questions for the O.C. coming from D.C.

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
I'll send you a more thoughtful response when I'm not at work. Small world, I just got back from Thanksgiving break and visited the folks in N. Potomac.



In brief, <strong>in my experience</strong>, no, salary is not adjusted accordingly - at least in Orange County but I think that is true for LA as well. Generally, people make somewhat less and spend more here. Generally speaking the DC job market is stronger, more varied, and more stable than in OC/LA. I'm sure there are some vertical exceptions. I think I've caveated every statement so as to not piss off the very gung ho on this board :)



To be more positive I do like it here. It's a fun change. It's very cool to be minutes from the beach and about an hour from the desert and mountains. Only the mountain part was true for me in my old home. Having sunshine every day is incredible. Exploring an entirely different part of the US is wonderful. That being said I'd move back in a couple years tops if I could talk my other half into it. I miss the history and culture of the DC area. I miss the seasons - well Spring and Autumn anyway. But mostly I miss the people which no doubt influences everything else.
 
[quote author="Fragnetic" date=1228197041][quote author="bkshopr" date=1228195645]



While my wife and I LOVE a good restaurant, we have no desire for overpriced items like LV and prefer to look (almost) as good for much less (bargain shopping). That may be anathema there in the OC, I dont know.</blockquote>


You are in good company my frined, good company.



-bix
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1228197709][quote author="Fragnetic" date=1228197041][quote author="bkshopr" date=1228195645]Fragnetic,



Do you live in McLean? If you like it there then you will love OC. PF Chang, Tiffanys and LV and etc. I am not the sporty type who enjoy outdoor activities thus good weather has no impact on me. I do like history, culture, arts and Planned city. DC out numbered OC in all of the above. Georgetown and Alexandria are two of the most admired towns in America. Mount Vernon the home of our founding father is just amazing. The museums, Capitol, Library of Congress, and memorials are the best in the world. It is an amazing city. OC has great weather, beaches, Disneyland and you can wear short all year round.</blockquote>


bk-- I dont live in Mclean, but I work right down the road in Vienna/Tysons. But having lived my entire life in and around the beltway, I don't have any problem with your depiction of Mclean. But after 30 years, all the pluses of the area you mentioned I have done over and again. Everything gets old after a while. I Feel the need to go someplace new, and why not completely different!



While my wife and I LOVE a good restaurant, we have no desire for overpriced items like LV and prefer to look (almost) as good for much less (bargain shopping). That may be anathema there in the OC, I dont know.</blockquote>


I understand your feeling. OC is very stepford and you will be bored in 3 years. Keep your option open for other places in SoCal. Hollywood and LA would be more appropriate for you when you want to experience other facets of a 30 something life. OC is boring and it will get old very quick. Residents with family emphasis chose OC for 3 reasons: good schools, safety, and proximity to professional jobs. You do not fit this demographic. Living in LA allow you to benefit a greater cultural diversity and promity to venues that enrich the facets of life that you do not experience in DC.</blockquote>


I understand where you are coming from OC, but quite frankly i disagree with you. Too much to do, so little time, but that's just me. And my hobbies are VERY varied from yours.



Like having and owning firarms (while restrictive in CA, is outright a big NO_NO in DC.... While the DC v Heller was struck down, it is still nowhere near finished....). Do you realize that the OC has some of the best Ballroom stuidios in the Nation, DC has some very good stuidios, but they are not quite national level. I won't even go into cars... California has been and will the A car culture. Not THE car culture like Detroit (for however long that lasts), but it is major.



Anyways good luck on yoru decision.

