Whats it like where YOU live ????

[EyeLashViper]

:? Hey everybody,
Well, I am out here in Torrance California which is in the LAX airport area called the SouthBay - it is an area just outside of Los Angeles proper near the beach. Actually I am about a 15 minute drive from the beach. The weather is really nice here - very temperate most of the year but I feel that this area has become overdeveloped and urbanized - too much city. It is overcrowded and very expensive too and we really have a gang problem here. I am paying $885.00 a month for a one bedroom apartment - and that is on the low side of things out here. A decent house goes for about $400,000 + out here and down at the beach they cost about 1.2-1.5 million.

I am a native of Southern California and I definitely remember better days out here but I am so used to it here it is hard for me to comprehend of living somewhere else even though it might be better in the long run.I am sort of curious as to how things are out there in your neck of the woods as someday I just MAY move out of Southern California.

Im curious...tell me about your neighborhood.

8) EyeLashViper

[sophie42204]

I live in Tampa, FL. I'm a native of Western NY (Buffalo, NY--actually grew up in a suburb of Buffalo), but have been down here 5 yrs. It's hot/humid here most of the year, but we do get a break in the winter. Some winters are really cold and long by FL standards like last winter (20's & 30's @ night), and some are relatively warm.

The economy is ok, better than Buffalo which is the biggest reason we moved, however it's not as good as it was 5yrs ago. We rent an 1,800 sq. ft., 3/3 home on an acre for $1240/month which to me isn't bad for the size. 1 bedroom apts. go anywhere between $500-$800 depending on the location and type (obviously 'luxury' apts go for more). In the neighborhood we live in there are homes on the river that are worth between $500k to over a million. South Tampa is also a very wealthy area...and of course we have a lot of water front between the bay and the gulf so there's houses worth millions in the bay area (Tampa, St. Pete, Clearwater) and regardless of size, you'll always pay more for waterfront property. Property value ranges wildy, it all depends on location. A house w/waterfront property can go for an enormous amount but the same size house on the other side of the street may go for much, much less.....

All in all, Tampa is an alright place to live. I miss many things about NY (guess I'll always be a northerner @ heart), but I'd give Tampa/Florida 6.5 points out of 10.

[gen]

I also live in Southern California and I would never leave it. Other places are fun to visit, but you simply cannot beat the weather here. I grew up in an Orange County suburb called Brea where there is very low crime. What I love about SoCal, is there are so many different things do to. If you want big city you can go to LA/Hollywood. If you want the beach, you can drive to the beach. If you want snow you can drive to the mountains. I love it here. It costs a fortune to live here, but it's worth it.

[emroul]

I was in your situation. I lived in SoCal (Calabasas/Westlake to be exact) my entire life. Then, about 2 1/2-3 years ago I was forced to move out to Arizona. I thought it was going to be the worst thing to ever have happen in my life, lol. Well, I was wrong. It is pretty great out here (depending on where you live). Yes, it gets HOT. But for 2-3 out of the year; and that's it. The rest of the year is absolutely GORGEOUS. The only downside is I see this place turning into LA really quickly and steadily. That's a real bummer. I still LOVE my hometown, and am planning on moving back out there once I have enough moola saved up (cause you're right, it is FREAKIN' expensive to live out there!!!).

Great thread, it will be interesting to hear how it is in other parts of the country/world (seeing as how I've only been to California, Arizona and Oregon, lol)...

Jennifer

[emroul]

Oh, and did I mention it is a herp HAVEN out here? Muwhahaha... 8)

Jennifer

[sophie42204]

Oh, and did I mention it is a herp HAVEN out here? Muwhahaha...

LOL....rub it in why don't ya! actually, we have our share here as well.

[emroul]

Yeah, I was thinking about that. I will have to say there are only like 3 REALLY good herping states that I know of- Arizona, Florida and Texas. But I don't like rat snakes and alligators (lol) as much as I like tiger rattlesnakes and gila monsters, so THERE! lol.... :wink: Plus it gets a little too hot and humid in the other states for my taste. What can I say, I love the 9% humidity out here, haha.

Jennifer

[Wizill]

I live in southern Virginia, and I must say. It sucks here. 95% of the towns here are retirement towns, full of old people... Which is cool, if you're an old person. Hell I think my graduating class in high school was like 65 or something like that... I've heard of schools around the country having 1000's... So yeah, pathetic... that's the PUBLIC school by the way. As far as the weather, I cannot complain. We have as many good days as we do crappy ones, and a good day in Virginia makes me forget about the bad ones. Nice warm sun, cool breeze. Can't beat it. I enjoy the herping here. Lots of watersnakes, tons of garters, the basic eastern US hots being copperheads and cottonmouths, yet to see a rattler but I hear they are around if you look hard enough. I've found a handful of eastern kingsnakes, gorgeous little things.



oh... and property value??? everything here was built in like 1900. it's all cheap. we live in a 3 story, 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom home and it was about 200,000. granted it's old, but it's nice.

[sophie42204]

Jennifer, we have Southern Ringneck Snakes too and they are very pretty...also have rattlers, I've yet to see one yet though. Gators scare me, since moving down here I have a recurring nightmare that my dogs get eaten by gators, lol. But yeah, the humidity sucks!! Don't think this will be home forever to be honest, but can't afford another big move just yet.

[Dana]

I was born and raised in Northern New Jersey, about 10 mins from New York City. After college in CT, and grad school and teaching for 2 years in Batlimore, I've settled in NYC.

I love NYC, it's what I'm used to. I live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The downside of living here is that everything is SO expernsive---and there's so much to do that money just flies out of your pocket! Oh yeah, I teach 5th and 6th grade science in the South Bronx, right near Yankee Stadium.

(PS--A lot of snakes and reptiles are illegal here---shhh---don't tell)