Cookie Cutter houses in Irvine.

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
I can say from first hand experience that this is NOT the case in the part of Turtle Rock that my parents live in. The neighbors, most of whom are older and retired, have a great community. They do a group walk every morning, go on weekend journeys and have blockwide events all the time. I wish I could live in this area, but it is way out of my $$ range.





Like I said, these are older people who have lived here a long time. Many of these people are original owners from when the homes were built in 1976. As younger families move in, they don't join the community. They are missing out. Too busy working over time to pay for the BMW perhaps? Language barriers? Who knows.





I really think that the older parts of Irvine still have that great charm and great people in them. Any home built after 1985 is incredibly generic. Irvine, Riverside, or Sacremento, it doesn't matter, all of these new suburban tracts look the same. When you stand in University park, Turtle rock, or the lakes of woodbridge you know you are somewhere special. When you stand in Westpark or anywhere newer, you are in generic suburbia, USA. Why pay a premium for that?
 
<p>Irvine_native</p>

<p>I agree with you totally. The newer communities I lived in had a very different vibes than the older communities you mentioned. The older neighborhoods people bought their homes to live,raise their family and also to retire in. Grand kids come home to see grandpa and grandma in these older neighborhoods. People were not afraid to make friends because their intention is to pay off the 30 year loan.</p>

<p>In the newer neighborhoods homes are sold for profit to raise a family and to retire on. If the intention of the buyers were to be there for a short term just to make a profit then their mentality is to remain as discreet and stay invisible as possible. No one want to grow too attach to the neighborhood then it becomes harder to let go the investment. I see why my neighbors were so private. Homes around me were flipped several times and new neighbors hesitated to make friends.</p>
 
bkshopr,





I hadn't really contemplated how flipping harms the fabric of the community until I read your post. That is really sad, and unfortunately true.
 
<p>BK,</p>

<p>You have an extremely valid point. People in many parts of California just aren't friendly. Plain and simple. It's like everyone is suspicious of who you are/what your intentions are. The word that comes to mind is Aloof. Now of course, this doesn't mean ALL So Calians, but you know what I mean.</p>

<p>Let me give you a quick story to reiterate my point. I'm originally from Connecticut and own a house there, which I rent out. It rained a record amount last month, and as a result my basement flooded. I was home sleeping when my single female tenant tried to call me (phone off)... so she called my 74 yr old next door neighbor. Don't you know, at 10PM at night, he got out of bed, put a robe on and come over in the rain. He then called another neighbor who knew the french drain system in the house....and he did the same thing ! They went and got a snake from one of their businesses and tried snaking out the drain until midnight ! In their robes ! Now I just got a call from the tenant, that the 74 yr old has somehow commandeered a backhoe, and is digging up the front yard where the broken pipe is. Don't get me wrong, he knows he has cart blanche OK from me to do this, but I know I won't get a bill. That's just how we do things back East. I highly doubt that would happen here.... as a matter of fact, no matter how much I've tried - I wouldn't even know my neighbors phone number to call for assistance ! Sad. </p>

<p>Admit it....how many of you spend more time on the computer blogging with total strangers....than you do with actual live friends.</p>

<p>Trooper <<<<< hand raised.</p>

<p> </p>
 
I'm from CA, but currently in the east coast. The friendliness in the east actually annoyes me a bit. Living next to someone doesn't mean you have anything in common with them, usually you do not. I'm pretty sure everyone that everyone that I've lived around out here thinks I'm a total a$$hole, but I just don't have any interest in chatting with folks that I can't relate to.
 
I know, I know....not everyone. But this has been my common experience in 12 yrs. here... sigh. I really do think it's sad that the "keep everyone at arms length" theory seems so prevelant. Now, back to housing.
 
There is nothing sad about it. Not everyone thinks the same way as you, not everyone is interested in socializing with the folks in their neighborhood. 100 years ago you socialized with your community because that is all there was, but as technology enabled people to travel faster and with greater ease the traditional notion of "community" breaks down. This break down of communities is happening all over the country, its not just California. Its breaking down because it really makes little sense in light of modern technology. Why spend your time with people that don't share your interests when you can easily spend it instead with people that do?
 
On a totally practical note: Because you never know when you might need your neighbors and it's a safer place when everyone can rely on each other, at least a little. Neighborhood watches were one way neighbors came together for the safety of the community as a whole. Recently there were some stories in the newspapers about drug traffickers moving into the 'burbs because people leave you alone. All the neighbors were shocked when a big drug bust occurred down the street.





