The I Love California Thread

[Beaverhausen]

To make up for that "other" one.

I am from the east coast but I love this state. And I have only seen about 1/3 of it.

My dream is to retire in either Carmel or Cambria.

[GRLMGC]

1. I wouldn't live anywhere else

I'm sure there are other beautiful places but this is home. I feel the same loyalty to CA (L.A. really) that others do to their respective hometowns. I think CA has it all: the beach, mountains, the desert, and, yes, even snow.


By the way, I'm sure you'll get some haters up in here. It's okay though, at least we live in a place we love :)

[laheina]

45. Me either

I have thought about moving to Boston or somewhere back east, but I don't know if I could actually do it.

I can get to anything in less than an hour: snow, surf, San Fran, forests, etc.

And the political/social environment rocks! I heart CA!!

[naryaquid]

2. ...Where is Cambria?

[Beaverhausen]

3. On the central coast just below San Simeon

http://www.visitcambriacalifornia.com/

It is charming and romantic and beautiful.

My goal this year it to get my sort of boyfriend up there. He is a native Californian and he has never seen Hearst Castle!

[Liberty Belle]

13. Cambria is beautiful. If you drive 6 miles past Hearst Castle

and look for a turnout on the left, you'll find a beach with hundreds of elephant seals! They began coming ashore just a few years ago, and the beach is now a mating and birthing ground as well. Better than watching the "Discovery" channel!

[Beaverhausen]

37. I was there in January- there was lots of "activity" among the seals

and the monarchs were migrating. sigh!!! I have to get back up there soon.

[naryaquid]

36. ..Is there ANYWHERE in the bay area where you can rent even a small,

..but decent apartment for less than 800 a month?...can one by a condo - even studio size - for less than 200k?

[MissBrooks]

73. apartment for less than $800/month?

Maybe a studio for $800/month

NOTHING for under $200K - maybe a mobile home.

Minimum is about $300K+++ for a one bedroom.

Go to www.mlslistings.com to look around.

[naryaquid]

83. ..Thanks for the info, Miss Brooks

[Kire]

77. Is it near Coheed?

[hollywood926]

4. I sold my house in Ohio 4 years ago and...

threw my dog in the car and moved out here. I've never looked back. It's a great place to live, despite some of the little annoyances.

I can't imagine living in gloomy, clammy Ohio ever again. Ick.

YAY CALIFORNIA!

[skygazer]

5. I do love California

I live in the Bay Area and it's great for so many reasons. Within an hour's drive I've got

wilderness
beach
theater
shopping
mountains
San Francisco

If I want snow, it's within driving range - maybe 4 hours to Tahoe.

The people are great. The highways have flowers and flowering shrubs all down the median - you can drive with your windows open and it smells like perfume.

The Redwoods are magnificent. The beach is beautiful. I love it here.

I'm a transplant from Vermont. I moved here 6 years ago and I love it. I love Vermont too and will no doubt someday move back but this place is very, very special to me.

[laheina]

46. Hey!

That's what I said! Maybe I should have read more before I posted.:P

Don't you just love the poppies in the spring.

[Trajan]

6. Count me in ...

I was born in North Jersey, but I LOVE CA .... not only for it's awesome beaches and incredible mountains ... not only for it's amazing cuisine and it's psychodelic desert landscapes ....

But: you gotta love the open mindedness of it all ... mostly ....

Living in Missouri: I miss that ... alot ....

Cosmopolitan, like New York ... and terrain as various as any place omn earth ..... You GOTTA love it ....

Hate the smog though ... and the traffic .... and the gangs .... and the high cost of living ....

[AlCzervik]

7. I live in Elk Grove-heavily gop...blech

but we are moving in the 6 months or so to either Pacifica or maybe Scott's Valley.

[Book Lover]

14. I live in Pacifica!

Come and enlighten our little town :-) There is a slight * supporter contingent here, so we need more of us.

[AlCzervik]

17. I hope we can find a house, the prices are off the chart there!!!!

I love Fog city Java, i took my sister to see Paciifca when she was visiting me, when we went down the hill, the big exit? she's like..."OMG, you're moving here right? Please move here!"

