Any Other Californians Here??

J

jaminhealth

Senior Member
Location
Santa Monica CA
I was born and raised in the conservative East and everything about me was conservative and then at 27 my then husband drove myself and our 2 yr old to sunny Laid Back Southern California. Twas a shock to this prime and proper young woman but in years I grew into the "laid back easy going lifestyle"..and can't imagine going back back. I've been here 53 yrs soon and will be 81 soon.

All my life here, it's been like being on a working vacation. And yes, I worked for some 40 yrs and never chose to re-marry, once legal battle was enough.

It's said that California is a state of mind and I believe that more and more.

Love the diversity of life here and talk about an education living here.

And love love love the alternative, holistic healers that seem to flock here.
 

I like living in California but I also consider myself an Oregonian even though I moved away close to 40 years ago. The main thing I like is the non-judgemental attitudes of a lot of the people I know here. I don't like the threat of the potential "Big One" (meaning an earth quake) so I wish people would stop talking about it. I like the variety in California and all the beautiful places.
 
I’m in California but have only lived here for 15 years. I’m in Fresno so hate the heat but California does have lots of diversity in every aspect of the word.

A few hours drive gets you to different climates and attractions. We have it all...mountains, the ocean, desert, big cities, small quaint towns, Hollywood, Disneyland, etc.

Also produce most of the agriculture for the rest of the country.
 

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I lived in Southern California on the outskirts of LA, from 72 - 83, and then again from 86 - 94. My oldest son, DIL and 4 of my grandchildren are still there. I loved the weather, the laid back people, the diversity and lack of judgment from its inhabitants, compared to living in the South.

I didn't like the traffic, and most of all I didn't like the earthquakes. I lived though a couple of big ones, and that constant threat hanging over my head was hard to deal with.
 
Linda said:
I like living in California but I also consider myself an Oregonian even though I moved away close to 40 years ago. The main thing I like is the non-judgemental attitudes of a lot of the people I know here. I don't like the threat of the potential "Big One" (meaning an earth quake) so I wish people would stop talking about it. I like the variety in California and all the beautiful places.
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True, don't talk about it..the more we bring it front and center in our minds the more fear. No hurricanes, tornados, snow, ice and if we want that we can drive to local mtns in the winter.

I love California living. And beauty, I lived in San Jose for 5 yrs and was able to tour so much of Norhtern California, talk about beauty.
 
Ronni said:
I lived in Southern California on the outskirts of LA, from 72 - 83, and then again from 86 - 94. My oldest son, DIL and 4 of my grandchildren are still there. I loved the weather, the laid back people, the diversity and lack of judgment from its inhabitants, compared to living in the South.

I didn't like the traffic, and most of all I didn't like the earthquakes. I lived though a couple of big ones, and that constant threat hanging over my head was hard to deal with.
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I was sorta fed up with LA about 25 yrs ago thinking I'd move to Raleigh where my cousins lived and visited them for a couple weeks and came running back to Calif. I would choke back in the south. I gotta be me and probably not many me's there.

A friend moved from San Jose and he's gay and thought he could live a good less pricey housing life in NC and boy has he been wrong. His best friend is his dog. He's not moving back to CA so has to put up with the narrow thinking back there.

Nobody likes the traffic and it was not like this when I came here in the 60's...more and more people still come. And the things mother nature does to the earth, I too was in 2 and it's been quiet for close to 25 yrs.....
 
My husband, who's 78, was raised in Norwalk. He left in the 70's and went to PA where his family had moved (out of CA). I met him in '75; lived in PA for many years. We broke up and he moved back to CA (Riverside) in '82. Met him again in '97 and moved to CA and got married. Left in 2001 when he retired and haven't been back since (except for a couple weddings and his 70th birthday). Would never live out there again. Glad we left when we did. Don't miss the traffic, smog, traffic, rude people, traffic, diapers thrown on the ground, traffic, ridiculously high prices for housing and car registration and taxes....well, you get the idea.
 
CeeCee said:
I’m in California but have only lived here for 15 years. I’m in Fresno so hate the heat but California does have lots of diversity in every aspect of the word.

A few hours drive gets you to different climates and attractions. We have it all...mountains, the ocean, desert, big cities, small quaint towns, Hollywood, Disneyland, etc.

Also produce most of the agriculture for the rest of the country.
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You said it and I've not had a mosquito bite in probably close to 50 yrs. And here where I am anyway, no humidity....there are some summers that have changed but it's a change in the world.
 
Colleen said:
My husband, who's 78, was raised in Norwalk. He left in the 70's and went to PA where his family had moved (out of CA). I met him in '75; lived in PA for many years. We broke up and he moved back to CA (Riverside) in '82. Met him again in '97 and moved to CA and got married. Left in 2001 when he retired and haven't been back since (except for a couple weddings and his 70th birthday). Would never live out there again. Glad we left when we did. Don't miss the traffic, smog, traffic, rude people, traffic, diapers thrown on the ground, traffic, ridiculously high prices for housing and car registration and taxes....well, you get the idea.
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Diapers on the ground....I've never seen that one. There are plenty of pigs and rude people everywhere and I'm fortunate to live a long mile from the Pacific and no smog, never has been in my life here.

