Tell me about California!

[bubbles17]

Well, after seeing CutiePie's Texas thread--c'mon Californians! Tell me more about California! I'm a native New yorker--and I've only been to CA twice--but my, my I love it there! I've only visited SF and LA--but California is certainly one of my most favorite destinations! I think I want to move to CA after college in NY!

[amycat412]

Well...where do I start? Possibly with--within a 90 minute drive I am in the middle of the desert, or up in the mountains skiing, or in 10 minutes I'm staring at the ocean...

With gorgeous natural landscape, amazing weather, and a million other things, I simply wouldn't live anywhere else.

So much more to say, but that's all the time I have right now...newbie? SoCalGirl? Theta-cutie? USCourtney? Persephone? Where are y'all?

[bubbles17]

Thanks Amy ! HOpefully more Californians come here and talk about the state, too!

[bebe_cHiCk17]

TEXAS KICKS cough*#%cough

[bubbles17]

Umm sorry bebe, but I totally disagree. I visited Texas before...gotta say, I hated it! Just doesn't work if you're a non-conservative, non-Republican! Sorry, I love CAli's environment WAYYYYYY more. Liberal, fun, welcoming, and as Amy said--a beach, a ski resort, a desert, a valley--all in Cali baby!

Plus I just thought that some Texans are sexist.

[CutiePie2000]

I'm not Californian but I will offer my input as I've been there 4x in my life.

I can mostly tell you about San Francisco and San Jose (Silicon Valley). San Francisco's weather can change on a dime and this is because of the San Francisco Bay. While in San Francisco, refer to it as "San Francisco" or "The City"....if you call it Frisco or San Fran, everyone will know you're a tourist (or from elsewhere!). San Francisco is fairly expensive and it can be tough to find a reasonably priced place where to live. Also, SF has homeless people like you wouldn't believe so if this is something that bothers you, I wouldn't recommend SF. The weather can be chilly in the summer (this is not suntanning and Beach Boys territory, but it can get hot, if it is not windy), but SF has great ammentities and night life. Also, as far as big cities go, I would say it is fairly safe...just avoid the neighbourhood known as "Tenderloin"....it is very scarey and rough!

San Jose (and surrounding areas): the heart of Silicon Valley. This is about 30 miles South of San Francisco and the climate is quite different. They used to have fruit orchards here, so the weather is hot and sunny. There isn't a lot of character to San Jose as it is a lot of business parks thanks to all the computer companies. Nicer cities are Redwood City, Palo Alto (Stanford Univ. is here!) and so on. San Jose and its surrounding areas have a high housing cost, thanks to all the I.T. firms in the area.

Los Angeles: I went to Disneyland when I was little so I don't remember much. I do remember going to Newport Beach and that it was lovely.

The only thing I would say about California is that it is probably one of the more expensive states to live in. But it is beautiful, the people are laid back and forward thinking. A lot of "trends" start out in California, like step aerobics, Tae-Bo that kind of thing. Californians are legendary for being the first to pioneer something.

If my Canadian citizenship thing wasn't an issue, I would be in California in 2 seconds!
You'll love it!!

[bebe_cHiCk17]

Originally posted by bubbles17:
Umm sorry bebe, but I totally disagree. I visited Texas before...gotta say, I hated it! Just doesn't work if you're a non-conservative, non-Republican! Sorry, I love CAli's environment WAYYYYYY more. Liberal, fun, welcoming, and as Amy said--a beach, a ski resort, a desert, a valley--all in Cali baby!

why are there 403184039243 californians in tx?

Plus I just thought that some Texans are sexist.

[Billy Optimist]

Originally posted by amycat412:


With gorgeous natural landscape, amazing weather, and a million other things, I simply wouldn't live anywhere else.

What is the weather like there? Is it humid?

I gotta agree about Cali. It definitely is the shizz. In another thread I mentioned that I would gladly leave Hawaii to be able to live in California, and I may actually have the chance if my prospective graduate schools accept me!

And bebechick's comment about "why are there 403184039243 californians in tx?"...WTF was that about?

------------------
"Talk doesn't cook rice."--Someone smart

Visit Alpha Gamma Delta-Delta Sigma chapter!

[This message has been edited by OohTeenyWahine (edited April 14, 2001).]

