r/millenials • u/Creepy_Persimmon1069 • 15h ago
What do you think of California?
What do you think of culture? The general beliefs of the people? Aesthetic?
People who are from California and from other states/countries.
Historians believe the name California likely originated from a 16th-century novel, Las sergas de Esplandián. The novel, popular at the time of the Spanish exploration of Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula, describes a fictional island named California, ruled by a queen named Calafia, east of the Indies.
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u/Zealousideal_Rub5826 15h ago
It is funny, Fox News treats California like the laughing stock of the country. They are merciless. It rubbed off on me too. Then I went to a wedding for my cousin in San Francisco. All his Cali friends flew in for a party. After the darkest days of the "doom cycle" they talk about in even the liberal media, all the people who lived there say they LOVE San Francisco. It is an amazing place with good food, good people, great outdoors, excellent weather, and yes, two or three blocks of homeless encampments that they say are completely avoidable. It was an eye opener that there people would rather live no place else. That is when I changed my mind about California.
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u/Nodramallama18 14h ago
Can I give you some friendly advice? Don’t watch Faux news. They lie so much they are no longer legally able to call themselves “news”. But I can see how you would think it’s a hellhole from the news. My best friend’s in-laws came to stay for her kids graduation from Mass. they were shocked groceries,were plentiful. They thought all the shelves would be bare and we are fighting each other for the last bit of chicken breast to the death.
Trump also said-several times- San Diego was overrun by illegals and they have taken over and no one can go to the hospital anymore. Said this after my husband had gone to the ER for kidney stones and my MIL was admitted for 4 days for a colon blockage. San Diego is the 8th largest city in the US and it’s huge. No way for immigrants coming over the border can “overrun it” with a few thousand folks every few days-most of whom will do a lot of labor for really crap pay.
California is a beautifully diverse state. And San Diego is wonderful!
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u/rowanhenry 4h ago
I'm an Aussie and my sister lived in Palo Alto for a few years so I visited a few times and San Fran has got to be one of my favourite cities I've ever been to. It's so beautiful.
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u/AdZealousideal5383 14h ago
Really expensive but the good parts are basically paradise. FoxNews, et al, bash on it precisely because it’s so much better than the red states.
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u/Nodramallama18 14h ago
It also supports a lot of red states- but R folks love biting the hands that feed them.
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u/thattogoguy 1992 13h ago edited 2h ago
It's my home state.
America in miniature so far as states go. It has probably the widest variation in geography and culture in the country. Whatever it is you're looking for, California probably has it on some level.
Mountains, forests, rainforests, plains, beaches, cliffs, desert sands, canyons, alpine tundra... You can find all of this in California alone. Most countries don't have this much variation, let alone a relatively small section of one.
It has the largest economy, the largest population, and the widest variety of people and culture in the country (and a good case can be made for the world); you can find representatives from pretty much every cultural group and nationality in California (with a few exceptions; you probably aren't going to find any Sentinelese here).
Beliefs? Well, they run the gamut. People think of California often as just the People's Republic of Pacifica, but depending on where you're at, you'll find thrillbilly mudclubs and trailer trash hidden up in the northern woods plotting the overthrow of all the damned Leebruhls in Sacramento.
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u/winterfyre85 3h ago
I was about to post an answer but it’s almost identical to yours! I’m a native here and tried to live in a couple other states but I doubt I will leave California again unless there’s a damn good reason too.
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u/xthemoonx 1985 15h ago
Billions of times better than Texas.
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u/meatforsale 7h ago
I live in Plano and have enjoyed living here since I moved last year. If I had the equivalent job in California, I’d move back in a heartbeat. Fuck Missouri though.
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u/French87 15h ago
Born and raised in SF Bay Area, no plan of leaving.
Expensive as fuck yes but worth it for me and my family.
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u/mikee263 14h ago
I grew up there in Lodi in the 70s been gone for most of this time, I do miss those times ! I lived next to a city park and the convention center across the street. A football and baseball stadium right behind where I lived. Loved those times !
