Considering move to CA (Oxnard, Rancho Cucamonga: 2013, rent, how much)

[chiluvr1228]

Are any of the areas mentioned experiencing fires right now? My heart breaks for all the people and animals that live in those fire areas. It's so sad watching an entire home just go up in flames. Between the high COL, earthquakes, fires, mudslides, etc. I would never want to live there although I'm sure it is a beautiful state.

My late husband lived in San Jose before moving back to NY and he loved it there. That's where he wants his ashes spread.

[mleonards]

Originally Posted by chiluvr1228

Are any of the areas mentioned experiencing fires right now? My heart breaks for all the people and animals that live in those fire areas. It's so sad watching an entire home just go up in flames. Between the high COL, earthquakes, fires, mudslides, etc. I would never want to live there although I'm sure it is a beautiful state.

My late husband lived in San Jose before moving back to NY and he loved it there. That's where he wants his ashes spread.

Yes the fires are terrible. But I don’t see that as a reason to not live there. There is something about every area. In Indiana we have tornados, and it’s gray and gloomy 6 months of the year lol. Everytime I have visited the west coast I haven’t wanted to leave.

[NorCalMan]

Originally Posted by chiluvr1228

Are any of the areas mentioned experiencing fires right now? My heart breaks for all the people and animals that live in those fire areas. It's so sad watching an entire home just go up in flames. Between the high COL, earthquakes, fires, mudslides, etc. I would never want to live there although I'm sure it is a beautiful state.

My late husband lived in San Jose before moving back to NY and he loved it there. That's where he wants his ashes spread.

The Sacramento area is usually spared serious fires. Our fires are mostly related to homeless starting fires at their camps along the rivers or under overpasses. The Camp Fire last year was 2 hours north east of Sacramento, however, because of the wind direction the smoke hung over the Sacramento area for about two weeks. Every few years we'll get a fire in the Tahoe or El Dorado National forests east of Sacramento, again, no threat to Sacramento but we can get the smoke depending on the wind direction.

Regarding earthquakes, we can feel them here but it's rare. I felt the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 but it was nothing. If the San Andreas fault were to slip Sacramento would likely be spared. The Hayward Fault is another fault that's overdue but it's relatively small and is situated mainly in the east SF bay area.

Mudslides are a southern California thing. We don't get them in Sacramento. As Socal expanded builders thought it would be a great idea to build homes up on steep mountainsides that rise quickly from the ocean to 3K feet, these mountains are little more than soil on rock. The low growing chaparral that anchors soil has been destroyed by building and fires so when it rains there's nothing holding that soil on in place. Sacramento is different in that the elevation increases from 200' above sea level to over 10k feet around Lake Tahoe over a span of 90 miles or so. Just to go from 200' to 3k feet takes 45 minutes.

While we are largely protected from the whims of mother nature, because we do sit in a bowl, we can get smoggy summer air and foggy winter weather. That said, this past summer was one of the clearest and cleanest on record and while the eastern US is about ready to freeze, we're pushing 80 degrees all week.

[mleonards]

Originally Posted by NorCalMan

The Sacramento area is usually spared serious fires. Our fires are mostly related to homeless starting fires at their camps along the rivers or under overpasses. The Camp Fire last year was 2 hours north east of Sacramento, however, because of the wind direction the smoke hung over the Sacramento area for about two weeks. Every few years we'll get a fire in the Tahoe or El Dorado National forests east of Sacramento, again, no threat to Sacramento but we can get the smoke depending on the wind direction.

Regarding earthquakes, we can feel them here but it's rare. I felt the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 but it was nothing. If the San Andreas fault were to slip Sacramento would likely be spared. The Hayward Fault is another fault that's overdue but it's relatively small and is situated mainly in the east SF bay area.

