emeraldkity4

I haven't been to California for years- first and only time was when we ( with sibs & parents) went to Disneyland- the year the Pirates of the Caribbean ride opened.( although because of an ID mistake- the credit reporting agencies had me at 17 different Ca addresses- all within a one year period )

In town for two concerts in Santa Barbara- & i realize the rest of Ca doesn't look like this
But it is so gorgeous, everyone is so friendly- that I don't want to leave-( I am going out now to buy some cooler clothes)

D was talking about applying to some Ca schools- ( she got into her school but is taking a year off), maybe now I will encourage her!

somemom

Um, you are from WA, you are not allowed to think such heresey

mootmom

I lived on the north east coast of the US for 43 years, in various locations from DC through Westchester County, NY. I was dragged, kicking and screaming, to California in 1997 after my husband got a job offer he couldn't refuse.

I'm not sure you could offer me good enough reasons to get me to leave now. And I have no idea why it took me so long to get here.

Welcome, ek4, the climate's fine, come on down! (With the understanding that it's not actually *perfect* here or anything...)

wis75

Try visiting Orange County- cities all run into one another, flat, boring... Or travel from there to Nevada by car... Or the area in and around the Stanford campus... Ah, visit the Bay Area, now you're talking!

katliamom

My take on California -- the southern part in particular -- is that it has some of the most stunning scenery in the country... surrounded by hundreds of square miles of ugliness. But oh those stunning parts do make up for it, at least for this former Californian who dreams of moving back someday. For me, it'll be the Bay Area or nothing... but I agree: Santa Barbara sure is pretty. Enjoy. (And eat an In 'N Out burger and some pollo loco for me, pretty please.)

ebeeeee

EK
So glad you are having fun in our neck of the woods. Now if only it were more affordable to live here......

paying3tuitions

I think if the Pilgrims had landed on the West Coast, there'd have been no eastward migration across the continent, although there are too many beautiful places to count in the Northeast.

The way I see it, the 17th century Puritans scrambled all over New England to remove rocks from the acidic soil (turning rocks into fences, which make "good neighbors" according to Robert Frost).

A few generations later, their kids didn't have enough inherited land to divide up, so one or two siblings from a large family went over the Appalachians to find out what Ohio, Iowa and Illinois looked like. Soil was like gold dust in their hands, and the rest of the Midwest was settled.

Then the Transcontinental Railroad was built, and soon after Janis Joplin began singing around Berkeley.

We just sent our youngest to Califronia for college, and he wants us all to move there so he doesn't have to move back.

Emeraldkity4, just have fun and kiss the sun!

barrons

I always thought people in California were much friendlier than up here in Seattle. You will miss out first sunny warm day in at least 6 months tomorrow--could hit 70!!!!!

coureur

>>But it is so gorgeous, everyone is so friendly- that I don't want to leave<<

Now you know why I live in SoCal...Oops! I mean NO! I didn't asy that! California is a terrible place. You do NOT want to move here. Nobody should move to California. Forget all about it.

aibarr

Things I Miss About California:
1) The Mac & Cheese at Wood Ranch BBQ
2) In & Out Burger
3) Terrain!
4) Pretty weather!
5) My season pass to Disneyland
6) Driving Malibu Canyon/PCH
7) Rooftop Bar at the Standard

Things I Don't Miss About California:
1) My old boss
2) Rent prices

mathmom

I've travelled everywhere, lived here in NY way too long. Loved my three years in Pasadena. I loved everything about LA including driving around on the freeways and visiting Santa Barbara. Last time I was in Santa Barbara was for some open studio days. Still have the artwork we bought that day in our bedroom.

Things I miss about CA
1. Freeways
2. Spanish Colonial Revival Architecture
3. 1950s modern (Neutra and friends)
4. Jacaranda, wisteria and all the rest of the spring blooms esp. on Caltech
campus
5. Pie 'n Burger
6. Huntington Libarya
7. Joshua Tree
8. Hiking in the Sierras

Things I don't miss
1. Santa Anas

Redondo Dave

Have lived in Southern California my whole life and at the beach for the last 26 years. Turned on the heater three times this winter and our house does not have air conditioning. Planted my first batch of tomatoes two weeks ago and already have a whole garden of roses. Orchids grow without any extra care. Do not like the traffic and trying to go downtown for theatre, concerts, or sporting events.

Son will be going to college next year on the East Coast and have gotten an education on New England. Been at the college during three seasons and kind of like the whole season thing. It will be interesting to see if my son will migrate back to SoCal when his education is done.

UCBChemEGrad

My issues with CA:

1. Term limits on state/city government have put in inexperienced politicians who don't know how to run the 7th largest economy in the world.

2. Lower public education system is a disaster.

3. Infrastructure is crumbling due to lack of investment and heavy handed regulation and high business taxes.

4. Too many uneducated poor immigrants are a strain on California's resources.

mom60

If Emerald is still in SB today she is experiencing SB weather at its best. High 70's (we think that is hot). You can sit outside and eat in the sun. If you come back in June it will be cold and foggy.
I was born in Nor Cal and lived in the LA area for my entire growing up years. I moved to SB in my late 20's. I missed things about LA for about two years. Now I find I hate to leave town. It is a really nice feeling to come home from a vacation and realize that you love where you live. I have no desire to move. I think my kids would like to be able to come "home" one day.
One thing I don't like is the sense of entitlement I see in so many of the kids. Also way to much alcohol and drugs in the high school community.

collegemom16

EK if you have never been to Lake Tahoe, you simply MUST see it. I think it must be one of the most beautiful places on earth.