Where would YOU live in California?

Born and raised in San Jose (not many of us around!) and it would be hard to move. The diversity of the people, the things to do, places to go...To relax we do get out of the city but are always happy to return. If I had to move, it would be further north, its just so beautiful.

The inland empire is brutal in the summer. And let us not forget those nasty wildfires that tend to break out in nearby forested areas during dry heat spells. And even if you are spared from losing your home, the air pollution and traffic snarls can ruin quality of life.

I live in Westwood near UCLA. If you can manage to find housing near your job and walk to work, SoCal is a great place to live. But like others have stated, if you have to drive any distance to your job, traffic can be a killer. But honestly, it is not any worse than other big cities- I have not enjoyed rush hour in DC, NYC, Boston, Houston, Atlanta, even small cities like Charlottesville! I have found that it is sometimes possible to time your ride in LA/OC and make reasonable time.

Northern Cal all the way bro. Bay area and anywhere north from there is great! I work in the Napa Valley and love it!

Many posts back- question about Oakland. There are good areas and there are not so good areas. I worked at CHO (Children's Hospital Oakland) in heart of Oakland on Martin Luther King Way, and we once had police shouting, "Get the kids down!" as there was gun fire between 2 gangs. Then there are the Oakland Hills- prime real estate, beautiful and lush. Like most big cities, you will encounter unsavory parts. Personally, compared to San Fran just across the Bay, I think Oakland has more unsavory areas then many cities.
I agree with most of the posters, anything from Santa Cruz north is ideal. Living, weather, activities, friendly= wonderful quality of life. Just MHO.

I live in Calaveras cty east of Stockton and Sac. I live in the foothills and love it! But, I still work in SoCal where I have been for the past 30 years. I would never live in SoCal ever again. I don't mind working there though because I have a very unigue situation where I stay at the hospital while down south. I work in th OR and I am treated like I was a traveler. NorCal has such a different feel once you get past Fresno. It is hard to describe. I come home every other weekend for 5 days. It works out very well.

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