Beach, Mountains, Desert, Great Plains and more !!!!

[Robmeister]

Sounds like criticism to me 

 

[nomad]

I have been on the road for about 11 years in a truck or car, so I've had the great oppertunity to see things up close in all types of cities, both big and small. I've been to both coasts, both borders north and south and into canada and mexico. Somebody said it best when they said "home is where you are". You have to make the best of where you are, if not then move. There is beauty and greatness in all parts of this great country as there is ugly and negativity. I have loved and hated the best of all worlds living in a small town, the mountains and the beach. Live where you choose and be happy that you are living.

[JDog]

I have been on the road for about 11 years in a truck or car, so I've had the great oppertunity to see things up close in all types of cities, both big and small. I've been to both coasts, both borders north and south and into canada and mexico. Somebody said it best when they said "home is where you are". You have to make the best of where you are, if not then move. There is beauty and greatness in all parts of this great country as there is ugly and negativity. I have loved and hated the best of all worlds living in a small town, the mountains and the beach. Live where you choose and be happy that you are living.

Very well said mate.

[Tyler]

As someone who has been fortunate to travel through much of this great country we call the U.S. and other parts of the world, I have to say that there are advantages and disadvantages to living anywhere.

[Marz]

I recently moved from Norther California to the Seattle area. I was born and raised in the Bay Area. When I told my family and friends that I was moving to the Seattle area the ONLY ones that had the "OMG, why would you leave Nothern Ca?" attitude were the folks that had lived there for less than 10 years. Most of the people I grew up with or family that are native Californians have left as well.

Most agree it is overcrowded and overpriced and better sold to those willing to pay for it as the beach, the weather and the rest of the things that everyone makes such a big deal about are very overrated.

The ocean water is about the same temp as the beach here in WA.

Beach towns do NOT get the same sunny weather they get in the valley, it is usually socked in with fog untill 2-3 in the afternoon and cold.

paying 1mil + for a house that is nowhere near a beach, stacked on top of your neighbor and no different than any other suburb in the US is ridiculous. 

It rains through May usually.

It is still cold in December (although sunny)

2 seasons, late fall and Arizona.

I could weave a blanket about So-Cal as well.

Bottom line, I always laugh about people that talk up California like it is the end all of existance. It has its complete crap points just like everywhere and its beautiful points as well... If you are willing to pay 2x of what you would pay elsewhere to say you live in CA, it is the place for you.

 

[Timmay]

This is about as bad as talking about the presidental election. 

Everyone is going to have their differences.  And thats good, because if we all agreed to like and do the same things....imagine how many red and whites we would have running around...!!!!!!!!!!  LOL...because Im sure you all would want to be just like me ...right.  Hey I will even move to Florida on the beach.  How does that grab ya?  LOL

Timmmmay's wired tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[warhawk]

....imagine how many red and whites   Hey I will even move to Florida on the beach.

timmy...memo 2 U:  keep the red and whites in indiana.

WARHAWK

[schro]

I recently moved from Norther California to the Seattle area. I was born and raised in the Bay Area. When I told my family and friends that I was moving to the Seattle area the ONLY ones that had the "OMG, why would you leave Nothern Ca?" attitude were the folks that had lived there for less than 10 years. Most of the people I grew up with or family that are native Californians have left as well.

Most agree it is overcrowded and overpriced and better sold to those willing to pay for it as the beach, the weather and the rest of the things that everyone makes such a big deal about are very overrated.

The ocean water is about the same temp as the beach here in WA.

Beach towns do NOT get the same sunny weather they get in the valley, it is usually socked in with fog untill 2-3 in the afternoon and cold.

paying 1mil + for a house that is nowhere near a beach, stacked on top of your neighbor and no different than any other suburb in the US is ridiculous. 

It rains through May usually.

It is still cold in December (although sunny)

2 seasons, late fall and Arizona.

I could weave a blanket about So-Cal as well.

Bottom line, I always laugh about people that talk up California like it is the end all of existance. It has its complete crap points just like everywhere and its beautiful points as well... If you are willing to pay 2x of what you would pay elsewhere to say you live in CA, it is the place for you.
 