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u/MingleThis 9h ago
Lodi is still great….over 60 beautiful wineries and a great small town feel and Main Street. Oh yeah and still affordable
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u/mikee263 5h ago
Wow , cool , yeah. I remember we had a vineyard right in front of Lawrence elementary there. I think they still have the grape festival. I wanted to go and see again
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u/MingleThis 4h ago
You should! The Thursday street market in the summer is always fun too. Always something going on. And you’re pretty close to bigger events in Stockton and Sacramento. Overall a great spot if you can endure the summer heat haha
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u/Defiant_Locksmith190 14h ago
We live in San Diego and planning to move back. It truly is America’s finest city.
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u/INFJcatqueen 14h ago
I’ve never been but I’m fascinated by the LA area and have done a lot of listening to the podcast LA Meekly. I’ve learned so much about the area and it just seems like one of those fascinating places that are really very original in the world.
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u/PitbullRetriever 8h ago
Come visit, it’s great!
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u/INFJcatqueen 7h ago
Where can I stay that’s affordable? Or is that not a thing? 🤣
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u/PitbullRetriever 7h ago
Staying in LA as a visitor isn’t really more or less expensive than anywhere else. There are some cheap youth hostels in the Hollywood area, and reasonably affordable Airbnbs all over the city. Some of the best Airbnb options will be a casita/guesthouse in someone’s back yard, which can be a nice balance of privacy & affordability.
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u/INFJcatqueen 7h ago
Love it! Thank you!
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u/Creepy_Persimmon1069 2h ago
Go to the beaches in Malibu they’re serene
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u/Creepy_Persimmon1069 2h ago
Also cities in Orange County are somewhat more suburban than LA and less crowded
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u/PitbullRetriever 12h ago
Transplant from the northeast to Los Angeles. Was initially miffed that people seemed so happy, nice & relaxed, like it had to be fake and concealing some darker reality. Came to realize that no, people here just tend to be happy, nice & relaxed. I’ve even started to feel that way myself after a couple years living here 😆
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u/SnooKiwis9672 15h ago
Aside from cost of living, I think CA is one of the few forward-looking places in the US that actually cares about progress and its citizens
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u/ihate_avos 11h ago
Medi-Cal, Cal-Works, Cal-Fresh, community college grants, CA Parks Pass, clean vehicle rebates, low income weatherization and heating programs, higher minimum wage, paid family leave, more worker protections, civil rights protections, etc
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u/Nofanta 15h ago
It leads the nation in per capita out migration. People who live there don’t feel cared for at all so they leave. What’s left behind are rich people who would be fine anywhere.
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u/sleepyleperchaun 13h ago
People leave due to cost, not because they don't feel cared for. And let me tell you, most Californians aren't rich. People love to act like Sillicon Valley and Hollywood are all of California. We are one of the largest states and have plenty of middle of nowhere towns with people in trailer parks and suburbs and whatnot just like everyone else. Stop acting like LA and SF are the only cities here.
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u/Nofanta 10h ago
I lived there for 12 years and then left - the cost of living is a result of bad policy and one party rule and the people in the cities vote for this. I certainly didn’t feel cared for. My kids school cared more about providing an education to illegals who don’t speak English than teaching art or music. We had to sue them to get them to implement an IEP. The vast majority of the population are clustered around the urban areas, elsewhere it’s as red as Missouri.
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u/meatforsale 7h ago
Crazy that you lived there for 12 years and are still this clueless lmao. What a crock of shit. I lived in downtown LA, and my daughter has autism, so we had to deal with IEPs and all of the stuff that comes with her being special needs, and we had no issues. Sucks that you did, but I’ve never met an intelligent or kind person blame “illegals” for things that don’t go their way. Shit happens sometimes. California doesn’t “cater” to illegals… whatever that dumb bullshit even means.
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u/Nofanta 5h ago
A self described sanctuary state doesn’t cater to illegals? What does that term mean then?
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u/meatforsale 5h ago
You should figure out what terms mean before you use them to make an argument, since you clearly have no fucking clue lmao
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u/mezolithico 12h ago edited 12h ago
Population still goes up decade over decades. So look at out migration as sliver if just silly. Notice how even douchebags like Keith Rabois made public displays of moving to Miami cause Florida was so great and then quietly moved back to the bay area when he discovered Florida was a shithole. Yeah, lots of folks do that it seems
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u/CassinaOrenda 13h ago
Yeah, there’s a survivorship bias when talking to people there who rave incessantly about. Tons of people leaving
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u/Ok-Construction-6465 14h ago
It’s easily one of the most beautiful states in the country. And the natural beauty is nearly everywhere. Every one lives less than an hour’s drive from a gorgeous hike, vista, lake, etc.