Disasters are another reason. I lived in Santa Cruz in '89, and it was only through the cooperation of the neighbors that the first week wasn't completely miserable. One person had a barbeque, another lots of bottled water, someone else had extra sleeping bags, etc. If my house catches fire, I sure would appreciate someone watching my pet while I fetch the important papers (if possible). While I appreciate the companionship and concern of my virtual friends, nothing beats having someone run to the store for you when you have the flu or are otherwise incapacitated. You never really know how much you need your neighbors until you do.





There is also a difference between spending every Saturday with neighbors versus once a quarter or so. I have found that many people who don't share my interests are really interesting and have allowed me to see the world in a different way or from a point of view I might not have otherwise considered. Plus, they can open up new opportunities for you or introduce you to things you had no idea you were interested in.
 
<p>I can see both Tyler's and Trooper's points. There must be a happy medium. I don't want nosy small-town folks prying into my business but the local situation of everyone ignoring (or sneering at) you just sucks.</p>

<p>SoCal has <strong>killed </strong>my inner southern hospitality. Yes, that would've been me snaking the drain at midnight but I damn sure wouldn't try anything like that around here. I save that for when I visit family.</p>

<p>The interesting thing is that the native OC'ers seem like a rather unpretentious lot. The ones screwing it up seem to be imports from the big northeast cites.</p>
 
<p>Eva and oc. Wish you were my neighbors ! I'm actually up in Hollywood though.... </p>

<p>Tyler, it's people like you that are contributing to the break down of the social fabric. But cool if that's what you want to do.</p>

<p>I think I'm going to do a "who are you" post. I'd like to know who I'm talking to ! (except NIR, I know she won't tell ! ) </p>

<p>Actually, I think it would be a blast if we all planned to meet at a coffee house some Sunday morning. But wait. This is SoCal. :0 </p>
 
<p>Trooper,</p>

<p>Do you not think I have gotten enough "beatings" from you bears? I probably will get eggs in my face if I ever show up in person.</p>

<p>I am not sure it's a good idea to meet in person as each one of us would appear somewhat different than what we were painted by the fellow bloggers; thus many surprises may come up. Like graphrix said he thinks he can figure out who I am but he chose not too because it's more fun. I tend to agree with graphrix. Why fix something that is not broken.</p>

<p>One thing I am impressed is the level of trust and support among the fellow bloggers. It's a good thing to keep this momentum going.</p>

<p> </p>
 
Trooper,





I'm contributing to the break down of the traditional social fabric, but not the "social fabric" in general. Technology changes things and the social fabric is one of them...the only way for it not to change is to get rid of the technology.In reality you are contributing to the break down your so called social fabric just as much as I, given the fact that you are here on your computer on this forum. But I really do love the "people like you" line. The only difference between me and you is that I'm happy where modern technology is taking us and you seem not to be.





I do have a feeling though that the people that complain about this aspect of California are either older or did not grow up in CA. Personally its not even something I thought about until I moved to the east for graduate school and noticed the differences between people here and in CA.
 
<p>Tyler,</p>

<p>The reason I spend so much time online IS because people seem mostly unfriendly here. I've mostly given up trying. I'm glad the technology is here too, or I'd be pretty dang bored. True, I grew up in New England....so I don't understand, nor particularly like, the arms length theory. It's like you going to the east coast and not liking the people because they're <em>too</em> friendly. (Gotta admit, that just amazes me). Same for me here....I'm friendly and folks here don't seem to reciprocate. I'm only here for my job...I'll be out of the city in 10 more years. Soooo, we'll just agree to disagree. And no, I'm not old ! ;) Have a good one.</p>
 
<p>NIR,</p>

<p>True. Anonymity is most likely best.... anyways, I have a mental picture of you also. You are always smiling.</p>
 
<p>I had to pipe into this discussion to say that the grass always seems greener...but it's actually brown as well. I had never really noticed the aloofness in so. CA residents until I moved away to the midwest and then moved back. Then when we moved back to the midwest, we met all of our neighbors and then after a while, they all started to annoy us. Why....because these neighbors created additional drama in our lives that we didn't need. There was always someone complaining about someone else, or traffic or landscaping, etc. Our neighbors across the street from us epitomize drama queen/king. We started calling them Wacko Jackos because they were over everytime I was outside mowing or weeding. We do our best to avoid them. </p>

<p>My wife and I both work full time and commute 2-hrs round trip. By the time we get home, we have our dog and kid to tend to including other house chores to get done. I mean, who's got the time to stand around and shoot the sh*t. Most of our neighbors, the wife stays home and they epitomize the clueless stay-at-homes. Sorry, I know that's insulting. Most of these suburbanites never go outside of development and city they reside in. As a result, we find we have very little in common with them other than we happen to reside in the same neighborhood.</p>

<p>We're planning a move back to So. Ca and I anticipate that we will be annoyed by the lack of neighbor-friendly attittudes. </p>
 
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