Agree with most points here, Marz.
Like you, I was born and raised in the East Bay. Loved it. Though I think you're way off on the weather portion of your post, more on that in a minute....
Overcrowded? Yes. Which I guess is a result of it being a popular place to live. Like Seattle, being by the water limits the amount of land you can build on. I hope you didn't leave the Bay Area hoping to escape traffic. Seattle's traffic is no picnic for the very same reason.
Overpriced? Undecided. Supply & Demand economics. A house is worth whatever you can get for it. See my response on overcrowding.
Attitudes? Interesting theory. Like the original post that started this thread and the reason I responded, people are going to take pride in where they live (or in your case, moved to).
Water Tempature? True. However, contrary to the perception of some in other parts of the USA & rest of the world, not all Californians surf.
Weather? Rains through May?  Doesn't sound like you believe in global warming. Oh wait I forgot, the lack of rain AND overabundance of rain are BOTH caused by global warming. 2 seasons...fall & Arizona?  Ever heard of the term "microclimates"? During the summer months, there can be as much as a 40 degree difference in temperature in only a 20 mile drive (San Francisco to Walnut Creek). Marin County, the Central Valley, the East Bay, the Peninsula all have very different weather. Where I grew up (Alameda) it rarely experienced extremely highs or extreme lows. Some people may hate that, others find it ideal. Personally, I like the heat, which is why we lived in the San Ramon area before we moved near Sacramento.

The reason we moved to Rocklin, CA had a lot to do with lifestyle and the related cost. We wanted to have kids and the idea of The Lovely Mrs. Schro staying home to raise them. It was tough to do where we lived and still have a home big enough for us and what we wanted. When we moved from Dublin, CA in June 2000, our home sold for $250 a sq. foot. Even after the recent downtown, our original home is still estimated to have a value around $385 per sq. foot. So, if it were overpriced, we would have seen a market correction in the Bay Area only.

When we bought here in Rocklin, our total cost was approx. $106 a foot for a 3,200 SF home. Today, it's estimated to be $187 per SF (though I think that might be a bit high). However, that's not extremely critical to us in that we don't plan on moving soon. We had a totally different reaction from people we spoke with after we moved here than you. Almost universally, the reaction was "You are? WOW! We thought about that, just didn't have the guts to do it".

On a side note, my aunt & uncle lived in the Mitchell Hill area outside of Bellevue for 25 years (recently moved to central WA). In the early 90's, they bought my parents' minivan b/c they needed it to help care for my aunt's mother. Anyway, she was shocked how many Seattle-ites would cut her off and not let her merge onto highways b/c of her California plates. She said people up there hated Californians.

There are a ton of reasons why we love it here in Rocklin. The schools are highly accredited, proximity to Lake Tahoe (only 2 hrs away instead of 4), my work from home arrangement, access to golf, the friends we have made here, the sun coming up in the morning over the hill in our backyard, to name a few. However, there are a ton of things we miss about the East Bay...professional sports (HATE the Sacto Kings), the Livermore Wine Valley, family, the weather (although it's pretty nice here in Rocklin), proximity to the bay and the coast. 

Based on your post, I'm guessing "weaving a blanket" about SoCal would mean ranting. I can honestly say that I know a few people that view SoCal beach cities as the greatest place in the world (Robmeister's point). I am not a huge fan of SoCal (actually hate LA). The variety that Northern California offers is great. You could ski in the morning, and play 18 holes of golf in the afternoon (although with Mammoth Mountain in SoCal, you could do it down there also).

Although we did leave the Bay Area, we stayed in Northern California for many reasons. We love it here. Is it the "Be All  / End All"? Since we haven't experienced everything the USA has to offer, I can't say. For anyone to call their place of residence "the greatest place in the world" without experiencing everyplace in the world is pure hyperbole.

Do we plan on staying here the rest of our lives? Who knows.

[mojim]

Paul, you say it best....I think i'm going to cry...LOL

[ChallengeMe]

A month ago we were on vacation on the Gulf beaches near Clearwater FL. Temps in the 70's, wearing shorts most of the time, beautiful beaches. We talked about moving there someday. But I had to remind my wife this is great weather for February and summer is very hot there. After a week we were ready to come home to the snow (N.E. Ohio near the PA. line)

Last week I was outside walking in the snow, the crisp cold air blowing in my face, fresh snow clinging to the trees, etc. And I LOVED it! I love winter around here; for a while. It's March now and snow "should" be melting. In a few weeks I will be flyfishing in the rivers near Lake Erie for steelhead; watching everything dead come back to life in sprouts of green. I LOVE that! But I can't wait for summer. The sun beating down on me while I work in the garden, driving by the farms, seeing the Amish working their fields (yes we have them nearby too). I LOVE summer around here, for a while. It gets cool in the autumn the trees are beautiful in their fall colors. The wineries are getting in their grapes; apple festivals, etc. Then wait for winter.

