People in CA or HI...

San Diego FTW.


You can move the East County if you still want the "country" feel. That way the city will be 30-45 minutes away, but you still have the blissfulness of the mountains.

 

I live 20 minutes from the ocean and about 45 minutes from San Francisco. I like it a lot here but will probably eventually move elsewhere.

 

I was stationed in Hawaii for 3 years and have now being stationed in Cali for 1 year so far. Hands down go for Cali.

Hawaii (Oahu) is crowded and expensive as hell, not to mention that you're stuck on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Island fever sucks and having to drop $1000-$1300 on a ticket back to the east coast is a killer. Beautiful place to live but it's summer every single day of the year and that got old for me. If you ever visit Hawaii, make sure you check out the Big Island instead of the others, that place is amazing and I would love to go back.

California is better to me because if I drive to other places and there's more variety available. In Hawaii when you start driving, how far do you think you're going to get until you run into the ocean?

 

Born and raised on oahu and love it......Aloha spirit, endless summer, girls in bikini's and per capita the most Tacoma's you will ever see

 

BIG Island mo bettah!!!!!

 

Top of da chain! Kauai!

 

Alot of people are recomending you look into ventura, santa barbara area. i second that. i live in ventura and would be more than happy to help you out w/ any questions you might have. there is a small town in the valley called Ojai (15 min from beach, 5 min from lake casitas), i moved there in 1998 (my dad was in the navy) and lived there 9 years until i joined the militray and it was awesome. i spend most of my time there cause my wife's and mine parents live there as well as most of our friends. look into it and like i said ask me any questions you have. lived in the ventura/ ojai area almost all my life. here's some pics from ontop the mountains in ojai, ojai is close, then lake casitas and then ventura and the beach but the clouds are kinda blocking the view. others are topa topa mtns in ojai and a common hike in matilija canyon to some waterfalls.

 

X2 for Ventura. I suppose you could do San Diego too. But Ventura would suit all of your needs and is close to pretty much everything. I'm a Santa Paula guy by the way. (5 min from Ventura). Or you could also look into San Luis Obispo which is even smaller than Ventura, but is a nice college town which would be fun if your in the younger crowd. Good Luck

Oh and Matt^^^ would that 2nd to last pic be on Sisar Trail

 

yes sir, my friends and i got mtn biking up there, hiking too

 

X10000000000000000 I would not even eat teh fish that comes out of that lake.

Where ever you go I think its a great idea; even living in a great place like socal it gets old. I wish i was in the posistion to move to another country for a year or two. I woudn't mind living in the east coast for awhile either.

 

wanna trade houses?

 

CHINO CALIFORNIA and ill take you out wakeboarding as long as you teach me what i don't know haha and ill help you move haha just hlpen out a fellow TWer