Lindsay, California - what can you tell me about it?

[NewJeffCT]

My wife has been contacted about jobs all over the country in the past few weeks –
Boise, Idaho;
Richmond, Virginia;
Hopkinton, Mass; and one other town in Mass;
This is in addition to a few in Connecticut.
and now, Lindsay, California.

What can anybody tell me about Lindsay?

I know it is a small town of around 11,000 that is between Bakersfield and Fresno. It seems to be pretty mild weather-wise, according to the Lindsay town website.

I did some research online and was unimpressed by the quality of the schools in the Lindsay area, to say the least. (and, I searched all of Tulare County) Would we have to live closer to Fresno or to Bakersfield if we wanted good quality public schools?

Since it is a small town, how far would we have to go for conveniences like good restaurants, movie theaters, shopping? In which direction would be better for me to find employment – towards Fresno or towards Bakersfield? I work in Finance & Accounting.

Cross posted between the Lounge & the California forum.

Thanks!

[anarch]

1. my name is not Lindsay

but here is what I know about California:

- there are earthquakes there sometimes

- they make some pretty decent wine over there

- that's where Hollywood is

- there's a bear on the state flag


I hope that helps!

[Momgonepostal]

2. Did you try Visalia schools?

a former co-worker was from there and thought it was a bit better than Fresno. More of the higher test scoring schools in Fresno are going to be in East Fresno/Clovis area, so that may be a bit far for you.

Honestly, if those were my choices, I'd look into Boise or MA or stay in CT before moving to Lindsay. I'm from farther up the valley in Modesto, and I don't know that I'd want to move here unless the offer was REALLY good.

[NewJeffCT]

3. What's so bad about the area?

If I may ask.

[Momgonepostal]

4. This is just my opinion...

and I'm not from Lindsay, just further up the road, but...

1. It's very hot, and the summers are long
2. Very red, FReeper central, in fact FR is operated out of Fresno
3. The pay is bad, but housing fairly high (although maybe not as bad as CT) but at any rate, housing is not very affordable given what salaries are
4. You're kind of far from big cities, although I understand that's not important to everyone.
5. Rand McNally consistently votes Central CA cities as beign the worst place to klive in the US.

The good news is you're not too far from the mountains and some cool national parks. It's not the worst thing in world living here, but it's not ideal, so if you have choices, I'd look pretty seriously at those other choices.

[hunter]

5. Visalia would be your "big city."

Bakersfield or Fresno have little more to offer as cities, so if you do visit, concentrate on Visalia. Personally, I would NEVER consider commuting to Fresno or Bakersfield if my wife worked in Lindsay.

It's hot in the summer and sort of depressing in the winter. For all the winter gloom you'd much rather be in a place where it snowed, but you can drive up to Sequoia National Park easily enough if you are missing the snow.

Um, do you or your wife speak Spanish?

Feel free to PM me.

[NewJeffCT]

6. No, neither of us speak Spanish

I take it that it's pretty common there?

[ronnykmarshall]

7. They used to have chain fights ...

half way between Strathmore and Lindsey.

At least that's what an old friend of my parents use to say.

[hunter]

9. Yes. If your job involves dealing with the public it will be very useful.

California is like that in a lot of places. I live in a place where 40% of the people don't speak English at home. The elementary schools my children attended were essentially bilingual. School assemblies always took twice as long because everything was said in English and Spanish, otherwise too many parents and grandparents wouldn't know what was happening.

My wife is bilingual, but I'm not, which sometimes leaves me feeling the odd man out. Often I'll find myself in situations where the language is flowing seamlessly between English and Spanish, especially when I'm doing something with the parents of my kids' friends and classmates.

[ronnykmarshall]

8. HEY! Don't be dissin' Porterville!

Porterville's closer that Visalia.

[hunter]

10. I almost mentioned Porterville...

But then I'd have to talk about Tulare too, and who knows how that'd go?

;)

[ronnykmarshall]

11. All the way to WASCO!!

And don't EVEN get me talking about Weedpatch!

[hunter]

12. I loved this... I found it on the internet!

The City of Wasco, CA

Strategically located in California's central valley, Wasco is the gateway to the central coast. A short two hour drive can take you to the beach.

:rofl:

[ronnykmarshall]

13. Oh my god!!

Gateway to the Central Coast???

So is Atascadero the gateway to Paso Robles?

I see you know your central valley and central coast towns.

Where are you from?

[hunter]

14. As a young man I wandered all over California.

Saw a lot. Too much maybe. So here I am.