You guessed my point. The Florida coast is great, but it gets old after a week. We love each season around here. Not everything is great here; the economy is bad and most good paying jobs have left. But the home prices are the lowest in the country. More money to spend on enjoying what is here (and vacation for ONE week in Florida).

[Marz]

I recently moved from Norther California to the Seattle area. I was born and raised in the Bay Area. When I told my family and friends that I was moving to the Seattle area the ONLY ones that had the "OMG, why would you leave Nothern Ca?" attitude were the folks that had lived there for less than 10 years. Most of the people I grew up with or family that are native Californians have left as well.

Most agree it is overcrowded and overpriced and better sold to those willing to pay for it as the beach, the weather and the rest of the things that everyone makes such a big deal about are very overrated.

The ocean water is about the same temp as the beach here in WA.

Beach towns do NOT get the same sunny weather they get in the valley, it is usually socked in with fog untill 2-3 in the afternoon and cold.

paying 1mil + for a house that is nowhere near a beach, stacked on top of your neighbor and no different than any other suburb in the US is ridiculous. 

It rains through May usually.

It is still cold in December (although sunny)

2 seasons, late fall and Arizona.

I could weave a blanket about So-Cal as well.

Bottom line, I always laugh about people that talk up California like it is the end all of existance. It has its complete crap points just like everywhere and its beautiful points as well... If you are willing to pay 2x of what you would pay elsewhere to say you live in CA, it is the place for you.
 

Agree with most points here, Marz.
Like you, I was born and raised in the East Bay. Loved it. Though I think you're way off on the weather portion of your post, more on that in a minute....
Overcrowded? Yes. Which I guess is a result of it being a popular place to live. Like Seattle, being by the water limits the amount of land you can build on. I hope you didn't leave the Bay Area hoping to escape traffic. Seattle's traffic is no picnic for the very same reason.
Overpriced? Undecided. Supply & Demand economics. A house is worth whatever you can get for it. See my response on overcrowding.
Attitudes? Interesting theory. Like the original post that started this thread and the reason I responded, people are going to take pride in where they live (or in your case, moved to).
Water Tempature? True. However, contrary to the perception of some in other parts of the USA & rest of the world, not all Californians surf.
Weather? Rains through May?  Doesn't sound like you believe in global warming. Oh wait I forgot, the lack of rain AND overabundance of rain are BOTH caused by global warming. 2 seasons...fall & Arizona?  Ever heard of the term "microclimates"? During the summer months, there can be as much as a 40 degree difference in temperature in only a 20 mile drive (San Francisco to Walnut Creek). Marin County, the Central Valley, the East Bay, the Peninsula all have very different weather. Where I grew up (Alameda) it rarely experienced extremely highs or extreme lows. Some people may hate that, others find it ideal. Personally, I like the heat, which is why we lived in the San Ramon area before we moved near Sacramento.

The reason we moved to Rocklin, CA had a lot to do with lifestyle and the related cost. We wanted to have kids and the idea of The Lovely Mrs. Schro staying home to raise them. It was tough to do where we lived and still have a home big enough for us and what we wanted. When we moved from Dublin, CA in June 2000, our home sold for $250 a sq. foot. Even after the recent downtown, our original home is still estimated to have a value around $385 per sq. foot. So, if it were overpriced, we would have seen a market correction in the Bay Area only.

When we bought here in Rocklin, our total cost was approx. $106 a foot for a 3,200 SF home. Today, it's estimated to be $187 per SF (though I think that might be a bit high). However, that's not extremely critical to us in that we don't plan on moving soon. We had a totally different reaction from people we spoke with after we moved here than you. Almost universally, the reaction was "You are? WOW! We thought about that, just didn't have the guts to do it".

On a side note, my aunt & uncle lived in the Mitchell Hill area outside of Bellevue for 25 years (recently moved to central WA). In the early 90's, they bought my parents' minivan b/c they needed it to help care for my aunt's mother. Anyway, she was shocked how many Seattle-ites would cut her off and not let her merge onto highways b/c of her California plates. She said people up there hated Californians.