[Book Lover]

21. Yes, they are

Prices for houses are just wrong in Pacifica. Those Linda Mar ranchers are $500,000 - just bullshit. I recommend renting, as that market has loosened up quite a bit in the past two years or so.

Sounds like you two drove down Sharp Park Road? The one that terminates at the golf course? In my not-so-humble opinion, that is the best view of the ocean in the Bay Area, other than the one you get when you are walking on the Golden Gate Bridge. And that stuff about the fog - it's kinda a lie. To keep the developers out ;-)

[AlCzervik]

23. Oh, that fog thing is good to know!

We may have to rent for a bit which is ok by me and we will have to have coffee, tea or whatever when i move there.:)

[Book Lover]

28. The welcome mat is rolled out

PM me if you want or have specific questions once you all get closer to deciding :-)

[AlCzervik]

29. thanks, that would be very helpful!

[laheina]

47. I live up 80

into the foothills. I have the same problem :)

[AlCzervik]

48. EEKK!! Placer county? Thats the most gops in the whole state.

pretty country some of it but way too many bush stickers

[laheina]

52. I could tell you some interesting stories.

But I actually bought my house on the border of Roseville and Citrus Heights. My sister lived a few blocks into Roseville at the time, but I knew better. They already suck all of our resources while hogging all the tax money. I don't think that I could actually live *in* Placer.

[ronnykmarshall]

8. I'm a native.

The only other place I could see myself living is NYC.

I've lived all over this state and I love it.

[Xithras]

9. *sigh* I kissed my first girl in Cambria

I was 13 and I'll never forget that moment...and the town will always have a special place in my heart because of it.

[jonnyblitz]

10. i lived there while in the navy( San Diego, Long Beach, and SF)

and a VERY GOOD TIME was had by all!! :thumbsup:

[radwriter0555]

11. Where else can you surf in the morning and snow ski in the afternoon?

From Malibu, to the Mohave Desert to Big Bear Mountain, all in ONE DAY.

[cags]

12. Just moved from CA (born and raised) to Texas!!!

We moved here for my husbands job.

Actually he has been trying to get me to move for the last four years because he would be promoted if we moved here, but my whole family and his family is still there.

I finally said yes because I was fed up with the schools there.

I have to say that I do like it here. It seems that the town I picked to live (outside of Dallas) has a lot of people who came from CA.

The price of real estate isn't even comparable.
Its ridiculous in CA. If I could afford to live there in a good school district I wouldn't have moved.

I sold my smaller house in a rotten neighborhood in CA for almost $100,000 more than I paid for my much larger house, blue ribbon schools and crime index of 14 in TX.

My kids love it here, so I'm glad we moved.

I'm working on getting some of our family to move here.

[GRLMGC]

18. This is a CA appreciation thread

not a "bash CA" thread.

[cags]

25. Not bashing

Just couldn't afford to live in a good area, I said if we could I wouldn't have left

[GRLMGC]

26. This is true

I live in an 1800 dollar a month 2 bd apt in a craptacular area of Goleta, CA. I went to AZ one time, and a 2 bd was something like 800 or maybe less.

[cags]

32. Kids, they make you do strange things

I have a $1500 dollar a month mortgage for a 2800 sq ft house 1 min from the lake.

We bought a boat with the proceeds from our CA house.
The cops actually came to my door just to introduce themselves, I just about fell over.

If it wasn't for those pesky kids and their education, I'd still be there.

[AlCzervik]

40. I lived in Spring Texas for 3 years, i'm glad we left and moved to Ca.

[Arugula Latte]

15. I grew up in the Bay Area

It was a lot less congested in the 70s. We lived in an East Bay suburb and people would clop down the streets on horses sometimes. But I still love it. Living in Berkeley and San Francisco from ages 18-25 was such an incredible, exciting experience.

In Dave Eggers book "A Hearbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" he describes driving in the Berkeley Hills and that same sense of euphoria hit me over and over again as I drove around up there near Tilden ... fog or not ... the city in the distance ... beautiful hills ... Cal campus at your feet ... pure heaven.

[naryaquid]

34. ...I lived in San Francisco during in the glorius counter-culture days

...of 1970-71...It was the defining moment of my life and it's emblazoned in my memory forever...I WANT TO COME HOME!!!

