Best place to live, SoCal or otherwise.

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chocobosandwich_IHB

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So I am looking for a place with good weather and no weather extremes and SoCal sounds like a good place to make a permanent home. I live on the coast near Houston and it is basically 90+ right now with over 70% humidity. Getting closer inland the temperature goes into the low 100s but the humidity drops a bit. And I hate the mosquitoes.



Anyway, I was wondering about a few things about SoCal. How bad is this so called smog that has been mentioned quite a number of times? Does it really inhibit breathing and how comparable is it to breathing stuffy, humid air? And about the sunshine. I am a bit photophobic so too much sunshine can be a bad thing. Is it brighter than normal or is it just regular commonplace sunshine? The earthquakes and fires also worry me a bit, since I?m always hearing about so and so place is burning up in Cali plastered all over the news.



Since many of the commentors here seem to have experience living in various places, what would be a good alternative to Irvine/SoCal? I don?t really mind having four seasons as long as there are no big extremes. I also don?t want sunshine 100% of the time and would like rainy days where the air is clean and it feels nice to sleep in, lullabied by the pit-pattering of the rain. I hate mosquitoes though so maybe not too much rain. I would also love to have light snow, just enough to be knee deep, maybe a month or so during the year, but with no freezing temperatures and no need to shovel the driveway or throw salt on the road. Yeah, basically all a pipedream, having the best of all four seasons without the negatives to drag you down. Does this nirvana exist?
 
[quote author="chocobosandwich" date=1250914836]

Since many of the commentors here seem to have experience living in various places, what would be a good alternative to Irvine/SoCal? I don?t really mind having four seasons as long as there are no big extremes. I also don?t want sunshine 100% of the time and would like rainy days where the air is clean and it feels nice to sleep in, lullabied by the pit-pattering of the rain. I hate mosquitoes though so maybe not too much rain. I would also love to have light snow, just enough to be knee deep, maybe a month or so during the year, but with no freezing temperatures and no need to shovel the driveway or throw salt on the road. Yeah, basically all a pipedream, having the best of all four seasons without the negatives to drag you down. Does this nirvana exist?</blockquote>


Welcome, Choco.



I would like to suggest you read IrvineRenter's excellent post called <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/blog/comments/capeberry-quail-hill-irvine/">"Climate Value"</a>. He writes about his experience living in various parts of the country and how they compare to So Cal.
 
[quote author="chocobosandwich" date=1250914836]I don?t really mind having four seasons as long as there are no big extremes. I also don?t want sunshine 100% of the time and would like rainy days where the air is clean and it feels nice to sleep in, lullabied by the pit-pattering of the rain. I hate mosquitoes though so maybe not too much rain. I would also love to have light snow, just enough to be knee deep, maybe a month or so during the year, but with no freezing temperatures and no need to shovel the driveway or throw salt on the road. Yeah, basically all a pipedream, having the best of all four seasons without the negatives to drag you down. Does this nirvana exist?</blockquote>


Seattle.
 
[quote author="chocobosandwich" date=1250914836]So I am looking for a place with good weather and no weather extremes and SoCal sounds like a good place to make a permanent home. I live on the coast near Houston and it is basically 90+ right now with over 70% humidity. Getting closer inland the temperature goes into the low 100s but the humidity drops a bit. And I hate the mosquitoes.



Anyway, I was wondering about a few things about SoCal. How bad is this so called smog that has been mentioned quite a number of times? Does it really inhibit breathing and how comparable is it to breathing stuffy, humid air? And about the sunshine. I am a bit photophobic so too much sunshine can be a bad thing. Is it brighter than normal or is it just regular commonplace sunshine? The earthquakes and fires also worry me a bit, since I?m always hearing about so and so place is burning up in Cali plastered all over the news.



Since many of the commentors here seem to have experience living in various places, what would be a good alternative to Irvine/SoCal? I don?t really mind having four seasons as long as there are no big extremes. I also don?t want sunshine 100% of the time and would like rainy days where the air is clean and it feels nice to sleep in, lullabied by the pit-pattering of the rain. I hate mosquitoes though so maybe not too much rain. I would also love to have light snow, just enough to be knee deep, maybe a month or so during the year, but with no freezing temperatures and no need to shovel the driveway or throw salt on the road. Yeah, basically all a pipedream, having the best of all four seasons without the negatives to drag you down. Does this nirvana exist?</blockquote>


First of all, Wark Wark!



