Anyone ever live in the Tahoe area?

[XemaSab]

I may have a job in the area, and I'm wondering what it would be like to live there.

I've lived in Oakhurst (near Fresno) before, which was a little too rural and a little too backwoodsy fundie for me, but Tahoe seems like a bigger area with a wider diversity of people.

I am a little concerned about the tourist nature of the economy, and the cost of living.

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns? :shrug:

[tularetom]

1. I see from your profile where you are now and my advice

is take that friggin job and go there yesterday. I live fairly close to Oakhurst now and I've lived in the northern Sac Valley before (actually Chico one of the islands of relative sanity in the area) and Tahoe would be a whole nother world for you. It's by no means a "liberal" outpost but because a lot of the residents have come there from somewhere else it's a fairly open and tolerant community/

Definitely the communities on the north shore of the lake are far more livable than the touristy sprawl of South Tahoe. In either case be prepared for some cold weather.

[trashcanistanista]

2. I lived in Truckee for 10 years.

It is a great life if you can afford it. Everything is more expensive, gas, food and propane or natural gas that you need 8 months out of the year. It snows a lot, you must have a four wheel drive and snow tires. Homes are coming down in price, but are more expensive than what you can get below the snow line. Renting is tight due to the seasonal aspect of employment and many rentals do not allow pets. You need to spend on a snow removal service or snowblower and firewood and probably clothes. The upside, when the tourists are gone you have the best places to yourself. It is a mountain biker's, hiker's and skier's paradise. February was my favorite month - tourists are mostly gone, spring skiing includes lots of sunshine and you can wear tee shirts and shorts during the day out on the snow on warm days. Locals make runs to Reno for groceries and gas and entertainment. It is more democratic than other parts of Nevada and Placer County, there are active Dems up there. Brown will win the No. Tahoe area easily. You adjust your life around weekends - stay home or work while taking weekdays off to enjoy the area and do shopping, etc. If you can handle snow and cold 8 out of 12 months you will love it. Tourists are a nuisance, but you get used to it.