[RetroLounge]

16. I've been there twice, once in LA, once in SF

LA was freaking crazy. But then again, so was I at the time. This was 1986 or so. Hanging with musicians I knew in heavy metal bands. Crashed at their rehearsal space. Rented a convertible. Did Venice, the valley, hollywood, Roxy, Rainbow, Club Lingerie (Great place) and a bunch of parties in huge empty mansions in the hills. Saw some great bands. Lots of drugs, women and parties in the 10 days I was there. Discovered Ecstacy before the midwest did. Got laid in a Dentist chair in Torrence. If I had stayed any longer I would have stayed forever, and it woulda been ugly.

I was in SF in about 1992. Spent the holidays in Marin with my GF at the time. Had a freaking great time, loved the area, loved Marin, the City, the redwoods, Mt. Tam, the ocean, all of it. Spent New Years Eve on the beach at Half-moon bay with three other couples. Amazing good time. Girlfriend wanted me to move to Marin with her and shack up until we found a place in the city. But alas, too expensive, too far from family, and I wasn't in love...

RL

[Beaverhausen]

30. There is so much more to CA than just the cities

Although of course the cities are more progressive politically. This state really offers nearly everything you could wish for.

[maveric]

19. I grew up in Boston and love that town but you cant beat CA.

I've been in San Diego for 25 years and could not move back to New England. Its beautiful down here. Very scenic and the best weather in the US.

[JanMichael]

20. I loved attending Quail Hollow Elementary a thousand years ago.

That was in Ben Lomand.

The teachers played guitar and sang folk songs. Woody Guthrie songs too...

"This Land is Your Land" had a profound effect on me.

[Champ]

22. CALI SUCKS!!!!!!!!

Just kidding, I liked it the times I visit. I wish I could visit and explore more.

[GRLMGC]

24. Phew

I was about to get medieval on your ass :evilgrin:

[Champ]

31. I know

I wasn't worried, how could anyone be afraid of someone with a Jigglypuff avatar? :evilgrin:

[GRLMGC]

Please

Jigglypuff doesn't take shit from anybody. Jigglypuff can kick anyone's ass.

[Champ]

38. I know

I'm just kidding, I know there is more to JigglyPuff then those big sweet innocent eyes. My avatar can kick some ass too though! :bounce:

[Amaya]

27. Yes!

I lived in San Bruno as a child. Then Orange Co. I loved it!

[brook]

33. Not far from Cambria...

is where I hang my hat Just up the cliff from those colorful old dories.

I love this back bay where the herons play,
Y'all come see me some day! :hi:

[Beaverhausen]

35. I spent a few days in Morro Bay! A very special time in my life

It is really beautiful. I had my chart done by a wiccan priestess and my life took a turn at that point. Morro Bay holds great memories for me.

The day we went to the "rock" it was windy as hell. I'm still getting sand out of my hair.

[brook]

44. Ahh..the wind.

Used to be that we could bank on the wind dying down June 1st. Not anymore. In fact, it was trying to push me off the road to Los Osos today. Oh, and until the last couple of years, we never had 70 degree summers either. BTW, a ton or more of rock fell off the Rock a week or so ago.

The immediacy of nature is a huge comfort for me. I can't stay stressed when the turkeys are strolling thru my yard - and I go out and they make me understand the natural order of things. They don't flutter - they just look me in the eye. I check the eucalptus tree to make sure the requisite four herons are bunked in for the night before I close my drapes- and have the feeling that some things are 'right with the world'.
Without this, I wouldn't be able to stomach the area politics. There may be good news though - more folks labeled as open minded (read"liberals") were elected here in town in November. Time will tell how it shakes out.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

57. I'm hoping to get to meet you

and see Cleita soon too!

[brook]

58. I'm looking forward...

to meeting you as well. Cleita's been a real boon to me...to have someone on the same wavelength... Do come up when you can! We can have a mini-DU get together.

[NV Whino]

39. Napa Valley, what can I say?

Glorious. Wonderful. Spectacular.

I lived in Agoura for many years and before that the South Bay area.

