Concerning Paradise/Oroville, Butte County, Clifor
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1/28/2012
There can not be a town with a LESS FITTING NAME than "Paradise", CA..Its name implies nothing of the truth. First of all, what people are saying about unpleasant weather is absolutely correct. Those who say otherwise, (???)...go figure. During winter months it pours buckets of rain. High winds and snow often knock down large trees and branches, which in turn take down power lines, causing power outages & hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. Sometimes it actually takes days before power is restored (again, this being in the dead of winter). In the summer you bake & sweat. It is usually very uncomfortable to go outside from about 9AM until just before or after sundown. AC/power & water bills are astronomically high! Wild fires are a huge threat. Mandatory evacuation for weeks at a time & dozens, upon dozens of homes being destroyed by wild fire (ie; 2008).
Probably most frustrating though, has to be the mindset of the locals. VERY LITTLE gets accomplished & that is exactly how the majority of people there seem to like it. Many locals think that it actually "paradise" because of un-productivity & laziness. Someone stated that the people there "dropped out of society"... Perfect analogy! Methamphetamine use is common, not only in "Paradise", but in all of Butte County, as so is theft. Surprise! My family, as well as myself were victims dozens of times in the just a few short years. What's really amazing though is just how common the attitude of carelessness, laziness and unaccountability is with everyday, non drug users that reside there (nearly everything, from contractors, retailers, restaurants, the vet's office, to the local health care industry, and so on). Businesses & residents alike shun responsibility on a staggering level. The widespread irresponsible, lackadaisical attitude seems to effect every aspect of business & everyday life there. Pride in excellence is rarely displayed, if at all, and that is the truth. It is a very common thing to hear things like "Yeah, I know we told ya we'd be over thar, but we went fishin' instead"... (No joke!)
My loved ones moved their later in life without conducting proper, thorough investigation first. Big mistake! They re-invested nearly everything into that place. Unfortunately, like many others have experienced as well, they were afterwards stuck. Real estate prices are cheap there and once you've lived there you can understand why. Local officials & industry sell "Paradise" as a "retirement community" and there are many older folks there, but don't be fooled. There are very few activities or events for seniors in this community. It's bleak. However, there are many businesses & individuals that capitalize on the elderly demographic, taking full financial advantage. This also extends to the neighboring town of Oroville, CA (GUARD your loved ones & their finances from people in that town!!!). In my observation & years of experience of being in those surrounding communities, I can report, unfortunately, that this is a place of rapid personal decline, being taken advantage of meanwhile. Perhaps there are some who might say that this post is motivated from "having a bad taste in my mouth" & I wouldn't outright dispute that, but, this IS truthful. I also think it is only fair that others should benefit from what I have discovered. There are many others who could substantiate these claims.
If you are a retiree and considering a move to Paradise (I like to call it "Purgatory"), do yourself a favor & seriously reconsider (or at least research it very carefully and thoroughly, before making a move, later regretting it). If you are a person who's aging loved one is considering a move to Paradise, do them and your family a favor by dissuading them. I wish that I had. I've never regretted being there for my loved ones as they needed me in their final years. I miss them greatly every day and I know that I always will, but I have never missed the communities of "Paradise"/Oroville, nor Butt(e) County, CA, and I know that I never will.
Ima | ,