The Great California Exodus (Susanville, California City: mover, utilities, sales tax)

[Deezus]

I grew up in Santa Cruz(with time spent around Tahoe and the Bay Area and most of my other family in those areas or Sacramento Valley) and I never, ever heard anyone ever identify with being from "Central California". There was plenty of "Nor Cal Pride" stickers and businesses named "Nor Cal ___"--as well as an opposition to Southern California and allegiance with Bay Area sports teams. The Central Coast is it's own entity that comes up on local newscasts, but most people identify either with Northern California or Southern California. If people ask me where I'm from, I'll say Northern California if they don't understand the specific geography of the region.

[Ceece]

When you talk "norcal" and "socal" then the bay area is clearly in "norcal" land. I've lived here my whole life and it is so. Most people do refer to it as "the bay" however, just to get more specific since even dividing the state into north and south does little to identify where you are actually talking about and much of the area north of the bay is a world unto itself and has nothing to do with bay area anything.

[CousinMaynard]

Originally Posted by Deezus

I grew up in Santa Cruz(with time spent around Tahoe and the Bay Area and most of my other family in those areas or Sacramento Valley) and I never, ever heard anyone ever identify with being from "Central California". There was plenty of "Nor Cal Pride" stickers and businesses named "Nor Cal ___"--as well as an opposition to Southern California and allegiance with Bay Area sports teams. The Central Coast is it's own entity that comes up on local newscasts, but most people identify either with Northern California or Southern California. If people ask me where I'm from, I'll say Northern California if they don't understand the specific geography of the region.

wow, i wish i was real nor cal. were there any flannel shirts involved?

the guys at seaside point up by where you are would love to hear all that.

[Deezus]

Originally Posted by CousinMaynard

wow, i wish i was real nor cal. were there any flannel shirts involved?

the guys at seaside point up by where you are would love to hear all that.

Sure, whatever you say... Just making a point from my own experience, people identify as being from Northern California and not "Central California."

And Seaside, Oregon is a craphole with a breed of inbred local tweakers as bad as even Santa Cruz, so I try to stay away from that dump.

[nightbird47]

Originally Posted by Onthevergeofanervous

CA does have a great deal of beauty, the problem is after you pay your mortgage and put gas in your car you can not afford to go any where but work, and if you try you will be stuck in traffic for hours getting there.

Thats the rub. A friend of mine, formerly from California, and I also an expat, were talking about places which are pretty. She is moving to Kentucy, but finds Oklahoma a pretty state too. Not specatcular, but not dull. And the thing is, to see it all you have to do is drive out of town. You don't have to plan a vacation. At least in most of socal, you drive out of town all you get is more town. Last time I went to the beach from inland it took over two hours with traffic, and we left early to beat the traffic too. We spend more time in the car than near the beach.

Having stunning beauty for a once a year trip is NOT the same as having open space with trees and hills which is there all the time for you to see.

[WesternPilgrim]

I'm convinced that only meaningful division of California is coastal and interior, not northern and southern.

[.highnlite]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

Thats the rub. A friend of mine, formerly from California, and I also an expat, were talking about places which are pretty. She is moving to Kentucy, but finds Oklahoma a pretty state too. Not specatcular, but not dull. And the thing is, to see it all you have to do is drive out of town. You don't have to plan a vacation. At least in most of socal, you drive out of town all you get is more town. Last time I went to the beach from inland it took over two hours with traffic, and we left early to beat the traffic too. We spend more time in the car than near the beach.

Having stunning beauty for a once a year trip is NOT the same as having open space with trees and hills which is there all the time for you to see.

You do understand that you do not have to live in Mordor, you don't have to move to Kentucky or Oklahoma to live in charming rural areas.

You can leave Mordor.

You should leave Mordor.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by nightbird47

Thats the rub. A friend of mine, formerly from California, and I also an expat, were talking about places which are pretty. She is moving to Kentucy, but finds Oklahoma a pretty state too. Not specatcular, but not dull. And the thing is, to see it all you have to do is drive out of town. You don't have to plan a vacation. At least in most of socal, you drive out of town all you get is more town. Last time I went to the beach from inland it took over two hours with traffic, and we left early to beat the traffic too. We spend more time in the car than near the beach.

Having stunning beauty for a once a year trip is NOT the same as having open space with trees and hills which is there all the time for you to see.

Bingo.

CA is a great State with some major problems as well. It is NOT the "best" State as that is in the eye of the beholder.

My wife and I were both born and raised in CA. She likes it anywhere but CA and I lean towards CA as my last place to live, even if I move in the future. Strange as it may seem I will live in a less than "perfect"
State to be with my wife. Wonder where will will live next.

[nullgeo]

This distinction, between urban and rural, that .highnlite illuminates again and again is so glaringly obvious. If what bothers a person about their life is urban in character, one need only move rural. The notion that "other places" offer "freedom" from California's oppressiveness is remarkably illogical. Crowding of population density, traffic congestion, impersonalization of communities, crime, etc are urban issues -- wherever there is a city. California has as much rural variety as anywhere in the country.

That said, I encourage emigration out of California. Can't happen enough or fast enough for me. But flipping the bird on your way out the door is a bit immature if the reasons for leaving are urban to rural flight.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

This distinction, between urban and rural, that .highnlite illuminates again and again is so glaringly obvious. If what bothers a person about their life is urban in character, one need only move rural. The notion that "other places" offer "freedom" from California's oppressiveness is remarkably illogical. Crowding of population density, traffic congestion, impersonalization of communities, crime, etc are urban issues -- wherever there is a city. California has as much rural variety as anywhere in the country.

That said, I encourage emigration out of California. Can't happen enough or fast enough for me. But flipping the bird on your way out the door is a bit immature if the reasons for leaving are urban to rural flight.

But for many, not the jobs to support would-be movers/dwellers. Not everyone can work from home or live on the ancestral farm. There is no broad-brush solution.