What are some family friendly neighborhoods?

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[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1249744647]We have new Irvine friends. They just cost us $75k through UCI.</blockquote>


?????
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1249746359][quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1249744647]We have new Irvine friends. They just cost us $75k through UCI.</blockquote>


?????</blockquote>


EPIC FAIL! Bk, you... being the one who studies every post should have known what she meant by that post. Go back and research her connection to UCI, and then you will know what she means.



I love it! Mc80 trumped bk, but crackercakes got it. I may not know where pictures of the ranch come from, but I know my IHBers.
 
[quote author="graphrix" date=1249750016][quote author="bkshopr" date=1249746359][quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1249744647]We have new Irvine friends. They just cost us $75k through UCI.</blockquote>


?????</blockquote>


EPIC FAIL! Bk, you... being the one who studies every post should have known what she meant by that post. Go back and research her connection to UCI, and then you will know what she means.



I love it! Mc80 trumped bk, but crackercakes got it. I may not know where pictures of the ranch come from, but I know my IHBers.</blockquote>


Let me take a stab at it. Mc80's hubby is attending the UCI MBA program and they were able to make many new Irvine friends through the program that cost them $75,000 in tuition.
 
If Irvine is really characterized as an anti-social, boring, stale place why can't we all change that through this blog. 10 years ago, it would impossible for me to make new friends in Irvine by living in Chicago, but every person I get a chance to meet through IHB, I find them to be interesting, fun, young and driven. I can see a few of them as being my life term friends for 30 years +. If I were to move to Irvine today, instead of feeling like losers locking ourselves in our apartment, I can probably call 5-6 new Irvine friends to grab some coffee, taking a nice walk around the neighborhood, or perhaps go fishing for some nice Bass on Irvine Lake ???



When I asked Zovall, how many people from IHB actually showed up for Adventure's Club Hiking Event, I was absolutley shocked to hear that only one person showed up. I know that we all want a family friendly neighborhood, or this thread would of never been started. My question is, "Why can't this family friendly neighborhood start here on IHB?" Seriously, there are many many wonderful people here who live in Irvine and all it takes for you to take an initiative to PM them and meet up with them for a cup of coffee. You will be amazed at how your community happinesses can change from a once perceived anti-social, boring, stale place like Irvine.
 
[quote author="graphrix" date=1249750016][quote author="bkshopr" date=1249746359][quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1249744647]We have new Irvine friends. They just cost us $75k through UCI.</blockquote>


?????</blockquote>


EPIC FAIL! Bk, you... being the one who studies every post should have known what she meant by that post. Go back and research her connection to UCI, and then you will know what she means.



I love it! Mc80 trumped bk, but crackercakes got it. I may not know where pictures of the ranch come from, but I know my IHBers.</blockquote>


:) This why I never drink. Two glasses of wine and M80 starts posting late night jiperish on IHB. I had to have the alcohol in me to get up the nerve to Karaoke, though.
 
[quote author="PANDA" date=1249764665]

When I asked Zovall, how many people from IHB actually showed up for Adventure's Club Hiking Event, I was absolutley shocked to hear that only one person showed up. </blockquote>


I hope Zovall knows it was nothing personal. If I recall, it was pretty darn early in the morning (6 a.m.). I just know for me, that made it harder to attend and maybe so for others, I'm just guessing.



Panda - you and RC should become neighbors. I think you guys were separated at birth.
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1249780044][quote author="PANDA" date=1249764665]

When I asked Zovall, how many people from IHB actually showed up for Adventure's Club Hiking Event, I was absolutley shocked to hear that only one person showed up. </blockquote>


I hope Zovall knows it was nothing personal. If I recall, it was pretty darn early in the morning (6 a.m.). I just know for me, that made it harder to attend and maybe so for others, I'm just guessing.



Panda - you and RC should become neighbors. I think you guys were separated at birth.</blockquote>


Socal, ok! If I had to wake up at 5am for the hiking event that would be pretty tough, but if it was an Irvine Lake Fishing Outing.. Hell yeah I'll be there!, I would be there at 5am sharp. I can't put into words how great the feeling is when you hook a 3 lb Bass on plastic worms. I've heard that the Laguna Beach Hiking Trail is really nice. Perhaps you guys should start another Adventure Club event in Laguna Beach Hiking Trail at 8am.



RC, he's a real cool guy and his baby is extremely cute. He's got big round blue eyes and looks just like a white baby. I looked at RC and asked him, "How in the world did two Asian couples give birth to a baby that looks white? He laughed and told me his wife isn't asian.
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1249780044][quote author="PANDA" date=1249764665]

When I asked Zovall, how many people from IHB actually showed up for Adventure's Club Hiking Event, I was absolutley shocked to hear that only one person showed up. </blockquote>


I hope Zovall knows it was nothing personal. If I recall, it was pretty darn early in the morning (6 a.m.). I just know for me, that made it harder to attend and maybe so for others, I'm just guessing.</blockquote>


That is why Cayci and I didn't go. I don't get up that early, maybe go to sleep then, but not get up. Cayci does get up that early during the week when she needs to, but on the weekend... it's for sleeping in. If it started at 10am, then we probably would have been there if we didn't already have something planned. Keep in mind, Cayci and I have attended a majority of the IHB events, and will continue to do so. That, and I have made friends with IHBers. So... I think this whole making friends on IHB has been going on for some time, even for panda. One past event is not indicative of future events, or events that are unknown.



