Joel lists Santa Rosa, CA as a safe city for Strategic Relocation. As a 44 year resident of this area I would say it's good place to live if you want to live in the heartland of the Peoples Republic of California. This area was mainly agricultural, but the urbanization has driven the price of median-priced homes to the $ 250,000 range. Traffic is gridlock on Hwy.101 (only main route out of the area), water resources are running low, taxes, taxes, taxes, Mexican gangs, shootings, robbery, ultra political-correctness, socialist governments from town level to county level, city spends $5M money on a park in a creek for bums to live in but leaves the streets full of chuck-holes because they don't like automobiles, yes it's all here !!! If you want to move to this your welcome, but I've had enough, it's time to move to Wyoming.
I've lived in Sonoma County for about 20 years. Everything Robert says is true. We've decided to move - maybe Idaho.
I would recommend Mariposa County, CA as an interesting prospect for more than just gold.
Beautiful affordable country west of Yosemite with good water tables.
Only 9 residents per sq. mile.
The State averages 190 people per sq. mile.
Sparcer Santa Barbara County is 109 but a lot more pricey.
San Diego County is now almost 500 and it ain't what it used to be.
Well, I'm writing as a young woman who is hoping to be educated without falling into fear. I moved from SF to SD because I want a warm, coastal place to live. I hope to marry and have children. Am I hoping for too much? SD is not on the SAFE list. In fact, it sounds nuclear dangerous. I lived in Sonoma County, and am so sad how it is developing. Water tables, warm weather, room for gardens, and orchards, are on my wish list. Is there a community of people headed for a SAFE coastal location like this? Why are so many people willing to go where it's cold if the peak oil crisis is coming?
I predict--and Joel, in his Strategic Relocation book, agrees--that neither San Diego nor San Francisco will be safe when World War III hits. When is WWIII likely to break loose? Joel said his guess is probably toward the end or shortly after our current decade. Several years from now the cities you mentioned, Miss Ayla, are probable top nuclear or other targets because of strategic military purposes.
Of course, you, living in San Diego, must have noticed all those military bases along the coast. Our worst enemies have noticed them, too, and would likely hit them hard during a major war with the U.S.
San Diego is listed in the top 10-20 cities on Joel's "Most Dangerous Places To Live" list, but don't panic. You probably have a few good years left to prepare, make better choices and move to a safer area. That's why we're all here at this forum--to learn, to prepare, to know what to do and what not do in order to get out and stay out of harm's way. It's also why Joel said he wrote Strategic Relocation: North American Guide To Safe Places--to warn people and help them know what to do to prepare.
The reason that so many are willing to go where it's cold is because the warmer, more attractive coastal cities are often in or located near cities which are likely to become military targets during the coming big war with Russia and/or China. Also, as Joel pointed out in the past, criminals love warm, coastal cities. Miami is a perfect example. Places which first appear as idyllic, warm, cozy "vacation towns" are actually swarming with bad elements. During a crisis, such as war or major natural disasters or other big emergencies, social unrest (rioting, looting, anarchy in the streets, more) will erupt. You're not going to want to be anywhere near major metros, military targets or warm, sunny cities overrun by criminals and other immoral, lazy people when trouble hits.
Miss Ayla, you wrote that San Diego "sounds nuclear dangerous." That's because it IS, or WILL BE "nuclear dangerous" during the next big war. As Joel warned in his relocation book, it's not a matter of "if," but a matter of "when" the big war and Russian surprise attack comes to America someday and probably visits first cities like San Diego, which will likely get hit hard because of its strategic military significance.
Want some advice? Use these next few years wisely. Move to a safer place. Good luck.