Reviews & Comments
Irvine, CA
Irvine, Ca.- Don't belive the Propaganda /Irvine i -
10/31/2011We moved to Irvine, Ca from Birmingham, Mi back in 2004 due to better economic opportunities. I am a third generation American and my wife is second generation American. We grew up in a very Mid-western lifestyle with a diverse group of cultures- mostly European, Indian, Asian, etc. However, the BIG DIFFERENCE back in Michigan was that all of the other cultures like our own actually assimilated into America by learning to speak English and accepting/being part of the American Community. We always had a lot of REAL friends and a great social/support network back in Michigan. Weekend BBQ's were a lot of fun with the neighbors.
We finally decided to take the plunge and moved to Irvine, Ca. into a small apartment for $1850/month. At first, we were pretty impressed and culture shocked with Irvine. It's Damn Expensive! $3.50 for an iced tea at Cheesecake Factory? WTF? Our first three years we had a good time, traveled California, ate great food, had lots to do, enjoyed the great weather but we started noticing a lot of disturbing things.
Flash forward 7 years, we are still living in Irvine, California because we have done very well financially, however, we feel like total OUTSIDERS and cannot wait to move/live in a REAL American Community. It seems like a lot of our good diverse "friends" have moved out of California to better places with more economic opportunities. In our opinion, Irvine, Ca. is NOT a great place to make REAL LONG TERM FRIENDSHIPS, raise a family or be part of a REAL community UNLESS you are Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese or Persian and speak those languages FLUENTLY. Too much diversity without any assimilation is not a good thing. Excessive diversity can make you feel LOCKED OUT of REAL FRIENDSHIPS due to Language & Cultural Barriers. You can feel like an outsider living in a foreign land because you ARE an outsider. Try going into a Vietnamese restaurant where everyone is Vietnamese and you are the only non-asian in the place. Lots of weird looks like-what the hell are you doing here?
Facts-
My wife and I have concluded that it is very difficult to Make REAL Friends in Irvine, California. There is too much cultural diversity and Financial Stress. We don't even know our neighbors. We have tried to introduce ourselves or invite them to dinner but they are too busy for us. It seems like most people you meet here are trying to sell you something and are not interested in getting to know you first. It's very EXPENSIVE to live in California and most people are just trying to survive and become self-absorbed with money first/friendship mentality. No matter how much money you make in California, it seems that your bank account is very low. We make over six figures a year and we almost went into debt trying to keep up with the California "Lifestyle". We recently had an AH-HA Moment-Life is not all about how much money you make, it's about making REAL FRIENDSHIPS and helping others. Most people in Irvine, Ca. are too self-absorbed/selfish. Showing off and driving German/Japanese Sports Cars BMW's Mercedes Lexus and keeping up with the Jones's.
#1 A majority %85 of Californians are on some kind of legal or illegal mind-altering drugs due to FINANCIAL STRESS. They are either pill poppers vicodin, oxy or pot heads or coke heads. It blew us away how many "normal" Californian's hide their drug addictions.
#2 You waste a lot of time driving your car getting around, nothing is close by. Wanna go to the Irvine Spectrum? Good luck finding parking. Would you like to wait one hour plus to eat your dinner? How about sitting next to someone that doesn't speak English? It happens all of the time in Irvine, Ca.
#3 Unless you own your own business or have highly specialized skills forget about working for a job in Irvine, Ca. California has one of the Highest Unemployment Rates in the US.
#4 California is #1 on the 10 states in the worst financial health and highest financially stressed residents according to the Pew Center on the States. #1 being the worst.
#5 Since 90% of California residents are stressed, they have the Dog eat Dog mentality, which makes them some of the most Rude, Unfriendly, Flakey, Materialistic, Stressed out/Fake people ever seen in one area.
#6 Californians are not interested in being involved in a true community. Money First-Friendship Last mentality. Californians are too worried about their finances and too high on their drugs to care about you. Money First/Friendship Last State.
#7 Horrible place to raise a Family due to Bad Influences. 2 out of 3 high school students use drugs. California has a 75.54% DIVORCE RATE one of the highest in the USA.
#8 Too much cultural diversity/diversity sucks. Thousand of foreigners/immigrants from screwed up countries that don’t care to assimilate into US culture or speak English. Most immigrants are in California to milk the socialist liberal system and to make as much money as they can, wire it back home and eventually leave California.
#9 Highest taxes in the USA and HIGHEST FINANCIAL STRESS .
#10 Everything is Super-Expensive/No value for your money. Costly Housing, real estate taxes, expensive food ($3.50 for an Iced Tea!) and highest gas prices because State of California taxes the crap out of everything they can get their greedy hands on!
#11 If you’re not earning at least $160,000/year in California you are eternally forced to rent a small/expensive crappy apartment from rich foreign landlords.
#12 Over 23% of homeowners are underwater on their homes, Foreclosures Everywhere.
#13 A nasty over-crowded Suburban Sprawl nightmare with insane traffic jams.
#14 Worst state to own a business since it’s an Anti-business environment with tons of Red Tape and stupid regulations. Thousands of good companies have left California for better Pro-Business States due to excessive taxes and endless fees.
#15 California has largest “lawsuit climate” meaning every idiot who thinks you are rich is going to try to sue you for money. Scum bag lawyers love California.
#16 California is Broke for $25 Billion. Governor Brown will find a way to get your hard earned money by raising taxes/fees.
#17 California has many corrupt mafia style unions (teachers, police, firefighters) that control California’s government/economy via lobbyists. They suck all of the state's tax dollars dry. Union Fire Fighters can make more than a Doctor with their over-time pay!
#18 Since California has so many illegals, they help their fellow Illegal immigrants to take advantage of every stupid Liberal Law such as the illegal/unfair Dream Act.
#19 California rewards those who are lazy with their welfare system which stinks(20% of LA County Residents get public aid welfare!)
#20 1 of 3 Californians has NO HEALTH INSURANCE
#21 California is home to millions of scary Liberals.
#22 California has the worst gun laws in the US/weakest 2nd Amendment Rights almost impossible to get a CCW unless you are a corrupt cop/prison guard(criminals don’t need licenses or waste money on stupid CA fees to get guns in California!).Criminals have access to all kinds of illegal cheaper guns while the honest, law-abiding California residents cannot have access to guns to protect their families. Think about it, in California, if some violent criminal breaks into your house and murders your Family, he will just get life in prison which is a slap on the wrist joke. If you shoot and kill this criminal his family will turn around and sue you for millions and probably win 70% of the time.
#23 If you're single it is an extremely difficult environment to find a suitable mate/Partner due to high transient levels. People are always moving to and from California.
#24 The Irvine Police care more about writing you a revenue generating traffic ticket that protecting you from criminals,
#25 California has the Third Highest Income Tax Rate in the US.
#26 Earthquakes and Fires.
#27 Dirtiest Air Pollution in the USA. Stinks like crap and you’re breathing it in everyday in Ca
#28 Anti-Business Liberal minded state run by a corrupt career politician Jerry Brown who screwed up BIG TIME back in 1983. The idiotic liberal majority in California voted failure Jerry Brown back into office again for another round of anti-business punishment!
#29 California prisons are a JOKE and career criminals love it. Prisoners don’t have to work. They can get their college degrees, watch cable and buy drugs/cell phones from corrupt prison guards.
#30 If you get Divorced in California and you make more money than your Spouse in California, the California Divorce Courts will take 50% of your assets plus a large monthly alimony for many years.
If you are a Super Rich Flaming Liberal or part of a tight knit immigrant community, then Irvine, California is for you!