Southern Ca and Northern Ca is like two different countries. Its just different.

Now, do I want the old Ca back from a time when it was simpler with less people (Mid 80s for me when I was just started to drive)? Absolutely. In just Socal, we have what what the rest of the country has to offer, just a little more expensive. Wacko politics? Sure, but what ya gonna to do? Deal with it and its not too difficult to work with or around it.

perfect weather and scenery, which attracts investment and diverse activities.

If money were no object and I was not a victim of the rat race, I'd live in SD.

rjp

Best place to live on earth.

OK... I love it here a little. Born here. Left at age 18. Came back at 34. I'll never leave again.

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>why do you suppose everyone has a hard-on for California

I think it's because it's what the future looks like and people are scared of the future...

Cali is a microcosm of the western world 10-15yrs in the future... It's got everything geographically (mountains to beaches), demographically, it's at the forefront of technology (Silicon valley, Tesla, etc), it's reflecting all the trends in modern society pushed to the max (immigration, LGBT, liberal leaning), it's forging ahead of the country on many areas (smog rules, recycling, etc...). And sometimes it goes too far too fast for some (hey, at times, me included)...

That's why people are so for/against IMO...Cali sticks the future into your face NOW.., It can be painful at times..

This. Exactly.

You can't get there from here, you gotta start from someplace else!

CA Dreaming.

Old Jed was out shooting at some food one day when out of the ground came a bubbling crude...Texas Tea. Oil that is. The family said you ought to move away from here. First thing you know Jed loaded up the truck and moved to Beverley. ..Hills that is swimming pools, movie stars.

BS.

I grew up in and lived in CA for 48 years.

I left California, but sometimes think I just moved back in time 40 years. I am watching my new state make the same mistakes with taxes and pensions.

You can find rude people everywhere...even in WA. My "hard-on" for CA is definitely a positive one...at least for the area where I live. Despite all the negative press, the high cost of living, the politics and general Cali-bashing, it's still a great place to live.

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Santa Cruz ↑ has a near-perfect climate for me...daytime highs average in the high 70s during summer and low 60s in winter. It's rarely humid, there are no mosquitoes, and we have clear skies & sun most every day from May thru October. The beach is a 10 minute bike ride away and there's a world-class surf break on the west side of town (Jack O'Neil, inventor of the wetsuit, lives here). San Francisco is less than 2 hours north on the Pacific Coast Highway and Monterey (think Laguna Seca Raceway and Pebble Beach Concours) is only 45 min. to the south. Winter/summer sports and recreation at Lake Tahoe are about a 4-hour drive, as is Yosemite Natn'l Park. The Napa Valley wine country is 3 hours north. There's a small-craft harbor and sailing on the Monterey Bay, along with abundant employment opportunities just over the hill in Silicon Valley. There's a vibrant music & arts scene as well, with national touring acts stopping to play one of several small clubs in between gigs in SF & LA. I can walk from my house to a variety of ethnic restaurants and there many more great places to eat & drink just a short drive away. The Golden State Warriors have a development league team that's based here and the Redwood forests in the hills just above town are great for hiking, fishing, mountain biking and camping.

Don't let me mislead anyone with all the positives...let the bashing continue!

CA is a cess pool of humanity with the best climate in the world...and pretty scenery too.

Says the man from Las Vegas.

I think you have a point, BUT not all of California is so douchebagey as to be so full of conceit. I would say it's more of a southern California thing, and even then, maybe only half of them. I also have to say that Oregon drivers do this passive aggressive thing where they will drive the speed limit and hold up faster traffic. I swear they are militant to the point that they don't believe a fast lane even exists. California drivers are a lot more easy going in general, with the aforementioned exceptions.

On the other side (or other coast) Florida is the only state with its own tag image on Fark.com ....


So I guess we got that goin' for us

I love living in CA, been here since 1979. I literally drove out from Boston after graduating from UMASS, Amherst with $50 when I arrived. I plan on keeping a Townhouse here to visit my son and split my time between CA and PA where my daughter and two grandsons live. CA is great if you earn a good living, but a little expensive if you're retired for what you get. I'll be a PA resident and save a boat load in taxes and vehicle registrations, electric and water bills.

Thanks Jeff! :p :p :p :D

That is PWD that you are behind...on his way to the pool hall.

Back in the day my Mother warned me against hanging about pool halls. Saying that the sort of people you found there were loafers, drunks and neer do wells.

And the coast form San Francisco to Oregon is spectacular... but it is our little secret so don't tell anyone okay?

We moved to the bay area in 2012, not because we really wanted to though. It was more about work (biotech), and there's plenty of that here. I think if you got in and actually bought a place 10 years ago or earlier, you're doing well, or should be anyway. Otherwise, I would NOT recommend the trade-off. Yeah, it's got great weather, topography, etc... but the traffic kinda sucks.. roads are full of potholes. Did I mention the fact that you instantly become poor once you move here? Then again, we chose to live in an area with really good schools and about an hour from SF. Basically, anything you take for granted back east, you pay a premium for here and then some. The pizza sucks, still can't seem to find a good New York style pizza anywhere.