We are current Philly residents (couple in our mid thirties with no kids) who spent many years living in (and loving) NYC. My husband's job has presented an opportunity for us to move to the Newport Beach area, where a division of his company is located. I love the CA vibe and am excited about the prospect, with some reservations. First, we are pretty liberal minded and have heard the OC is very conservative. I am open minded enough to accept others' views, however, if they dominate the culture and discussions that may be a problem (I have conservative friends, and we simply don't discuss politics, which is fine). Next, although I seriously doubt we will buy anything, what are rents like? We currently pay $2500/month and would like to stay in this range. Is there an area we could live in, within a 40 minute drive of Newport beach that could fit this bill? It would be ideal to live in a community where you can walk to local restaurants and shops, instead of being smack in the middle of suburbia. Also, is it easy to meet people and make new friends in the area? In NYC I found it very easy to meet people, in Philly, the opposite. Thanks for any advice!

I would say generally your perceptions about OC are correct. Huntington Beach is just slightly less conservative so I would look there as an option. I would recommend Long Beach or Seal Beach also as they are not "behind the Orange Curtain" but the commute is probably at the upper end of your estimate. Although at least it is along the coast highway.

I would recommend Laguna Beacb, which is an artsy community about 15 minutes from Newport Center. Its residents run the spectrum of political viewpoints and it has a compact downtown, which, if you live close to it, contains many restaurants and stores. I would think you could find something for $2500 a month and maybe even less.

You've gotten good advice so far. I'll add some comments:

-- A successful transition to California will depend on your acceptance that life here is very different from what you've experienced out east. For one thing, your love of strolling towns will have to be satisfied with little pockets of villages where you can happily walk around to shops, galleries, eateries, etc.; you will, in all likelihood, have to drive to these little hamlets from wherever you live.

-- As far as politics, you'll find that people tend to not get all up in your grill about that. Until you bait them with a good issue like: "Give me one good argument that doesn't reference the Bible against legalizing gay marriage." A fun way to watch a rabid right-winger's head explode.

-- I live in Long Beach, so I'm sure that $2500 a month can get you a very nice apartment in a good area (Belmont Heights or Belmont Shore). Seal Beach is comparable. Huntington and Newport Beach-- rents will be a bit higher, but you should be able to find something more than acceptable. You may be inland a piece. Laguna is a very desirable little town, and rents will reflect that.

-- People in general are friendly out here, but meeting and socializing with neighbors depends on the neighborhood. The cliché of Californians never knowing their next-door neighbors (but, thanks to our bottle-recycling bins, they sure know how much they drink!!) is true in many areas. Now, where I live, we hold block parties, watch each other's houses during extended vacations, etc., so it truly depends on the specific area of town (in our case, middle-class suburb, most of us in our 30s and 40s). Our neighborhood is a complete rainbow of races, ethnicities and orientations, and no one even thinks about it. A lot of the state is just like this. Mostly near the coast.

Just my $0.02....

Thanks so much for the answers so far-- if the residents of the area are like those who have responded so far-- articulate, irreverant and a great sense of humor-- I am sure we will find some like-minded folks. Basically, we have very little to lose, as we have not adjusted to Philly very well after living in NYC for so long- people here seem to have been born and bred here with little curiousity about outsiders. Would I be correct to assume that Orange County at least would be more transient (and therefore open)? Please keep the great advice coming!

"Would I be correct to assume that Orange County at least would be more transient (and therefore open)?"

No. Los Angeles is much more transient than OC. However, So. Cal in general is pretty laid-back and nobody is going to judge you as an "outsider." We don't think in those terms...it's just not really part of the mindset. As long as you are friendly, I'd say people in general in So. Cal will accept you without reservation or concern.

If you can afford to buy something, you'll discover what a great investment it was when you go to sell some years down the road. If you can afford $2500 on rent, you can do well over $3000 on home/condo payments because of the taxbreaks. A $500K place, if it goes up 6% a year,roughly matches your after tax payments, so you wind up having lived nearly rent-free by the time you sell.

We live in the Newport Beach Area and I would say we are not nearly as conservative as many of our friends and neighbors but that really doesn't make a lot of difference unless you let it be a problem. We just don't get into big discussions about our differences in thinking and we love it here. I agree with the others that for the most part Californians are very laid back and welcoming to most who move here. We have lived in this area for quite a long time and really like it a lot. Biggest thing to remember with the area is housing is expensive - other than that, it is great. Don't know about rents in this area but think some of the other comments on this post are right on. Good luck if you decided to move here.

rjw lgb ca- LOL!

"Give me one good argument that doesn't reference the Bible against legalizing gay marriage." A fun way to watch a rabid right-winger's head explode.


Yep- that is a fun bait....sometimes I just ask that question in order to play devil's advocate- and since I seem to have a reputation as straight laced (others apparently formed this assumption from the fact I enjoy reading and don't drink) they take me SERIOUSLY

But anywhere you move, you need to test the waters before you state definite opinions to anyone.

Anyway, kikihack, I think Newport Beach would be a terrific place to live, if it weren't for the prices. But since you're already paying 2500/month, you're unlikely to experience much sticker shock.

And the driving advice is very, very true- all over the PNW and So. CA there're great little towns to stroll and shop, but you have to drive to get anywhere. The first time I was on the east coast, my very first thought was "wow, so many people and so little driving from town to town!"

Good luck!