California is habit-forming. Some get to a point where they can't take it anymore, but it is usually a financial reason that they leave. The only thing that is crowded is the freeways. They are behind the times technologically in some ways, but at least the Internet is there so it's not a major problem. The vegetation is from Mars. What else? Oh yeah, Californians are both formal and informal at the same time, a formal informality.
"Vanity: I'm moving to California"
INSANITY: I'm moving to California
:)
San Diego.
I, too, moved from NJ to CA. It was the best decision we ever made inspite of being surrounded by entertainment-type liberals.
We are in the Hollywood Hills...the home prices may be steep but our real estate taxes are quite reasonable compared to NJ.
KJ
Lucky you, DesignerChick. I'm having to move to the SF Bay Area in less than a month. I'd much prefer San Diego or anywhere in southern California. Hope to meet up with some Freepers while I'm out there, since I reckon there's only 1 conservative out of every 50 people in the SF Bay area.
San diego is gorgeous, LA is like a zoo (don't feed the animals).
I'd definitely choose SD if I could get a job that pays Boston salaries there.
Also, there are a lot of Sox fans there!
I love California.
I'm sure you've heard this already, but Los Angles is pretty blue, and San Diego is most definitely Red!
San Diego is a great choice. The weather is nearly perfect and it's majority registered Republican. I lived in LA for 15 years. It's a great city to be a young person and develop a career, but the living is hard and you don't want to raise a family there unless you're extremely wealthy and can afford domestic help/child care.
Were in San Deigo or Los Angeles? ...I would not take a job on the north of downtown LA ...it really boils down to where you want to live, how far you want to commute and the traffic in the commute
Nice areas to live at still affordable price are So Orange County and the Inland Empire area (thats San Bernardino & Riverside County were they border Orange County...but its hot weather area)
C'mon out. California is fine. The lefties are very entertaining and for the most part harmless unless you're offended by gibberish. Politics is a blood sport so that's always fun.
I'd head for San Diego if I had the choice. I grew up in Mission Beach. When I was a kid the place was full of sailors, whores, working people and the rich and famous living side by side.
There are tons of things to do if you love the water. Boating, swimming, diving, fishing, everything. In short, SD is a great American city with a year 'round world class climate. Never too hot and never too cold.
One of my most lingering memories from childhood is standing at a bus stop on a winter morning amazed to see a thin sheet of frost on a puddle. That must have been some over night cold snap!
Illegals abound in both places but SD has the NAVY and military retirees that tend to make the city a bit more conservative.
Between the TWO....it is San Diego BY FAR!!!
San Diego County in general is beautiful. However, you will not find affordable housing if you wanted to buy. Unless you live relatively close to where you work, you will be stuck in traffic. Gas prices are the most expensive in the nation.
We do have the beach, mountains nearby to the east, the Padres if you like baseball, the Chargers if you like football, fun areas in downtown in which to party, proximity to LA if you need it, tons of shopping malls, an airport that won't take you hours to get to.
It all depends on what you are looking for. We love it here, having lived in San Diego County for 11 years now. However, the traffic and the overcrowding in our area, Chula Vista, has started to grate on our nerves--we are contemplating a move to Texas.
Now here's a thread we don't see too often...
We have the best beaches in CA. HB is in conservative Orange County & very safe. It's a great place to live & raise a family.
Yep, don't do it. It is the LAST place I would ever move to. It's so bad, I don't even want to vacation there again! The freeways are like giant parking lots, there are earthquakes, the smog is terrible and the mayor of LA belongs to Mecha, and is planning on "looking to Mexico" for advice. IOW, it's overrun by illegals, and he just let them know that the door's open to them.
San Diego is much nicer, IMO, however; their illegal problem is probably worse because it's right at the border. The cost of living in CA is beyond ridiculous, so expect to take a couple of steps backward if you decide to move there. That said, I used to love CA. It's beautiful and there's lots to do, but that's not enough to entice me to move there.
Forget the "Democratic People's Republic of Kalifornia." Come to Colorado for a day and you will never leave.
If you must move there. San diego is MUCH MUCH nicer than L.A. The scenery and proximity to ocean is better than L.A. county. If you can try finding some where to live where your driving commute avoids tha crazy rush hours or heavy traffic routes. Oceanside north of San Diego or a similiar type of laid back town might be your best bet. Small 4 door efficient 35 MPG auto is the only way. Even if you purchased a sporty older model convertible the Ca. insurance companies will still stick it to you. Rag tops are automatically higher to insure. Good luck.
I grew up in L.A. area. I would not recommend it for all sorts of reasons.
San Diego is a bit better but so expensive. I would check out a different state. Good luck---
Go to Mexico first. Change your name, get rid of any and all id that proves you ever were a US Citizen.
Come across the southern border.
Bingo: Free Health Care, Free Welfare Money, Free Schooling, Free College (something you WON'T get as a NJ Transplant), No one is allowed to say anything bad about you.
Coming here as a US Citizen is a huge mistake. Tax the middle class and give it to the illegals is all they do here. And we have the highest (I believe) marginal tax rates -- high property taxes, high income tax, high sales tax. Taxes on your car because you own it.
Wanta to buy a house -- even in the poor part of town? Start at 400K. Condo? 300K. Rent? 2,500/month will get you 800 sq feet in Compton.
Come on down!