Mudslides are a southern California thing. We don't get them in Sacramento. As Socal expanded builders thought it would be a great idea to build homes up on steep mountainsides that rise quickly from the ocean to 3K feet, these mountains are little more than soil on rock. The low growing chaparral that anchors soil has been destroyed by building and fires so when it rains there's nothing holding that soil on in place. Sacramento is different in that the elevation increases from 200' above sea level to over 10k feet around Lake Tahoe over a span of 90 miles or so. Just to go from 200' to 3k feet takes 45 minutes.

While we are largely protected from the whims of mother nature, because we do sit in a bowl, we can get smoggy summer air and foggy winter weather. That said, this past summer was one of the clearest and cleanest on record and while the eastern US is about ready to freeze, we're pushing 80 degrees all week.

I'm not gonna lie... I can't wait to not be cold anymore! LOL!! I am not a huge fan of the 100 percent humid heat that Florida gets though so I don't want to move south. But the dry heat I like. I am freezing here in Indy for half of the year, then the other half of the year I am afraid tog outside because I get bitten by mosquitos just checking my mail. ha.

[saibot]

It's not that hard to ensure you're not buying a house in a wildfire or mudslide zone. Most residential areas in California are not prone to either. I hate it when smoke drifts over from a fire somewhere else, but that's fairly rare, not even an annual thing, and count me in with those who will happily put up with a couple of days with a smoky smell in exchange for no long, freezing winter or muggy, buggy summer.

[NorCalMan]

Originally Posted by mleonards

I'm not gonna lie... I can't wait to not be cold anymore! LOL!! I am not a huge fan of the 100 percent humid heat that Florida gets though so I don't want to move south. But the dry heat I like. I am freezing here in Indy for half of the year, then the other half of the year I am afraid tog outside because I get bitten by mosquitos just checking my mail. ha.

Years ago we lived for a short time near Mt. Shasta in far northern California, Siskiyou County. A new community hospital clinic opened up and the two married doctors that staffed the place were recent transplants from Indiana. Even though northern California gets far colder than Sacramento they said the winters here were nothing compared to Indiana, they were so happy to have moved to California.

[mleonards]

Originally Posted by NorCalMan

Years ago we lived for a short time near Mt. Shasta in far northern California, Siskiyou County. A new community hospital clinic opened up and the two married doctors that staffed the place were recent transplants from Indiana. Even though northern California gets far colder than Sacramento they said the winters here were nothing compared to Indiana, they were so happy to have moved to California.

Oh I am SURE! Indiana sucks. Don't come here. ha. I have lived here so long and I only wish I would have moved when I was younger and before I had kids.... but can't go back and change the past. Family is here, so that is what kept us here. But, we are older now and parents are older too....and my parents are actually considering retiring out west anyway, so it will be good either way.

We even considered the PNW since he just needs to be on the west coast. I have been to Seattle many times and it IS beautiful but not warm enough for me and rains A LOT. lol. I think we would be really happy just about anywhere in California, generally speaking.... as long as I can drive to the ocean for a day trip.

[Harpaint]

I love the Ventura area. It's close enough to LAX for your husband. Offers a wonderful coastal family lifestyle, and close enough to Santa Barbara and Los Angeles for special events.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by mleonards

Oh I am SURE! Indiana sucks. Don't come here. ha. I have lived here so long and I only wish I would have moved when I was younger and before I had kids.... but can't go back and change the past. Family is here, so that is what kept us here. But, we are older now and parents are older too....and my parents are actually considering retiring out west anyway, so it will be good either way.

We even considered the PNW since he just needs to be on the west coast. I have been to Seattle many times and it IS beautiful but not warm enough for me and rains A LOT. lol. I think we would be really happy just about anywhere in California, generally speaking.... as long as I can drive to the ocean for a day trip.

Do you want a hectic area though with lots to do or a more laid back area wit more focus on nature, hiking, visiting the beach and just taking life easy?

[Slimin]

Please don't move here. We have enough transplants already. Us natives are getting tired of the extra traffic, pollution, and competition. Stay in the Midwest.