Sounds like you can find Nirvana the same way Kurt Cobain did ... in Seattle.
 
Welcome!



You didn't mention employment, so can we assume you're planning to win the MegaMillions lottery? (It's more than $130 million cash value tonight.) If climate was my ONLY concern, I would pick either Northern California, Santa Barbara, or San Diego. The farther south, the closer to the coast you would want to stay. The coastal waters here are cold, so we don't have the humidity problems you experience on the Gulf of Mexico.



If you insist on snow and change of seasons, just live down here but drive a couple of hours and you are in the mountains for recreation, and you'll have all the winter snow you want.



I also suggest you read through the following thread on this blog: <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/5277/">Malibu Renter's Summer in Dallas </a> which can give you some insight into the differences between living in Texas and living here.



The smog is still present in some locations but it is much improved over past decades. My first summer here (1980), I can remember driving home from work on a summer evening with my headlights on. It wasn't near sunset, but the smog made in necessary to turn on the lights until I got near the coast. That doesn't happen anymore. Not even close. But live near the coast, if you can. Stay away from inland valleys near and east of Los Angeles.
 
Personally I love San Diego's weather. But it really doesn't have a change of seasons and definitely no snow. Have you ever been to Colorado? They get at least 200+days of sunshine and snow. I was in Denver in April and there was snow on the ground but I was out in my Cali wear because it was so warm because of the sun.
 
Definately Denver, CO. The winters are mild. Sure it will snow, but then a day or two later it will be 50 degrees and it will all melt. Plus the sunshine makes it not so cold. I never wore a true winter coat when I lived there, just a jacket. There is alot of sunshine, but it rains and will be cloudy too. Like CA, there is alot to do outside, if that is what you are in to. I have lived all over the country and most definately Denver is my 2nd favorite spot after OC.
 
[quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1250930574]Maui</blockquote>


Awww, yeah that's good too. My ansetors are from the island of Terceira. I've never been but I always feel at home when I'm on a Island.
 
[quote author="GoIllini" date=1250920724]Welcome!



You didn't mention employment, so can we assume you're planning to win the MegaMillions lottery? </blockquote>


That takes Carmel off the table.
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1250944285][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1250930574]Maui</blockquote>


Awww, yeah that's good too. My ansetors are from the island of Terceira. I've never been but I always feel at home when I'm on a Island.</blockquote>
Yeah, it's so relaxing and I love how the people are so laid back.
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1250944285][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1250930574]Maui</blockquote>


Awww, yeah that's good too. My ansetors are from the island of Terceira. I've never been but I always feel at home when I'm on a Island.</blockquote>


Most of mine are too! I think my great-grandmother was from Sao Miguel.
 
[quote author="no_vaseline" date=1250980210][quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1250944285][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1250930574]Maui</blockquote>


Awww, yeah that's good too. My ansetors are from the island of Terceira. I've never been but I always feel at home when I'm on a Island.</blockquote>


Most of mine are too! I think my great-grandmother was from Sao Miguel.</blockquote>


Oh no, I'm related to No Vas. ha ha Most I know about my family history is on my grandfather's side. But I'm certain my grandmother's side came from Soa Miguel. One of my Great Uncles operates a Diary Farm in the Central Valley. I wonder if our dad knows him.
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1250983901][quote author="no_vaseline" date=1250980210][quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1250944285][quote author="usctrojanman29" date=1250930574]Maui</blockquote>


Awww, yeah that's good too. My ansetors are from the island of Terceira. I've never been but I always feel at home when I'm on a Island.</blockquote>


Most of mine are too! I think my great-grandmother was from Sao Miguel.</blockquote>


Oh no, I'm related to No Vas. ha ha Most I know about my family history is on my grandfather's side. But I'm pretty certain my grandmother's side came from Soa Miguel. One of my Great Uncles operates a Diary Farm in the Central Valley. I wonder if our dad knows him.</blockquote>


I wonder if I know him!



When I was in high school, I met a girl from a neighboring town (30 miles away) at Pismo Beach, and got her to go on a date with me the next weekend. When I met her, she was hanging out with my cousin Dawn. When I picked her up, I asked her "How do you know Dawn?" and she replied "She's my cousin". Turned out this girl was related to me the exact same way as my cousin Dawn. Date over - turned around and took her home - all of three minutes.



I married a nice girl of Croatian ancestory from another small town 20 more miles away (just to be safe).
 
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