to get away from here. I have nothing bad to say about Columbus at all, very awesome city, and I have never had a problem other than the snow! Its been weighing on my mind ever since the moment I touched down from our vacation there last Christmas. My fiancée is all up for it and she also believes it would be in our best interest. I have nothing really tying me down here in Columbus, don't really have a career...have friends but hey, who said I cant make new ones!

Basically what I am writing this thread for is just to get input from both sides of the fence. People who like it, and people who dislike it. And eventually maybe meet some members on here.

[Count David]

I have nothing against Lake Elsinore, I might even go so far as saying I almost like it.

Lake Elsinore is full of townies or long-distance commuters generally. It is looked down upon by virtually all of its neighboring cities.

Go have an adventure.

[98PanAm]

I lived in Central Ohio and the IE/SoCal for years. I like them both for different reasons, and both certainly have their pros and cons. If I had no other considerations such as family or job I would live permanently in SoCal for the weather, and also because I love being so close to so many variations of things to do and see (mountains, deserts, the ocean, big cities, small towns, etc). I liked the IE because it's close enough to LA to take advantage of everything it has to offer if we chose to do so, but we could also avoid dealing with the downsides of LA if we weren't in the mood for it. Certainly the cost of living is generally lower in the IE than OC or LA proper, and there are many places in the IE area that have a very Midwestern, hometowny feel.

The only thing I missed about Midwestern weather in SoCal were the beautiful, classic Midwestern autumns, those perfect, sunny, warm days, crisp, cool nights, and the changing of the leaves in late October. You can get some of the color during fall in SoCal up in the mountains, but not much. The foliage is just too different, and down in the valleys the days tend to still be very warm-hot in the fall. Of course, the winters make up for it. 72 and sunny is my idea of perfect Christmas weather. I never missed snow a bit. In SoCal you can see it just about any time you want in the winter up on the mountains, and if you want to play in it, a hour's drive will put you knee deep in it. Then, once you've had your fill, you can get in your car and drive an hour back home where it's in the 60s or 70s.

[Danalysd]

I'd say go for it, for the reason that you have family here. It's nice being close to family when you have little ones. I say this because I am not close to my family and wish I was closer but I am from Rochester NY and will not be moving back there. I am like 98PanAm, my ideal Christmas is 72 and sunny. Open some presents in the morning and then go do something outside for the day with my wife and daughter. Like 98 already said, there are so many things to do within a short drive. We just bought a sled because we plan to take the 2 year old on her first sledding experience this year up in the mountains. Beaches are an hour or so away, mountains, desert. Everything is close by. If you love the outdoors this is a fun place.
I live 25 mins south of Lake Elsinore in Temecula. We love it here and I am sure LE is just as nice. I don't know much about LE except there is a Lake, a Baseball team (we go a few times a year) and Skydiving. I am sure there are many other great things about it too. It seems to be a growing place with lots of new homes being built etc. Jobs might be tough to get since most people commute long distances. Since your fiance is a bartender that might be slightly easier. Good luck