<blockquote>Panda - you and RC should become neighbors. I think you guys were separated at birth.</blockquote>


I keep thinking panda has learned how to bounce his IP address, and really he and RC are the same person. I keep checking, hoping he slips up and forgets to bounce the IP address, but no such luck. :coolhmm:



Seriously, if they are not friends now, they really should be. So many things in common.
 
This has been interesting! Our current Bay Area neighborhood was built in 1979 and, consequently, there are a lot of older home owners with grown kids. Slowly, they are cashing in and moving out to minimansions or condos in Tracy, Oregon, East Palo Alto (!) and so on, and younger families are moving in. This is good for us, but I find that people don't hang out much outside their houses. There are maybe three of us who do that, and our elderly neighbors who we call our Neighborhood Watch as they really do notice everything and tell us what's going on. We have met about 6 or 7 of the neighbors over the past ten years but, unfortunately, noone has kids the same age (or gender) so we didn't click. Some are in daycare full time, so that is also a barrier. After all, these homes have appreciated dramatically since we moved in, so nowadays it would be hard to live here without two solid incomes!



A few years ago, I practically chased down a woman pushing a stroller when I realized that she lived on our street (woo hoo). We became good friends as both of our kids were the same age and gender. It was so nice to walk to playdates, but they were renting and moved out last year. Otherwise, we make a point to introduce ourselves to people who move in, but again it hasn't clicked because they don't have kids the same age (or at all) and we already have a huge social network so we tend to be busy with that!



Do you know we've been living here for TEN years now and, in all those years, I've only seen the neighbor who lives two doors down... ONCE. I walk around a lot (with and without the kids) so it's not like I never walk by her house! Some other family moved in two years ago, and I went by to introduce myself to the grandparents (it was an extended family - Chinese origin, I believe). Last year I saw the lady and her kid in her van, so I waited by the van for her to get out so I could say hi (our daughters are one year apart). I waited and waited.. but she didn't come out! I think she was trying to avoid me :) I can't understand all this. We're all busy - heck, I'm always late for something or another, but would it hurt to say hi?



I'm a pretty social person so I'm not too concerned about making new friends (and yes, I do make the effort - over the years I've approached people during kid's classes/the gym/the bus/meetings/online - we joke that I'm like an Amway lady :)) but I am concerned about moving to a brand new place and leaving our wonderful friends behind...



I guess I got off the original subject :) I'll be looking into those areas! Thanks.
 
ksb,, welcome.. I hope we have been helpful.. you sound very outgoing.. good for you! I hope you have not let some of us discourage you about Irvine. I assure you there are plenty, I mean plenty of kids of all ages here. It is a very family friendly city. I just started a new thread about <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/5860/">getting to know you neighbors</a>, but I'm sure you won't need any help there. Why is your family contemplating moving down to Irvine? Have you ever visited before? How much research have you done so far? If there is any specific question you like us to answer regarding any particular Irvine village, please let us know how we can help...



ps... wives have it so much easier, I mean meeting people... you wouldn't believe some of the things perfect neighbor strangers have reveled to my wife... maybe its something about her, people just spill their guts to her... maybe it has something to do with the fact that she's a school counselor...
 
Our neighborhood in Orange meets most of your requirements, except I think the HOA would go postal on sidewalk chalk. Certainly the neighborhood pool is a lively place and many early evenings I have to watch out for the children who are playing in the road. And I'll happily support a HOA coup for sidewalk chalk if needed!
 
[quote author="roundcorners" date=1249811442]ksb,, welcome.. I hope we have been helpful.. you sound very outgoing.. good for you! I hope you have not let some of us discourage you about Irvine. I assure you there are plenty, I mean plenty of kids of all ages here. It is a very family friendly city. I just started a new thread about <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/5860/">getting to know you neighbors</a>, but I'm sure you won't need any help there. Why is your family contemplating moving down to Irvine? Have you ever visited before? How much research have you done so far? If there is any specific question you like us to answer regarding any particular Irvine village, please let us know how we can help...



ps... wives have it so much easier, I mean meeting people... you wouldn't believe some of the things perfect neighbor strangers have reveled to my wife... maybe its something about her, people just spill their guts to her... maybe it has something to do with the fact that she's a school counselor...</blockquote>


Thanks, Roundcorners! This is a great resource. I realize that people have their opinions, sometimes strong ones! My husband's work might require us to move, but it seems that has been postponed for a year at least, which gives a lot of time to reflect, research and obsess, as that is my nature! I've been down there a few times, though we normally go to Northern OC instead. However, I've never gone there with the intention of moving, so therefore I've never paid attention to anything!

Woodbury sounds interesting (Irvine HS).. I'm sure I'll have more questions!



ETA: I was thinking of either Irvine HS or possibly Beckman, though I'm not sure that the Irvine HS area has the friendly feel I wanted.
 
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