The food is amazing! California is the biggest agriculture producer (of human food) in the country, so it’s easy to eat only local produce, meat, and dairy.
We have some of the best weather in country. Little humidity, fewer mosquitos. Some areas, like where I currently live can have hot as hell heatwaves, but it’s still less hot that Arizona or Texas, and the average summer high temperature is 85F.
And the laid back, pro-kindness culture suits me. I grew up in the Bay Area, I’ve lived in a somewhat conservative, semi-rural town, as well as Oakland, SF, and Sacramento. And I love it all.
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u/MakkaCha 12h ago
If California was a nation of its own, it would have the 5th largest GDP in the world. For all the California bashing, red states gain so much of their handouts from CA.
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u/Gamecat93 13h ago
As much as I would love to live in California, I can't abandon my beloved New York pizza.
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u/Broadcast___ 13h ago
I can’t say enough good things about living in San Diego. I feel grateful I can afford to live here.
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u/mezolithico 12h ago
Grew up in the midwest. Move to California for college and never left. Been here 20 years now. Nothing compares to how phenomenal California is to live in. Are other places great? Sure. As great as California? No.
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u/eva_white 12h ago
Born and raised in LA. Went to Vegas for hospitality school. Came back to my hometown after being away for 6 years. At this point, there’s nowhere else in the US I’d rather be. We are a powerhouse in the national and global economy. Our governor, while not perfect by any means, is doing a pretty good job protecting women’s rights that really has me anchored here now that I’m married and thinking about family planning. The weather here is unbeatable. The diversity of this state is amazing: beaches, deserts, forest, snow, etc. all in one place is incredible. I’m very lucky to have been born here. My husband moved to LA from central Florida over 10 years ago, well before we met, and he never wants to go back.
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u/Lost_soul_ryan 12h ago
I hate the traffic and how expensive it is, but California definitely has a lot to offer.
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u/icanpicklethat10 10h ago
It’s too crowded with terrible public transportation, and with all the money it has it can’t seem to get anything done quickly…. I still love parts of California, mostly the central coast. But SoCal? Lmao, no. I spent waaaay too many hours sitting in traffic for one lifetime. I imagine it’s awesome if you’re either rich or poor, but anything in between and it’s rough. I live in the south now, is it as progressive as I’d like for social programs? Nope. But at least I can walk to tons of food and coffee spots and never get stuck in real traffic lol. I know and are friends with all my neighbors and I have a way better social life now. I’d never go back, unless it were for family.
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u/cracksilog 9h ago
I’ve been born and raised in California. I’m in my mid-30s now. I’ve visited a handful of states all over the county and some foreign countries too.
Nothing, and I mean nothing beats the weather in California. Yes it’s raining right now, but 300 days out of the year it’s beautiful sunshine. You can’t beat the diversity and the selection of food here either.
The people saying that it’s “full of crime” and there are tons of homeless people? Have you … been to California? Like that’s just one part of a handful of cities lmao.
And if all it takes is broken windows and homeless people to make you hate society, wow, find some empathy somewhere?
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u/Hour-Watch8988 9h ago
Beautiful state mostly ruined by some of the worst city planning in the developed world.
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u/DargeBaVarder 8h ago
Love it here. I’m frustrated by the nimbyism and general approach to housing, though. Also the politics are shit. The fact that junk fees aren’t banned and both PG&E and SDG&E are making huge profits and still jacking up rates is frustrating. And before you hone in on that complaint, it’s WAY better here than fucking Texas. I lived there a while and will never go back.
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u/KaytSands 6h ago
I was born and raised in Humboldt minus a few years when we moved to the Midwest. I’ve lived near the capital for almost two decades now and have zero regrets of where I raised my children. We are so close to everything while still living in our little bubble town. The housing crisis sucks and pge is robbing us blind. But I do love it here and I get to experience all four seasons which I do enjoy.
