California Questions

[DW]

pissing match?

can't we all just get along?

i love this forum!!!!!

And here I was hoping that I'd get some fight out of knocking USC.  I was way off...  Anyhow, thanks for the good info from all.   I have no idea if/when this will/won't happen.  Just an offhand comment from my manager about next moves up the career ladder.  I'll keep the Pontucky comments in mind since I am trying to get away from the real Kentucky.  Not really a fan.  If I am heading to the area I'll throw up a post to let you guys know.  Thanks again!

[r_ciao]

people hate USC b/c they are arrogant.
though, apparently not above the ethics rules.
giving back the Heisman has got to tarnish SC's image.
there's so much more to the Pac-10 than USC.  really.
Go Cal Bears!

[Popeye the Sailor]

If lane splitting and year round riding don't sway you on the moto forum I don't know what will 

[MendoDave]

I assume you would be getting a raise during this move? The best suggestion I heard is to come out and stay for  few days / week and check out the area.

[ngk12]

i agree that you should come out and have alook around. Plus if it were me, id go back to the neighborhoods you like after dark. take a look around and see what type of people and activity goes on at night in the neighborhood. youd be surprised how many places in so cal look OK during the day, but turn into complete trash at night.

Good luck with the move, if it happens

[herm]

Well, I never really expected this, but I may be moving to southern California in the next year or so.  The only places in Cali I have been were LAX and San Francisco's airport, which doesn't count for much.  I'd be working at the Ontario airport, but know enough about the town to not want anything to do with living there. 

So here are the questions.  Where would you live if you were moving your family out there?  I've got a 4 bed two bath 2,100sq ft house now and would like to shoot for something similar.  Access to mountain biking and motorcycle roads would be important.  I like to live an outdoor lifestyle, so camping, hiking, swimming nearby would be good also. Commute to work that isn't 8 hours long would be nice.  All housing is going to be too expensive for me after being used to a Midwest budget, but what am I looking at for a safe neighborhood for the kids?  Also, where specifically should I avoid?

southern california in general..

[mraff]

I live in Santa Barbara (by the way Bacon Junkie and I are riding Sunday morning if'n you wanna meet us in Ojai)

Between Oxnard and Camarillo I'd take Oxnard. Nice town. Seems laid back. Moorpark area could be worse. LOTS of good riding around there and likely some good home prices about now too. Some decent restaurants as well.

sac

Move to Ojai (all the outdoor activities you need), get transfered to work at Oxnard Airport, get your morning coffee at "full of beans" and have a relaxing, fun and twisty 2 wheel commute w/o traffic to and from work each day.

[Grappa]

Starting to sound kinda like this....

California ad (Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Beckham & Rob Lowe)

[Kopfjager]

Starting to sound kinda like this....

California ad (Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Beckham & Rob Lowe)

[DW]

Yes, California would be a great place to live on the Governator's budget!  Of course, on their budget almost any place would be nice to live.

As far as visiting places at night before buying, I always do that.  The other piece of advice is to check out runway headings that point right at your house.  It is amazing how many people work in aviation and still buy houses right under approach/departure paths because they don't look.

[Grampa]

 


California es un maravilloso lugar para vivir. una tierra de oportunidades para todos. aparcamiento gratuito demasiado.

[NoisyDante]

California es un maravilloso lugar para vivir. una tierra de oportunidades para todos. aparcamiento gratuito demasiado.

[Privateer]

Well, I never really expected this, but I may be moving to southern California in the next year or so.  The only places in Cali I have been were LAX and San Francisco's airport, which doesn't count for much.  I'd be working at the Ontario airport, but know enough about the town to not want anything to do with living there. 

So here are the questions.  Where would you live if you were moving your family out there?  I've got a 4 bed two bath 2,100sq ft house now and would like to shoot for something similar.  Access to mountain biking and motorcycle roads would be important.  I like to live an outdoor lifestyle, so camping, hiking, swimming nearby would be good also. Commute to work that isn't 8 hours long would be nice.  All housing is going to be too expensive for me after being used to a Midwest budget, but what am I looking at for a safe neighborhood for the kids?  Also, where specifically should I avoid?

I'd pick Chino Hills (I lived there for several years and have friends who still do) or Rancho Cucamonga.  In general they have newer developments so you'll find newer houses with younger families.  I know how it is moving into a neighborhood that has no kids for your own kids to play with.

Chino Hills to Ontario airport area is not far, and for the most part you're going against traffic.  The newest section of Chino Hills has a brand new high school, well, a couple years, and most of the other schools are in the 15 year old range.  By contrast, I live in a developed area of OC and my kid's school was built in the 60's I'm pretty sure.  Everything's upgraded with new technology and all, but still that institutional red brick look depresses me.

And yeah, as Nick said, there are bad areas of any town.  In addition to the suggestion of visiting a place after dark, I suggest visiting it on a weekend.  See what it's like when everyone's off work and school.  My neighbor across the street from me used to blare his banda (mexican polka music, basically) music all day saturday until I wanted to scratch my eyes out.

If there's a HOA, make sure you scrutinize the CC&R.  Some have pretty draconian rules about motorcycles and/or working on vehicles in your driveway/garage.

If you can find something in your price range, Claremont is very nice also but more upscale than Chino Hills.

In general the further east and north you go from the airport the more.. uh rural it'll get, to a point.  But also you're likely to find more foreclosure neighborhoods (that is, neighborhoods that imploded due to speculators or people who got loans they could have never afforded).

Let me know what other questions you have and I'll do the best I can to help.

[desmoworks]

I just moved to downtown LA - maybe not good for a "traditional" family, but it is fantastic for me, my soon to be wife and our dog-child. LOTS to do and all close by. You just have to go at the right times. 5pm is not the right time unless what you want to do involves sitting in traffic 

It's easy to get to the beach, shopping, mountains, tracks, amazing roads to ride on, etc... the weather is fantastic as well. Hannah and I love it here 

[derby]

I just moved to downtown LA

welcome to LA... have you made it to bike night (santa monica, not hollywood) yet?