There are a ton of reasons why we love it here in Rocklin. The schools are highly accredited, proximity to Lake Tahoe (only 2 hrs away instead of 4), my work from home arrangement, access to golf, the friends we have made here, the sun coming up in the morning over the hill in our backyard, to name a few. However, there are a ton of things we miss about the East Bay...professional sports (HATE the Sacto Kings), the Livermore Wine Valley, family, the weather (although it's pretty nice here in Rocklin), proximity to the bay and the coast. 

Based on your post, I'm guessing "weaving a blanket" about SoCal would mean ranting. I can honestly say that I know a few people that view SoCal beach cities as the greatest place in the world (Robmeister's point). I am not a huge fan of SoCal (actually hate LA). The variety that Northern California offers is great. You could ski in the morning, and play 18 holes of golf in the afternoon (although with Mammoth Mountain in SoCal, you could do it down there also).

Although we did leave the Bay Area, we stayed in Northern California for many reasons. We love it here. Is it the "Be All  / End All"? Since we haven't experienced everything the USA has to offer, I can't say. For anyone to call their place of residence "the greatest place in the world" without experiencing everyplace in the world is pure hyperbole.

Do we plan on staying here the rest of our lives? Who knows.

Yeah, I was thinking last night that I came down on Nor Cal pretty hard but most of it is pretty true but I too would like to expand a bit... and your reasons for living where you live are very on-par to what I am saying.

First off, I will ALWAYS love the Bay Area for what it is and it will always be home.

As far as overcrowding, it is not just traffic it is the urban sprawl of 1-2 story building that are blanketing the whole east bay now.  No one wants to live on Tennyson in Hayward or shop at Southland Mall anymore... so they keep migrating and building east leaving a ocean of "old" neighborhoods and outdated malls in its wake.  We have all seen this before, in So-Cal...

Overpriced? I guess it is supply and demand although the fact that homes are spending alot more time on the market and prices are dropping is a perfect example of the reality people are facing when looking to purchase a average home. 900,000 for an average home  in an average neighborhood with no more natural amenities than you would find anywhere else in the country. People are commuting 2 hours (each way) to own a home that they can afford with an average Bay Area job. Throw a 10K prop. tax bill on that and you have yourself competing with some of the most beautiful places in the US... Areas like San Leandro or Oakland could be amazing cities but due to the exodus' of the past these towns have been turned into upper middle class houses in a high crime neighborhood with poor schools. Take a look at the real estate trends in the bay area from May 06 to present. The market tanked tremendously due to it being overpriced. People in the San Joaquin Valley are actually upside down in houses (that is a first in CA). The past 3 yeas has produced a buy high, sell low atmosphere in the Bay Area, it almost kept me there. In places like Tracy, Lodi, Stockton, Modesto, etc... it is even worse.


My weather comment was based on summer time is hot, winter time is like late fall in most other areas. Yes there are certain micro-climates like San Franciscos foggy cold summer days and the relentless heat of the San Juaqine Valley. The weather is constantly moderate really with no real change of the seasons. Its just not all sunshine and 80 degrees as some would have you believe.

I am not talking attitudes of pride in where someone lives as much as the egos that go with it. Paying 1mil + to live in Pleasanton is a bit ridiculous to me (to me, not to the person that wants that Orange County Lifestyle without the beach)... This is not the same "taking pride in where one lives" like a tight knit community would have, it is taking pride that I can afford to live in X- gated Community and my children attend X-charter School that is soo hard to get into. Just like having designer jeans, these folks are buying designer homes etc. Just another tag to show off to those around you and being from San Ramon, you must have seen this... 

I can honestly say that California is a nice place but the hype really outweighs the reality in most cases. A small percentage really live the California lifestyle and a large percentage are just following the herd.

[BALDANDRE]

I can honestly say that California is a nice place but the hype really outweighs the reality in most cases. A small percentage really live the California lifestyle and a large percentage are just following the herd.

GREAT posts dudes! I think Marz's last line is a great one...

I would love to put in my two cents when I get a moment to put my thoughts down..

so I'll be gabbin' bout it later!

[schro]

All valid points Marz, no argument there.

[Marz]

All valid points Marz, no argument there.

Likewise... spent 2 hours on Friday talking to my best friend (from CA) about this same thing... He is thinking about moving to your neck of the woods, El Dorado Hills.

[Robmeister]

All valid points Marz, no argument there.

....as long as ya don't bring up mudslides, earthquakes, fires and drive-by shootings