I'm in Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area (San Jose area to be exact). Anyone else out there?
Beth

I'm in So Cal 50 miles from LA and 20 minutes from San Bernardino.... Fontana area
Fern

My closest friend moved to Upland about 2.5 years ago, you're not far from her. My dd13 is going to Disneyland the first weekend of March for a cheer competition, so my friend is going to meet us and we get to spend the whole day together!

How's the weather been down by you? It's been very very cold up here, sort of unusual to have it last so long. And I heard about snow on the Grapevine a few days ago!

Beth

Hiya Beth!

I'm a 3 hour drive north of you.

Starsapphire, you must not be too far from me. I am in Sonoma County.

Not to far at all, Stella. My dad lives in Sonoma :)

I live in a suburb of Los Angeles. I love vacationing in the Carmel area.

I am in Nebraska now but I am originally from the Los Angeles area.

Hey everyone! I was going to ask where everyone loves to go the most (in state) but I see Autumn beat me to it! LOL

As for me, I love going to the snow. We usually go to Arnold/Bear Valley area every winter and rent a house (hard to call them "cabins", they're nicer than the house we live in! lol). Maybe because I grew up in Utah and Idaho and lived in Colorado for a short while, but I miss snow!

The other place I love is San Diego! I think if I was going to live anywhere else in California, that is where I would choose.

For short weekend getaways, we usually go to Monterey and go to the aquarium. I love the path that goes along the beach too. Funniest thing, last time we were there, we had walked about 2 miles on the path towards Pacific Grove. All of a sudden our next-door neighbor and his kids rode up to us on their bikes! LOL We had no idea they'd also gone for the weekend.

I love Monterey. The Sea Aquarium is awesome. I love the restaurant there. I also love visiting Sequoia. I'm with you, San Diego is also awesome.

I am also in So Cal! We love Cambria/San Simeon/Monterey (love the aquarium too!!) area and tend to end up there for vacations. We also love San Diego :)

Anyone else getting any rain? It's raining here in the Bay Area. We haven't had rain in ages!

I read Dave Ramsey's book this week. I decided to follow his advice and took money out of savings (dh is against doing this altho he agrees with why pay interest charges on a cc when it is higher than interest earnings in savings) to pay off our cc. We also had some money from our medical flex account. So now, savings is a little low. All we have left now is our car loan. I am hoping to get that paid off before ds1 goes to college in 18 months!

Do you gals follow any particular program for budgeting/debt reduction/etc?
Beth

Hey everyone...I'm not from California, but I was wondering what your living costs are like? How much is electricity and food and rent, on average? And other expenses like that.... I applied for some jobs out there, and while it's very likely I won't get a job offer, I was still wondering what the costs are like.

I am also in So Cal! We love Cambria/San Simeon/Monterey (love the aquarium too!!) area and tend to end up there for vacations. We also love San Diego

I live in San Diego I was born in Van Nuys; I grew up in Agoura Hills.
I am a CA native:choco:

I kinda grew up in Cambria. My parents bought a lot in ParkHill there on their honeymoon and built a house and I actually helped build it too!

Maybe that is why I am obsessed or possesed with buying property.
It is in my blood.:animated:

Hey Mindy,
I live about an hour south of San Francisco, in Silicon Valley.

Rent on a 2 bedroom apt in this area runs around $1200/month.

Electricity for our home (2 levels, 2500 sq ft) is ave $300 month, highest in Dec-Jan and Jul-Aug.

Gasoline is higher in California because of stricter rules, so right now it's $2.49/gal for reg unleaded, altho it is inching down slightly (dh paid $2.41/gal yesterday).

Median home price is around $650,000 for this area, that will likely get you a 3 bd/2 ba, 1500 sq ft.

Food would depend on how many you buy for, etc. Milk at Safeway (store brand) is about $4.35 for 2 gals, organic milk is around $6/gal.

Having said that, the central valley areas (Fresno, Modesto, etc.) and much of southern Ca (outlying areas of LA, etc) tend to be less expensive than here where I am. I don't really have any info on any areas north of SF since I don't know anyone living up there.