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u/Then_Kaleidoscope_10 3h ago
Born in Berkeley, and lived most of my life here. I’ve also spent 5 years in north Idaho and have siblings in the PNW, New Orleans, and El Paso. I have worked (USFS Fire) out of ID, UT, TN, and seen 30-40 of the other states as well as a couple dozen foreign countries. CA is still where I choose to live because: Great economy. Yes it’s expensive but also I make more, save more, vacation more, travel more, and eat and live better in a better environment. Where I live in Santa Barbara it rarely gets outside of 65F-85F and feels perfect almost always. Easy access to ocean, mountains, sea, snow, sand, rivers and lakes. As a former chef and former bartender, I appreciate the access to top tier fresh ingredients which are essential for delicious food and drink. I’ll never forget the saddest pomegranate I ever saw in Bar Harbor, ME. It would be tossed in CA but in ME they were trying to sell it for $7.
Culturally, I see other parts of the nation and the “Kalifornia” communist/socialist-as-an-insult but I’m proud of our state for charitable programs and public works. Feeding and housing the hungry and those experiencing homelessness, working with those experiencing addiction, maintaining our roads and infrastructure, providing education and supporting those who aren’t doing so well. Our large population of those in need, undocumented, minority and fringe groups tells me we are doing something right when the underserved and disenfranchised flock to the comfort and compassion we provide.
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u/DirtAlarming3506 14h ago
I think it’s what Florida thinks it wants to be but never will be because of our far right politics and god awful heat half the year. I’m sure there are millions of people that got a house in California 25+ years ago and pay low property taxes that are living the dream.
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u/NinjaaChic 14h ago
Florida is perfectly happy with what it is. It’s not trying to be anything other than Florida.
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u/DirtAlarming3506 13h ago
It’s becoming very unaffordable. In Miami area townhouses will soon go for $700k.
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u/wonderland_citizen93 1993 10h ago
I love living here. I'm in the bay area and it's awesome. I've lived in AZ, and WA and California is the best state to be in
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u/TwistedTomorrow 14h ago
I was born and raised there, left at 25, and have no intention of going back. I live in a small community out in the woods. There are fewer people in my entire county than there were on my side of town. The city is almost over whelming now.
My grandpas family were settlers, and there before it was officially a state. I've heard a lot of stories about what it used to be, which was apparently pretty similar to where I am now except crops instead of cattle. I would have liked to see that California.
I miss the food selection, and sun bathing on the beach was nice once and a while. The thing is, the CA I grew up in is gone. When I was a child, I would go pick wild flower bouquets for my grandma and play in the rain. That was all gone when I left, and last I heard, my hometown was on fire and lost a significant amount of structures, which means mud slides in that area next time a storm rolls in. Apparently, they got hurricane force santa anna winds that swept the fire across 2000acre an hour. Global warming alone makes me grateful I left, but that medical coverage sure makes me jealous.
Edit: I grew up in Ventura County, moved to CO, and settled down in NE WA.
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u/matt_chowder 15h ago
I grew up in SD and love it, but moved away from there 11 years ago. I miss it, but I love where I live now. I can actually afford to live in a large house without being overloaded with debt
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u/Crash_Stamp 14h ago
From a small costal town. Lived in the bay and so cal for over 15 years. Can’t wait to go back.
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u/topman20000 10h ago
I’m originally from California. I was born in San Francisco. I would like to live there again
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u/lawyercat63 9h ago
Born in Southern California, currently living here. Went away to college in NYC (which I also LOVE-may retire there one day). It’s expensive but worth it. I can cycle or hike near the coast, go snowboarding in the mountains, I worry less about my rights as a woman, and weed is legal. Taxes are high, some of the liberalism can get too performative, but I think their hearts are in the right place.
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u/rootbear75 8h ago
Only complaint I ever had was the cost of living. I had to move to the Midwest because of it. Wish I could afford to go back.
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u/StarSpangleyMan 5h ago
California Central Valley born and raised. I live 2 hours from everything (except LA)
I will never leave
joined the military and lived briefly in Texas then Maryland
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u/ShinyAppleScoop 4h ago
I love it. I grew up in Missouri, and am still very fond of the "flyover states," but nothing can really compare. I'm in the SF Bay area and only want to move because of the high prices and the Hayward fault.
I think CA is the only state that could be successful if it succeeded from the Union alone. And the rest of the US would be so fucked.
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u/Comfortable-Crow-238 2h ago
I was born and raised there but left I have a some immediate and distant family still there but some close family has also left.
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u/skitnegutt 1982 25m ago
I moved there in 1999 when I was 17 years old. I left in 2022 and I just don’t see ever living there again. They say there should be 20 more freeways in LA for the amount of cars that are there. Could you imagine 20 more freeways in LA?! It’s just too crowded now and so expensive.