[amycat412]

Weather is amazing here Billy. Not too humid at all. Today it is 75 and sunny and the air smells like orange blossoms and jasmine. The hottest time of the year is August and September, when temps in the city reach 85 or 90. It can get into the 100's in the San Fernando Valley. I speak only of Los Angeles, here as that is where I live.

I've alos lived in San Diego and there is no more perfect climate on earth, IMHO.

AND, finally, I didn't see bebe_chicks post on the 4058675732 or whatever Californians in Texas, but, as an alum of USC, why was every other student there, from Texas?

Just showin' a little California pride. I happen to think this state is paradise--there is something for everyone here--whether you're a surfer, a skiier, a conservative, a liberal, a 'granola' or 'shallow.'

A

[bubbles17]

Thanks guys keep the comments coming!! California truly is the bomb. *sigh* I love NY, but I can't get enough of CA's weather, ppl, nightlife, etc. etc.!!

BEBE--1st graders have shown more class than you. If you don't like California--so be it, but you don't have to come on here and enter that ridiculous number in, saying that number of people have chosen to go to TX...so dear Bebe--do you got the stats to PROVE IT??? Or are you just naming off pointless things from the top of your head, which you can't even back up?? Get a life, please. you can go and praise Texas all you want--just don't do it here.

[SusanL5000]

I totally agree Bubbles!Like I said in a previous post, this is a college, grad and beyond chatroom....if a h.s. student has the class and maturity to post here, Welcome! If they don't....well, to the Yahoo! kiddie corner!

[SuperXO]

You are so right, Susan! I think she is probably just jealous of all the attention California gets!!

But, you know, the attention is well-deserved! There are so many pioneers here, so many progressives, so much fun and such a variety of everything. Here's a few things I love that no one else has mentioned:

California is just as diverse, and usually more so than any other place in the world! It's fun interacting with other cultures. Usually my favorite part is the different food. i love Thai, Japanese, Indian, Curry, nouvelle Californian and just about anything else there is to try.

Second, the environment. This is why people live here. Tons of people have already mentioned the weather and Amy stole the words right out of my mouth with access to different locales. Here's something else. Did you know California has the highest peak in the continental US (Mt. Whitney) and the lowest point in the world (Badwater, in Death Valley). And those two points are just a couple hours away from each other. In fact, in one day you could probably go to Badwater, then climb Mt. whitney, although you'd get real sick from the elevation!

I love the national parks here, cuz I love nature! Death Valley sounds awful, but is one of the most beautiful places on earth. It has the most extreme points on earth, with Badwater, like I mentioned at -200 ft. elevation and just about 11 miles away, 11,000 ft. telescope peak. They actually call it Death Valley because of how cold and snowy it is in winter, but it does get to almost 130 degrees in summer sometimes. There are volcanic craters, mountains, desert wildlife, mines, castles and sand dunes just like the Sahara.

And what about the Sierras? Aside from skiing, there are so many recreational activities like hangliding, hiking, mountain biking, and boating on the thousands of lakes. Pictures of Half Dome in Yosemite are always so inspirational to me and I am so excited to go see it in a couple of months for the first time in person. the great thing is that it is only a couple of hours away from my home in SF.

What else? the redwoods are world-renowned. Lake Tahoe and it's emerald bay is one of the most photographed spots on the planet. Hearst Castle is fun and on the beautiful drive up and down the coast on famous PCH- Highway 1.

What I love about Californians is how well they take care of their stuff. Yeah, everyone hears how polluted LA is, but we also know CA has the strictest emissions standards and so much protected National Park, State Park, National Forest and more land owned by the Bureau of Land Management than any other state except Alaska.

So, you can tell I am an environmentalist! There's nothing I love better than experiencing all the different facets of nature and making sure that it's not littered with trash and pollution...Californians are pretty good about this, IMO. Also, I thought this would present a slightly different perspective since when outsiders think of California, they typically think of Hollywood, Silicon Valley, beaches and LOTS of people! That's all true, but there's so much more! In fact, what does califonia not have? I don't know! It's a place of great beauty, craziness, and joy. Can you tell I am in love with my home state? I am so glad to be back!!!!!

[SuperXO]

Wow! I'm sorry for that last post, you guys! I hope no one gets eye-strain reading it...I had no idea I had typed so much!

[amycat412]

Well Said Super XO! And, I might add, we would not all be here today connecting thru greekchat if not for california-- the home of the first sucessful internet dial ups in the 60's between UCLA and Stanford.