Norcal vs Socal?

catshark209
catshark209 Posts: 1,133 Member
edited November 12 in Chit-Chat
I'd put this in the California Dreams group but I wanted to get more input.
I was talking to someone at work that had moved up here from SoCal and we were comparing the two regions.....being Northern California (Stockton, yo) born and raised, of course its "better" here:wink:
So, discuss!
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Replies

  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    I'm the opposite. I used to live in the East Bay, and now I live in So Cal. So Cal is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy better. I do NOT miss freezing my *kitten* off all the time and battling traffic and paying bridge tolls.

    Reasons why So Cal wins:
    1. weather
    2. population density
    3. cost of living

    So Cal FTW all the way.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    <--- this photo was taken in early March. Try that in Nor Cal and you'll die of hypothermia.
  • TDGee
    TDGee Posts: 2,209 Member
    Mid-Cal FTW. I'm a day trip to anywhere.
  • Loko_Ino
    Loko_Ino Posts: 544 Member
    Valley all the way..we give you both food for your bellies.

    and inst Stockton bankrupt? that is definitely not better
  • mstemen
    mstemen Posts: 108 Member
    Born and raised in NorCal and I think that NorCal is better :) SoCal is too much desert and too hot in my opinion. Norcal is great because we're just a hop skip and a jump away from snow in the sierras and fun in the sun at the beach :)
  • jenrod1118
    jenrod1118 Posts: 150 Member
    norcal! I love visiting family in that area!
  • Marig0ld
    Marig0ld Posts: 671 Member
    I live on the east coast, I'd take ANYWHERE in Cali!!! I love it there!! ETA: But not the job opportunities in my field.
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
    Norcal all the way, baby! :)

    But I do like Socal, tooo. Nicer weather!
    Ex: It's pouring rain and cold here in Norcal right now. :(
  • thepetiterunner
    thepetiterunner Posts: 1,238 Member
    I grew up in San Diego and moved to Davis/Sacramento for school and never left.

    To me, Nor Cal is WAY better for a variety of reasons:

    1. The people aren't as superficial (ironically, most of the people I'm referring to here are non-native SoCal'ers who come to get the "SD/LA" lifestyle and are basically a bunch of D-bags and princesses - sorry, but it's true).

    2. You have the mountains so close, tons of outdoor recreation up here, Tahoe, etc.

    3. You're closer to San Francisco and all the amazing northern areas (Mendocino, the redwoods, etc).

    4. People are way more environmentally friendly.

    5. The traffic is WAY less than it is down south.

    6. There are actual SEASONS up here.

    7. People don't drive like complete morons when it rains up here (in SD, a little sprinkle from the sky and you'd think everyone just got their learner's permits).

    8. Cost of living is more affordable in Sacramento than in San Diego.

    My one concession about NorCal is this ridiculous use of the word "Hella" or "Hecka" and the refusal to use the word "the" before referring to any highway (i.e. "I'm going to take THE 5 to downtown" versus "Take I-5 to downtown"). I still use the word "the" all the time.
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    California....loves to party.....
    I'd say Socal, born and raised so yea I'm biased. I love the desert, travel through it, camp it in, off road in it...you name it.
    I have the beach, mountains and desert all less than an hour away from me and all usable at anytime of the year. Yes I go to the desert when it's 110 in the shade.
    I do like Norcal or Midcal for the scenery and National Park stuff.

    Oh and can we have more water? Thanks! :bigsmile:
  • catherine4211
    catherine4211 Posts: 944 Member
    Central valley baby!!!!
  • I'm a NorCal Girl all the way. BUT the things that make NorCal so wonderful (in MY opinion) are being lost with the influx of transplants. Growing up here (4th generation, I might add), it was very laid back. The overall pace was slower, the natural beauty incredible, the people very friendly (in general) & down to earth. Materialism, traffic, greed, etc. was not generally associated with NorCal. A lot of people have moved here from the East Coast (and I hate to say it... from SoCal), and brought their fast pased culture with them. As I look around, I see a ton more flashy SUVs, high priced department stores and higher priced botiques popping up. People are angry, competetive, greedy. Houses are getting bigger to fill up the entire lot - and some. In the old days, I saw little homes with big gardens.

    At work - I am with the public daily. I always make small talk and ask people how long they've lived here. I swear it (not at all an exaggeration) I will get 1-2 people in an 8 hour work day that was born and raised here. Literally most everyone is from Boston, New York, New Jersey, LA, or San Diego (and a few other places - a lot from Wisconson for some reason! lol). The NorCal folks all moved up to Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii - searching for their NorCal of old.

    No one's pushing us out! I love it here... 15 mins to San Francisco. 15 mins. to Redwood Trees & National & State Parks. 25 mins. to the beach. Mild weather. I might be the only one on my block driving a 15 year old compact car, living in a little home with a big ole wild garden... but I love it! :)
  • MrsCon40
    MrsCon40 Posts: 2,351 Member
    <--- this photo was taken in early March. Try that in Nor Cal and you'll die of hypothermia.