Housing is outrageous here in the Valley. I lucked out 20 years ago with an inexpensive rental and I'm still here. Thinking of retiring down around the Moro Bay, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo area, though.

[brook]

61. It's expensive...

and rather Republican. Truthfully, the more progressives who decide to come here and fight the flow with their presence, the better.

We had a small tide change in the last election -(there's lots of bellyaching in the press aboout a "leftward" tilt). The new council seems about to dismiss the planning commission enmass which would be a monumental step in the right direction. It's galling to me to see the natural beauty and the lifestyle imperilled by the *bots.

[NV Whino]

63. Expensive it is, but we're a blue county

although, it's a light blue.

[brook]

65. It's more blue than....

I'm comfortable with. Part of me hopes for their enlightenment - the other part looks forward to seeing their eventual collision with reality.

I have been told for years that low-paying jobs here are "the price for living in Paradise". What hogwash.

[NV Whino]

68. Them as has low-paying jobs don't live in the Valley

They live in Vallejo, Middletown or Santa Rosa. (Mostly--there is some low-rent housing, but not much.) I call it the Aspen syndrom. The work force that keeps the area running can't afford to live there. As I said, I lucked into a good deal 20 years ago and haven't moved. If my landlords ever raised my rent I would have to move out of the Valley.

[Wapsie B]

41. I've been to CA twice,

and loved it. I can see why there are so many people living out there. The scenery is gorgeous and the people I've met were great.
Coming from a small uptight conservative midwest farm area to LA is a pleasant culture shock to say the least.

[njdemocrat106]

42. Never been to California

but I would absolutely LOVE to go there. I've been to every state on the Atlantic, but still would love to go to California. (I've never left America, either. If there's a draft, I might leave and never come back :evilgrin: ).

[Menshevik]

43. born and raised in CA

and proud of it.

Have a CA flag hanging on my dorm room wall, lol.

[laheina]

49. Have you discussed this with any of the Londoners?

What do they think? Just out of curiosity.

[Menshevik]

71. they are amused

after this recent election, they've branded me a rapid pro-secessionist.

When they ask about Schwarzenegger though, I'm at a loss to explain it..."That's California for you."

[laheina]

74. Interesting.

So do they have the opinion of Californians that they are flaky and odd, like in the rest of the US? That and the whole movie star thing? :eyes:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

50. I love this state and see no reason to live anywhere else

but wouldn't mind if a few million people decided THEY hated it and moved.

Southern California is the only place in the world where you can go from the desert to countryside to snowskiing and surfing all in the same day with a few hours.

[GRLMGC]

53. Apparently

a lot of people do. They should leave. It would cut down on traffic and that would rule, hehe

[donheld]

51. It's odd

i've never been there, but i still love California.

[the Princess]

54. If California is so freakin wonderful

The WHY are so many of you leaving and coming here and raising the price of housing to the point where most people cannot afford to buy houses anymore???

HUH?

Answer me that?

Huh?

Big shots - California is paradise - then stay there!!!!

*off soapbox*

(i'm sorry)

[GRLMGC]

55. Uh

I will.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

56. I'm more than happy to never spend a dime in another state

[brook]

60. It's called 'greed'.

It's the new criteria for 'patriotism'.And just "where" are you?

The cost of your housing might be more properly laid at the feet of your realtors, developers, politicians - oh, and your neighbors selling their houses at inflated prices.

We have 2 bedroom one bath houses selling for upward of 500,000. They're tear-downs. They're being bought by opportunistic weekenders.

'scuse me, I'm all teary-eyed.

[SOteric]

59. WooHoo! California Girl, here!

Like California is like a totally kewel place, ya know?!

Seriously, I'm a Bay Area kid. I love California. If I didn't absolutely love the work I do here in Seattle, I'd be back down there in a hot, sweaty heartbeat.

[Zomby Woof]

78. I am a CA native

Born in San Diego, and I like the fact I am a Golden State child.

Lived all over though, and am now CA's next door neighbor. :-)

[LeftCoast]

62. SoCal native transplanted to SF

I spent a few years outside of the state in my early 20s and knew I had to get back. Moved to SF and can't imagine living anywhere else. I love that I can look out my window and see the Bay AND the ocean. I love that I can drive to work on the Great Hwy along the Pacific. I love that my city voted 83.4% for Kerry!