More are leaving we're told due to out of sight housing costs and it's always been that way, I was in shock when I got here in the 60's...but many who took risks and bought houses and property are millionaires. I know many of the older ladies who have been here all t heir lives and have houses worth millions...that's what the great SUN does and risk takers.
 
jaminhealth said:
Diapers on the ground....I've never seen that one. There are plenty of pigs and rude people everywhere and I'm fortunate to live a long mile from the Pacific and no smog, never has been in my life here.

More are leaving we're told due to out of sight housing costs and it's always been that way, I was in shock when I got here in the 60's...but many who took risks and bought houses and property are millionaires. I know many of the older ladies who have been here all t heir lives and have houses worth millions...that's what the great SUN does and risk takers.
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When I first moved out to CA, I was in my car getting ready to go in the grocery store, and a Mexican lady had just changed her kid and threw the dirty diaper on the ground right by the entrance door even though there was a trash can right there. I was so grossed out and shocked and wondered what kind of a place was this. After I lived there a while, I realized this was a common practice (as was many other south-of-the-border) that was brought into CA. Maybe you've never been to MX to see what a "hole" it is and that's the culture that is being brought to CA and TX. If you don't mind that...then that's great for you. I was an east coast gal and was horrified that CA was so "dirty".
 
Colleen said:
When I first moved out to CA, I was in my car getting ready to go in the grocery store, and a Mexican lady had just changed her kid and threw the dirty diaper on the ground right by the entrance door even though there was a trash can right there. I was so grossed out and shocked and wondered what kind of a place was this. After I lived there a while, I realized this was a common practice (as was many other south-of-the-border) that was brought into CA. Maybe you've never been to MX to see what a "hole" it is and that's the culture that is being brought to CA and TX. If you don't mind that...then that's great for you. I was an east coast gal and was horrified that CA was so "dirty".
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So that incident has stayed with you? Just know the Mexicans owned California before the gringos and the wars changed so much.

I've been to Mexico many times and loved my trips down there. And one of our famous streets here in my area is Sepulveda Blvd...shame shame. And to think I had some wonderful mexican bf's in my life and the sweet lady who helps me once a month, guess what she's mexican born in CA.

You didn't live in a place in the East with the mega millions that are here....more people more cwap.....is often the case. It's pretty clean in my area and would be cleaner if it rained more.

One can tell a person's politics by their comments...ummmm
 
Ah, RPV, lovely area, I know it not well, but I've been all over CA just about in my 50+ yrs here. In my driving distance days and boy did I drive, I had a great chiro in So Torrance area so close to RPV...
also in my driving days and eating more meat, I so enjoyed Outback Steakhouse on Hawthorne...so so many wonderful memories.

Paso Robles, a lovely area and at one time I thought I'd retire up in SLO or Morro Bay and even considered Santa Barbara area but somehow I'm ending up in Santa Monica where I started out.
 
jaminhealth said:
Ah, RPV, lovely area, I know it not well, but I've been all over CA just about in my 50+ yrs here. In my driving distance days and boy did I drive, I had a great chiro in So Torrance area so close to RPV...
also in my driving days and eating more meat, I so enjoyed Outback Steakhouse on Hawthorne...so so many wonderful memories.

Paso Robles, a lovely area and at one time I thought I'd retire up in SLO or Morro Bay and even considered Santa Barbara area but somehow I'm ending up in Santa Monica where I started out.
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Cal Poly is in SLO (San Luis Obispo) and Ive been there a few times visiting my grandson... Beautiful area but you better be in excellent shape for walking the campus...very hilly. :)
 
Born and raised in California-San Francisco Bay Area. Moved to Lakeport (on Clear Lake-largest natural lake in California) 27 years ago. Grew up weekends here my entire life. Love it here-still worked in the Bay Area until 2010 so kind of had the best of both worlds for 18 years but glad that commute is over. Now you couldn`t pay me to live in the Bay Area. Traffic is horrendous and I could never get used to it being that bad. Thanks to Silicon Valley for that. Here where I am now,it`s more rural and there is no traffic at all. Wherever in the County you are going,you know exactly how long it will take you to get there. The weather isn`t as spectacular as it is in the Bay-there it`s pretty much 73 degrees year `round. Here we get warmer (much) in the Summer and colder in the Winter. Usually get a little snow, but if it sticks,it melts within a day. Lots of Fall colors here as well. Would we ever leave California? Not likely,although we do like Oregon a lot.
 
Nice story about life in No. Calif...a friend was from that area but resides in Santa Monica for years....

A SM friend got tired of SM and wanted more TREES, we don't have enough trees down here...anyway she gave up her rent control apt and moved to Portland, Oregon..she's had regrets....
 
We moved to California when I was five and I grew up there. It will always be the state I love the most.

Husband got a job transfer, 35 years ago, been here since then. If I had understood I would have to spend the rest of my life where I am now, I never would have moved.
 
Colleen said:
My husband, who's 78, was raised in Norwalk. He left in the 70's and went to PA where his family had moved (out of CA). I met him in '75; lived in PA for many years. We broke up and he moved back to CA (Riverside) in '82. Met him again in '97 and moved to CA and got married. Left in 2001 when he retired and haven't been back since (except for a couple weddings and his 70th birthday). Would never live out there again. Glad we left when we did. Don't miss the traffic, smog, traffic, rude people, traffic, diapers thrown on the ground, traffic, ridiculously high prices for housing and car registration and taxes....well, you get the idea.
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LOL. I've never seen diapers on the ground. But then, I'm fortunate enough to live in a nice part of the city. Teehee, sounds rather ghetto to me.
 

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