-bix
 
[quote author="biscuitninja" date=1228207121][quote author="bkshopr" date=1228197709][quote author="Fragnetic" date=1228197041][quote author="bkshopr" date=1228195645]Fragnetic,



Do you live in McLean? If you like it there then you will love OC. PF Chang, Tiffanys and LV and etc. I am not the sporty type who enjoy outdoor activities thus good weather has no impact on me. I do like history, culture, arts and Planned city. DC out numbered OC in all of the above. Georgetown and Alexandria are two of the most admired towns in America. Mount Vernon the home of our founding father is just amazing. The museums, Capitol, Library of Congress, and memorials are the best in the world. It is an amazing city. OC has great weather, beaches, Disneyland and you can wear short all year round.</blockquote>


bk-- I dont live in Mclean, but I work right down the road in Vienna/Tysons. But having lived my entire life in and around the beltway, I don't have any problem with your depiction of Mclean. But after 30 years, all the pluses of the area you mentioned I have done over and again. Everything gets old after a while. I Feel the need to go someplace new, and why not completely different!



While my wife and I LOVE a good restaurant, we have no desire for overpriced items like LV and prefer to look (almost) as good for much less (bargain shopping). That may be anathema there in the OC, I dont know.</blockquote>


I understand your feeling. OC is very stepford and you will be bored in 3 years. Keep your option open for other places in SoCal. Hollywood and LA would be more appropriate for you when you want to experience other facets of a 30 something life. OC is boring and it will get old very quick. Residents with family emphasis chose OC for 3 reasons: good schools, safety, and proximity to professional jobs. You do not fit this demographic. Living in LA allow you to benefit a greater cultural diversity and promity to venues that enrich the facets of life that you do not experience in DC.</blockquote>


I understand where you are coming from OC, but quite frankly i disagree with you. Too much to do, so little time, but that's just me. And my hobbies are VERY varied from yours.



Like having and owning firarms (while restrictive in CA, is outright a big NO_NO in DC.... While the DC v Heller was struck down, it is still nowhere near finished....). Do you realize that the OC has some of the best Ballroom stuidios in the Nation, DC has some very good stuidios, but they are not quite national level. I won't even go into cars... California has been and will the A car culture. Not THE car culture like Detroit (for however long that lasts), but it is major.



Anyways good luck on yoru decision.

-bix</blockquote>


Good input Bix. Like I said I like Art and History. I found DC much more interesting than OC. OC has a lot to offer in term of outdoor activities but really lacks arts and culture. I have lived in OC for over 25 years and really struggled in finding a place with history, legacy and family stories being shared with future generations. Places north of the Potamac are enriched with people and their lives that are written in history books. The well established coastal communities are ideal places to live but ostentatious attitude of the residents and character of homes are a huge drawback.
 
<blockquote>



Good input Bix. Like I said I like Art and History. I found DC much more interesting than OC. OC has a lot to offer in term of outdoor activities but really lacks arts and culture. I have lived in OC for over 25 years and really struggled in finding a place with history, legacy and family stories being shared with future generations. Places north of the Potamac are enriched with people and their lives that are written in history books. The well established coastal communities are ideal places to live but ostentatious attitude of the residents and character of homes are a huge drawback.</blockquote>


QFT!



Everytime I go to DC, Boston or New England-ish, I very much spend alot of time reading up history, understanding the old little towns. To me it almost seems like Santa Fe, except some of the homes there are very old.



The ostentatious attitudes do very much bring me down, I feel very singled out for not being part of the Stepford movement. :(



Oh well, take it easy

-bix
 
Anyone want to fill me in on the "stepford movement"? I'm familar with the movie(s), but is this an aspirational thing among some people? Or is there some larger force at work there, such as HOA, or corporate housing policies, etc.?
 
Stepford at least in my defination is that you dress the same, have the same aspirations, do the same things, act the same way, look the same. In my eyes a negtative thing because these "Sheep-le" just follow the latest trends. Others can comment on their definations.

-bix
 
[quote author="IrvineRealtor" date=1228194873]I might move to OC for this reason:



<img src="http://irvinerealtorsite.com/ocschools.JPG" alt="" />



I might avoid DC for this reason:



<img src="http://irvinerealtorsite.com/dcskools.JPG" alt="" />



<em>source: <a href="http://www.greatschools.net">www.greatschools.net</a></em></blockquote>




IR, Not to belabor the point too much, but the DC area landed the #1 public high school again this year <a href="http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2008/12/04/virginia-school-tops-the-best-high-schools-list.html">link</a>



I'm still heading out there tho :)
 
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