For those of you who wondered whether those of use who live here appreciate it...we do. :)

[yurbud]

64. everything but the chicks

I love everything about living in Southern California except the women. They are good looking, but even the most educated and liberal seem to be looking for a sugar daddy. I never had any trouble dating before I moved down here 13 years ago.

I teach college writing, an interesting and fullfilling job, but nearly every girl I've gone out with bugs me about getting a higher paying job. Even my female colleagues in liberal arts seem to hook up with engineers and guys in the entertainment industry before their peers.

My brother was a male model, and he couldn't get any traction down here. After he left, a cute doctor wanted him to be her cabana boy, and when he was done with her, he hooked up with a beautiful blond who had his baby.

I do get some attention from the over 40 women who have been kicked out of the BMW, but I'd like to have kids.

Is it true there are a lot of single straight women at loose ends up in the bay because of the large gay male population?

Okay, I've bitched. Tell me how wrong I am and blah blah blah.

[brook]

66. Far be it from me to judge...

but it does sound a tad bit like you're more interested in action than traction.

If all you're finding is someone looking for a sugar daddy - maybe you're hanging around the wrong bakeries?

Just a thought.

[yurbud]

72. I wish you were right

Like I said, even my colleagues seem to be on the same page.

I bought all the feminist stuff in the 70s, so I thought educated women would want a PEER instead of a sugar daddy, boss, or wife beater.

Damn that Alan Alda.

If you know where non-materialistic, educated, crunchy granola chicks are hanging out in LA, feel free to enlighten me.

[naryaquid]

79. ..WTF?? I'm not getting something...

"My brother was a male model, and he couldn't get any traction down here. After he left, a cute doctor wanted him to be her cabana boy, and when he was done with her, he hooked up with a beautiful blond who had his baby".

...Does the above illustrate an example of the male "sugardaddy" syndrome (sugarmamma?)..or an example of beating it?

[yurbud]

84. shows my brother was marketable

If money was not a factor, he could have picked up someone here. Elsewhere, he's good looking enough to get a "sugarmomma."

I would be uncomfortable with any relationship where people are trading money for sex.

[BellaLuna]

67. California is not perfect.. but it's one of the better states to live in

Fairly liberal, beautiful weather, beaches, mountains, deserts... we have it all.

[huskerlaw]

69. I totally love California!!

God willing, I'm moving to Los Angeles next September. Get me outta this hell-hole of a red state...please!

[flamingyouth]

70. I would love to retire in Cambria too

I also love California in general, have lots of friends there and adore the climate.

One of my best friends there (she's in Glendale) is having her first baby in March, and I can't wait to go down to see her when she's born! :bounce:

[ariesgem]

75. 79 degree winter weather on December 15th, Altadena CA

I love to rub in to my relatives in New York. Luv ya New York, but Cali is the place to be.

[tyedyeto]

76. Born and raised in CA until 3 years ago

when I moved to AZ. Lived up near Yosemite for 25 years and loved it. Til I went thru a divorce..LOL. Both my kids still live there, one is attending Humboldt Univ. and the other is still living in the Sierra foothills.
When my daughter graduated H.S., her class had 30 kids, talk about small town!!!!
I miss it there but.......have made a life here in the desert and it's great!!

[Dees]

80. Want a road trip of a life time?

Take PCH all the way. Read Robinson Jeffers "The Beaks of Eagles" either before or after stopping at Big Sur.

[Catchawave]

81. My boys were born in Port Hueneme !

Everybody thinks they're from Hawaii. Loved living in Coronado too!

[Burma Jones]

82. California, I'll be knocking on the golden door

Flying into Long Beach Airport is great - I really love that airport, taking the Pacific Coast Highway down to San Diego is great, San Francisco is great, Yosemite is Great, the Redwoods are great, Big Sur, the San Joaquin valley, Death Valley, weirdness on a colossal scale, Charles Manson, Brian Wilson, The Grateful Dead, Silicon Valley, the Oakland Raiders, Cal Tech, I mean, c'mon.........