All you Californians.........

[DigitalBoy0101]

I lived in Long Beach for 2 1/2 years when I was in the Navy. Granted, I averaged being out to sea literally half that time, but I still got to know the area fairly well.

You're right about the weather, it's beautiful. I bought a POS car with my pitiful Navy salary that had a leaky heater core, so I just bypassed it and it was fine. Never even needed it.

I went to Big Bear once to go skiing, and had a blast. Think it was a 2-hour drive or something, don't remember.

I hit Hollywood, Venice Beach, Redondo Beach, San Pedro, some trips to San Diego and Tijuana, Ontario, San Francisco, a weekend trip to No Cal, etc etc. And I guess I don't have much bad to say about most of those places, but I HATED Long Beach. I hear it's been cleaned up some since then, but it was an armpit when I was there.

Honestly, I liked the 6 months I lived by Seattle and the 9 months in Orlando (all in the Navy) a lot more than Cali. I'm actually thinking Oregon would be a nice place to live as well, visited there 2 different weekends and loved it. My complaint with Seattle was the rain, of course (and the fact my same POS car I had in Cali also had a leaky sunroof while I was there). Oregon should be a bit warmer and possibly drier with the same Great Outdoors atmosphere. Pine trees are literally EVERYWHERE. Oh, and if I recall correctly, no Sales Tax! I think Washington has no Income Tax and Oregon has no Sales Tax, but I might be remembering wrong and it might be the other way around....not to mention, it might have changed sometime in the last 17 years since I was there heh. Washington has vehicle inspections, but I don't believe Oregon does. Also, ALL gas pumps in Oregon are full-service. You can't pump your own gas even if you want to, it's a state law. Pick your spot carefully and you should be able to have both an oceanside beach and mountains within an easy drive, while staying far enough South that the climate would be pretty identical to No Cal.

So basically, while I haven't lived there, Oregon would get my vote as a place (besides Cali) that would mostly match your criteria, and be a heck of a lot cheaper and outdoorsy than So Cal.

[SLO TRUCK]

Just remember the close you are to the beach the more it cost. When i was out there I was paying 1800 a month for a 2 bdr apt on PCH in Signal Hill (basicly LBC) The housing market has gone down there some but they are still retardedly over priced. The weather is great. I surf and snowboard so that part was great. But it was not worth it to me. So i take trips to better surf and snow destinations, and love where i live instead. We know why you really want to move the the sweet sticky plant. haha J/k with ya good luck and hope its all you want it to be. If you head out there.

[cjriojas]

Had a friend paying 600+ for a studio apt in oceanside. Ouch!

[lo-lyf]

We know why you really want to move the the sweet sticky plant. haha J/k with ya good luck and hope its all you want it to be. If you head out there.

haha. No, no, no. I don't do that stuff anymore, but I do believe it should be treated like alcohol but that's a different topic. This is mostly the fiancé this time, I've always wanted to go though. If she gets a good job out that way then we will go if it will work out alright. That's still a good year before she is graduated so we will have to see. This gives me time to think and see if environment is worth the sacrifice of the best job I've ever had(which I'm not sure anything is).

[DAmarcus28]

I lived in a lil town named Santa Paula all my life. the beach is 15 minutes from here and and a drive to L.A is only and hour. i love it here but im used to the traffic and what not when i do go down to L.A.

naw man our town sux only entertainment we got is a home made radio control track we built at the airport hahahah

[lo-lyf]

naw man our town sux only entertainment we got is a home made radio control track we built at the airport hahahah

But the thing is, you are close to the beach, close to the mountains, and L.A. seems close enough for entertainment. Also, the housing market seems okay. I have also looked at Bakersfield and the houses are priced close to the ones here. Starting salary for a special ed teachers is 12k more than Wichita Falls, my only reason I want to stay is and will be my job.

[cjriojas]

Bakersfield is good place for home buying, forgot about that place. Though there's not much out there.

[lo-lyf]

Bakersfield is good place for home buying, forgot about that place. Though there's not much out there.

haha, have you ever been to Wichita Falls? There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING here.

[GasGuzzler]

There is a town with lots of freeways that are 4 miles or less in length that go no where and lots of people that "live in the city" because there is nothing else near them. See, you were wrong.

[lo-lyf]

There is a town with lots of freeways that are 4 miles or less in length that go no where and lots of people that "live in the city" because there is nothing else near them. See, you were wrong.

And that is all just so beautiful and fun.