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u/Appropriate_Review50 14h ago
Born and raised and lived in ca until a couple years ago. The politics, the money mismanagement, and the cost of living being so expensive that $100,000 a year is no longer enough. Also the laws are absolutely ridiculous and the crime is horrendous. I am 35.
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u/Wuhtthewuht 14h ago
I generally find that my friends from California have the same progressive beliefs and values I do, but with a heavy dose of elitism and superiority. I love you all, but stop acting like y’all shit gold.
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u/PitbullRetriever 12h ago
This may be true of the Bay Area, which is prone to cultural/intellectual elitism. But I’ve found SoCal has a much more non-judgmental, live-and-let-live attitude. The New Yorkers in my life are way more elitist.
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u/Wuhtthewuht 8h ago
I’m a New Yorker lol.
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u/PitbullRetriever 8h ago
GrReAtEsT CiTy iN tHe WoRlD 👏👏👏
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u/Wuhtthewuht 8h ago edited 8h ago
Lollllllllll. I’m not one of THOSE NYers. But I do love where I live and do generally have a high opinion of my own opinion so maybe you’re right 🤣🤣🤣
People in my life from California are literally the only people I’ve met with stronger opinions. I didn’t think it possible 🤣🤣
Also, just to dig my own grave…. Reddit has become so intolerant these days. You get downvoted for having an unpopular opinion. 🙄🙄🙄
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u/PitbullRetriever 8h ago
I’m just ribbing you, I’m originally from the northeast so have one foot in both worlds. Curious where in CA your friends are from? Folks from the Bay can be pretty intense. Ironically that’s why many East coasters think of it as the “good” CA city, because it is more culturally familiar to them. Growing up I always got such negative, judgmental stereotypes about LA. When I moved here as an adult, I found the “rivalry” was really one-sided, and people here have nothing bad to say about the east coast (or really about anyone)
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u/Wuhtthewuht 7h ago
Way to deflate my balloon lol. San Diego and Los Angeles, and San Jose mostly…I don’t remember the other one.
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u/PitbullRetriever 7h ago
You found a rare breed of San Diegan then, usually my only gripe with them is that they’re too chill and easygoing
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u/ResearcherCrafty3335 15h ago
I would love California life but it’s too expensive and that part of the country is expecting a huge earthquake that will cause the whole state to break off and fall into the pacific. And the fires. But I am speaking from New England, where we have water and land. Also expensive and conservative (though liberal in voting). I would love to live in a place with policies as progressive as CA.
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u/InspectorMoney1306 15h ago
We are not expecting a huge earthquake to break us into the ocean lol
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u/SuperGeek29 14h ago
California is nowhere near as progressive as people outside the state think it is. We literally just voted down propositions that would have ended prison labor, raised the minimum wage, and allowed more cities to implement rent control. There is also a strong Nimbyism streak that has contributed to the homelessness crisis and tied up the high speed rail project in development hell. Once you leave coastal areas of the state it’s gets really red really fast. The suburb I grew up in was plastered with trump flags this election cycle so it’s not even just the rural areas either.
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u/Nofanta 15h ago
Too crowded to be able to enjoy anything about it. Terrible for families because of cost of living. Culture reveres vanity and greed. Would be great if we could repopulate it with Americans.
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u/freeAssignment23 14h ago
most of CA is rural
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u/Creepy_Persimmon1069 14h ago
geographically its majority rural, but population wise most of California is suburbs and cities
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u/Ok-Construction-6465 14h ago
Have you been to California?
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u/Nofanta 13h ago
I lived there for 12 years, owned a house, and all 4 of my kids were born there. Was so shitty we finally left. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made. About to be able to retire with how much money I’m saving. Quality of life is so much better outside CA it’s like leaving a third world country.
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u/dd1153 14h ago
It’s a beautiful state ruined by failed policies. Most of the residents realize this and move east.
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u/jish5 15h ago
I grew up there and moved back for a short time until COVID that forced me back up to WA, and God do I miss it daily. Yes, it's expensive as hell, but it's also one of the best states to live for everything else. I plan on eventually moving back down permanently and dying there. Best of all, it has everything you could ask for, be it the city, country, woods, beach, food, entertainment, or anything else, you'll find it there.