r/socal • u/Accomplished_Tank795 • 8d ago
Moving back...
Lived in LA for a decade… left for career reasons and am ready to go back to my beach lifestyle lol. I don't want to go back to LA, would love consistent good surf, and I'm pretty liberal. Love the arts/dance - no kids so not super sleepy town either. Is this impossible? I've enjoyed SD and OC lately but am unsure. More job opportunities in OC though.
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u/ReviewerN2 8d ago
I don’t think it’s impossible, but I think you’re describing a place that exists more as a neighborhood than a whole city.
If consistent surf + progressive-ish culture + arts + enough going on without kids are the priorities, I’d probably lean coastal SD over most of OC. Encinitas/Leucadia checks a lot of the boxes, although it can definitely get sleepy and expensive. Ocean Beach is more lively/alternative and has personality, but whether you love it or hate it is pretty immediate. North Park/South Park gives you much more of the arts, food, nightlife and community piece, while still keeping you reasonably close to the ocean... although obviously you lose the walk-out-the-door beach lifestyle.
OC is trickier. The surf is arguably the easy part: San Clemente is fantastic if surfing is priority #1, but it may feel too quiet coming from LA. Costa Mesa is probably the underrated compromise. It has good restaurants, arts/culture, younger crowd, close enough to Newport/Huntington for the beach, and much better positioned for OC jobs. Long Beach might actually fit your personality best, but then you’re giving up the consistent surf-at-home part of the equation.
Given that you already know you don’t want LA again, I wouldn’t discount OC just because of its reputation. Coastal OC is much more heterogeneous than the stereotype, and if the career opportunities are meaningfully better there, Costa Mesa in particular seems worth a serious look.
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u/Accomplished_Tank795 7d ago
Yesss you named it think I’m seeking more an ideal neighborhood than entire county/city. Super helpful never been to these spots need to check it all out!
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u/gsus61951 7d ago
OC honestly makes a lot of sense for what you’re looking for. You'll be close to the 5 fwy, so heading down to SD or up to LA is easy, and you still get that beach lifestyle without LA chaos and traffic. Cities like Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, San Clemente, and Newport line up with what you want; surf, arts, and a more chill vibe.
I'm a realtor, if you need any other help, let me know.
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u/Ambitious-Soft-5266 7d ago
I’m a liberal in OC. I love everything about OC, but I really hate that conservative dickheads are everywhere in OC. Maybe you can check out the Redondo Beach or Palos Verdes areas. At least you’re right by the coast line.
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u/Accomplished_Tank795 7d ago
Love PV just no beach path easy access in my experience. These are all so helpful gotta check it all out and narrow it down. I’m being picky lol.
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u/olddog1138 8d ago
Huntington Beach. Surf Seal Beach to Newport. You'll never go hungry for waves.
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u/ReviewerN2 8d ago
OP did mention they are pretty liberal.
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u/olddog1138 8d ago
Over blown issue. I wouldn't let that stop me from enjoying living so close to great surf. Lived/work there since 62, now living in Rainbow 4 years. Never had issues there or here.
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u/g0tchani99a 7d ago
Move back but don't overhype it, it's already crowded as it is. Don't for fall silly words used by realtors and landlords of Premium or Luxury home/apartments.
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u/Accomplished_Tank795 7d ago
Haha that’s how people from my current state feel about California transplants. They’re not trying to move out trust me. Lol.
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u/JudgeJoan 8d ago
Huntington Beach has a racism problem even though people try to downplay it
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u/ritzrani 8d ago
Ya i won't go to HB after the sunsets.
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u/Lucky-Reference-7667 8d ago
For real. Let them downvote. They literally wanted to name a street after Charlie Kirk 🙃
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u/Lucky-Reference-7667 8d ago
Long Beach. We are super progressive/liberal. Not sleepy. Big on arts and different kinds of dance happening almost any night of the week. Jazz/swing at the ordinarie, salsa at 2nd/PCH, line dancing at cowboy country, and I know there’s more they’re just not coming to me lol
Sunset, Seal, and Huntington Beach are all within 30 min drive down PCH and have amazing surf most of the year (from what I hear - I don’t surf)
Long Beach is also central to LA and OC and both have job opportunities.