Good luck!
Beth

Mindy,
Here's another board with all sorts of data and forum discussions on relocating. You might find more info there!

http://www.city-data.com/forum/california/

Beth

I'm in Cali. the Antelope Valley to be exact. I love Ventura and Port Hueneme to get away. Its close so easy for weekends

Northern California, wine country. Sonoma County

I'm in Orange County. Planning to move this summer.

We live in Monterey County, at the southern end...

I live in Orange county. My husband was born and raised here, but I've only lived here for 3 years.

I live in San Diego County, San Marcos to be exact. I was born and raised in Santa Barbara.

In Redding CA, it is nice, but HOTTTTT... lots of new homes going up, pop is growing like crazy... check us out.

I live in Cali too. I livei n the valley but work in the central coast. Santa Cruz area. So I get the nice cool weather in the day and warm weather at night and on weekends.

I live in San Marcos, just north of San Diego. We're considering a move to Northern California in the future. I've lived here just under 2 years, and my SO's lived here about 6 years.

We like the area, but the cost of housing is outrageous. I'm from St Louis, where housing prices are more reasonable.

We were looking into Redding, due to the hospital that is in the area. My SO works as an x-ray tech.

I have relatives that are retired school teachers and very frugal and they live in Redding, so it must be a pretty reasonable cost of living if there is such a thing in California.

They lived in a town about 1-1/2 hours from there that was remote and with their health problems they felt that they needed to move to Redding as there are hospitals there that they felt they could trust.

I hope that this information helps you.

I live in San Marcos, just north of San Diego. We're considering a move to Northern California in the future. I've lived here just under 2 years, and my SO's lived here about 6 years.

We like the area, but the cost of housing is outrageous. I'm from St Louis, where housing prices are more reasonable.

We were looking into Redding, due to the hospital that is in the area. My SO works as an x-ray tech.

Sorry I don't have any advice about moving to Northern California but I have lived in San Marcos for 21 years. We're neighbors! I just now moved to Escondido but if I walk across the street I am in San Marcos. I love it here but it is too expensive. I figure when the kids are done with school I will probably have to move somewhere cheaper.
Leeann

Sorry I don't have any advice about moving to Northern California but I have lived in San Marcos for 21 years. We're neighbors! I just now moved to Escondido but if I walk across the street I am in San Marcos. I love it here but it is too expensive. I figure when the kids are done with school I will probably have to move somewhere cheaper.
Leeann


We like the area, but the housing prices are out of our league. :sigh:

I live in Cali too. I livei n the valley but work in the central coast. Santa Cruz area. So I get the nice cool weather in the day and warm weather at night and on weekends.

I love the Santa Cruz area. My SIL lives up there so we get to visit a few times a year.

I'm in LA County, about 30 minutes east of downtown.

Hi, I just joined this forum. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Does anyone here live close to me?

Hi, I just joined this forum. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. Does anyone here live close to me?

I used to live in Silicon Valley, DH is from East Bay. Just wanted to say hi! :)

Sonoma county-Northern California

We lived in San Jose for awhile, loved it...we are currently outside of Sacramento, where I have spent most of my life...working at getting to Arizona!

I live just south of San Jose in Hollister! My hubby works in Santa Clara County though. :wave2:

I'm in San Diego.

I use to live in Hollister. I am in the middle of finding a place. Not sure if I will end up in Salinas or Hollister. My home town is Watsonville.

I'm in Huntington Beach... SoCal

Diamond Bar, CA. I like it here. But Capistrano area would be a great place to live. I also like Santa Barbara area. Favorite things to do in So Cal-whale watching, Big Bear in the Winter. Solvang for some dessert, Beaches. Orange county swap meet for fun and great margaritas. Newport pier for some fish and chips. Galaxy or Chivas games. Also college soccer.

Greetings from El Dorado County, near Placerville.

I'm in Santa Maria in Santa Barbara Co. California's Central Coast. It's beautiful here.