    San Francisco had a 75 degree day in March.

    NorCal wins for it's lack of famewhores, technical innovation, lush forests and its WATER for which SoCal can be forever grateful that we are still (unfortunately) one state,
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    Hey we have Big Bear. That's kind of like Tahoe :noway: :blushing: No, I know Nor Cal is where it's at for snow, but I spent 15 years living in Tahoe, so I haven't been away long enoug to miss the snow.
  • Bonita_Lynne_58
    Bonita_Lynne_58 Posts: 2,794 Member
    No longer living in CA....but it seems to me...that MidCal is best...Beautiful weather..centrally located...surrounded by mountains..who could ask for more?
  • shanolap
    shanolap Posts: 1,204 Member
    <
    Born and raised in Nor Cal and love it. But honestly, I love all of Cali. What a diverse state we have. Husband is from Mass and wouldn't dream of going back. :bigsmile:

    @ Lucky Leprechan...it was 76 degrees up here in early March. :happy:

    @ Timmay...right now we are working on making more water for you guys to buy. :wink:
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    Split the state and there are still FAR TOO MANY ASSHATS in Cali per capita. And to make it worse, y'all procreate more.

    I was born in raised in SoCal...spent time in the "NorCal" (I like how y'all came up with that because SoCal was more unique). Needless to say...Cali sucks in general.
  • JenAiMarres
    JenAiMarres Posts: 743 Member
    uh...no brainer...so cal is where its at!! we have beaches, mountains, city, desert, all rolled into one compact area!!! Plus the weather is WAY better and might I add the people are gorgeous! LOL!
  • Myndi73
    Myndi73 Posts: 270
    Born and Raised in Central Valley (Fresno/Selma), did a stint in SoCal, been in Nor Cal for 10+ years. So Cal FTW!
  • nessaryan
    nessaryan Posts: 44 Member
    From So Cal and moved to Nor Cal for college. Love the people in Nor Cal, love the weather in So Cal. ;)

    My family is still in So Cal but I consider myself a Nor Cal girl now. I've lived here for 8 years on my own!
  • jenniferrose
    jenniferrose Posts: 10 Member
    Born and raised in NorCal and now live on the Central Coast.

    Central Coast, hands down, is one of the most beautiful places EVER. And such a great place to raise a family.

    I will say though... I will always love my hometown and the street smarts and tolerance I learned growing up there = priceless.

    So if I had to choose... CENCoastCAL!!!!!!
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    @ Lucky Leprechan...it was 76 degrees up here in early March. :happy:

    Poor use of an intended fact given an Globally abnormal winter. Eat that with your latte
  • Kekibird
    Kekibird Posts: 1,122 Member
    Grew up in So Cal then went to college in Nor Cal (SFSU) then moved home.

    I miss Nor Cal terribly and would move back in a heart beat. But my family is all So Cal so here I stay (for now!)
  • Loko_Ino
    Loko_Ino Posts: 544 Member
    MidCal for the win...1 hour to mountains and snow..1.5 hrs to the beach..we intercept water everywhere, we have no famewhores but have an awesome low key art and music showcase..and Alan Autry lives in Fresno area..that makes MidCal bomb.

    Oh, and I grew up in NorCal, SF and Fairfield area..
  • fitzie63
    fitzie63 Posts: 508 Member
    Lol! Former Nor-Cal escapee (1972) and not returning to live anywhere in California. Good for a visit but not for me to live there again. For those who love it, enjoy :)
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I like both for different reasons.

    I like SoCal for the weather. You just can't beat it. And, being a beach bum, it's the perfect environment for me.

    However, I like NorCal for everything else. I think the people are nicer for sure. I have always had trouble making friends in SoCal. I don't know why. But, in NorCal, I have no problems making friends at all. In fact, it's almost too much to deal with. I really can't figure it out. But, I love Sacramento for that reason. i feel like I belong there. But, I've made my bed in SoCal, so here I sit. If I could pick up a go, I'd be up North. I can enjoy the mountains as much as the beach. And, I miss SF.
  • lisakyle_11
    lisakyle_11 Posts: 420 Member
    <--- this photo was taken in early March. Try that in Nor Cal and you'll die of hypothermia.

    not true at all really.... it's been a beautiful March in NorCal..... and there are plenty of NorCal beach spots where one could wear shorts and be fine in March.
  • mznisaelaine
    mznisaelaine Posts: 2,262 Member
    Born and raise SoCal girl.. Go to school in boring Central Cal... But completely love it in NorCal.

    So both SoCal and NorCal :)
  • _Timmeh_
    _Timmeh_ Posts: 2,096 Member
    BTW, I'm all for cutting the state in half. It's just too damn big with too many people.
    Not starting a debate just stating my opinion.
  • Farfourah
    Farfourah Posts: 896 Member
    I'm biased, I lived in NorCal most of my life and I love it, except for SF...=(
This discussion has been closed.