[Momgonepostal]

16. Fresno State's literature used to say things like...

They sent me a bunch of pamphlets when I was a senior in HS. One described Fresno something like "Nestled under a blanket of almond blossums, Fresno is halfway between the beautiful California Coast and the snow-capped Sierra Nevadas..." Ya gotta give their marketing department an "A" for effort!

[zonkers]

25. Isn't Sequoia National Park near LIndsay? That place is gorgeous.

[trof]

15. Isn't that where ripe olives come from?

[KamaAina]

17. "A great town, a great olive"

Seriously. That's their slogan. That may be all you need to know about the place right there.

[huskerlaw]

18. Between Bakersfield and Fresno?

Oy.

I'm not from that area, but I've driven through it a few times. There's nothing to see or do (and I grew up in Nebraska, so my tolerance is pretty high). The towns around there look pretty dumpy...run down, as if in economic recession. It appears that the main industry is farming, and due to that there did seem to be a LOT of Spanish-speaking individuals.

It's also really out in the middle of nowhere, city-wise and certainly not near any thriving centers of accounting or finance.

And if you're used to art or culture, well...good luck with that. I guess you could do weekend trips to actual cities like LA or San Francisco. Otherwise, you're pretty well stuck with TiVo and a movie theater or two.

That part of California certainly wouldn't be my first (or even top 100) choice. My advice would be to cross your fingers and pray she gets one of the jobs in Massachusetts.

Although, honestly, if you don't mind living in a red state, Boise Idaho's not all bad...

[NewJeffCT]

19. We'd prefer CT or Mass

But, if my wife finds the right job for the right company, I'm more than willing to follow her. (She had a phone interview last week for a company in Boise & has one soon for a company in Richmond...)

[hunter]

20. I'd rather live in Lindsay than Boise Idaho or Nebraska.

Hell, I'd rather live in Pixley.

[huskerlaw]

21. Spent a lot of time in Nebraska, have you?

:shrug:

[hunter]

22. To me, culture is Bud Light and Mexican food.

And somebody has to play the accordion.

Actually I have spent time in Nebraska, but if I picked some places to describe my parents' families, it'd be San Francisco, Hollywood, and Salt Lake City.

Buncha damned cowpokes and free thinkers.

[AutumnMist]

23. I Grew Up In Bakersfield

Fresno and Bakersfield are not that much different in terms of jobs in my opinion. Many blue collar and farming jobs available, technology has been slow to catch up to the rest of California. If you are in finance and accounting try hitting the builders and contractors. They are building at a HUGE rate due to the Los Angeles over spill through central counties. They always need someone to balance and maintain finances. Fresno and Bakersfield don't have that many differences. Bakersfield has some nice malls and movie theaters. Many upscale places to eat and visit (Riverwalk Park) have been built off of Stockdale highway. Its improving at a quick rate. I hope this helps!

[zonkers]

24. Hot in the summer. Agricultral area I can see the highway sign in my head.

Whether or not you would like it.... I think it really depends where you are coming from.

[Kickin_Donkey]

26. OLIVES, OLIVES, OLIVES ...

During the heyday of the Dogders in the '70s, they named a junior high school after Steve Garvey. That's shows you it's Dodger country, rather than Giants.

Somehow I doubt that the weather is mild -- unless that means that when it's 107 in Fresno and Bakersfield, it's only 102 in Lindsay.

It's Puke country, of course, like most of the Central Valley, but I don't know if the large Hispanic population has had a ameliorating effect on that.

Nearest city is Visalia.

With an income of two professionals, you could live very well there -- sprawling ranch-style suburban house (if that's your thing).

I'd have no problem living there. Despite the red politics and summer heat, I find the Central Valley quite livable. I love the Valley -- but that's just me. My dad was in agriculture, and I was born and raised and currently live in the Valley a couple hundred miles north (although I've lived in cities as blue as Berkeley and as big as Tokyo).

Like life, living in a particular locale is what you make of it. There ARE Democratic Clubs, theater companies, liberals, arts circles, conservation groups, people who trek to the Bay Area, etc. -- you'll find them.

[NewJeffCT]

27. UPDATE

My wife spoke with the hiring manager/VP. He said NOT to live in Lindsay, but recommended Visalia. My wife said that he also mentioned one other city, but forgot the name.

[hunter]

28. Porterville?

But really, for all the teasing in this thread there are very nice places to live in and around Lindsay. Visalia is growing like crazy, most everything is new -- Home Depot, Lowes, Target, all the usual "big box" places.

Where our food is going to come from once all the fields are paved under is another topic...

[NewJeffCT]

29. yes, I think it was Porterville

and, I was a bit taken aback. When I asked about Richmond, Pittsburgh, Columbus & a city NW of Boston, I got almost all positive responses.

First time I got this much negativity.