First, let me say, we love living in Ojai. Our front yard has been transformed into a fruit and vegetable garden by my husband’s hands.
I will answer your questions in order
[quote]I want to be less of a tax on the environment and live somewhere that we can walk or bike to most of what we need.[/quote]
Interestingly enough, biking is a big issue here. There was an ordinance passed about 10 years ago making this a “bicycle friendly” community, and then no follow through happened. The current city council is making strides now to bring us up to date here with bike lanes, bike parking, etc. That being said, plenty of people bike, a lot. We drive to Ventura about once a week for Trader Joe’s and other things that we need.
[quote]I want to raise my kids in a community that encourages that way of thinking instead of being bombarde with ideas that the only way for things to get better is to be a constant consumer of cheaply manufactured crap.[/quote]
Ojai is a very diverse community with many kinds of thinkers – from very conservative to very liberal and everything in between. Do your school research and you’ll find what you want.
[quote]We would like to switch most of our diet to local and organic and delicious foods, and find other people that are interested in that as well.[/quote]
Now that is easily accomplished here. There are 2 grocery stores that specialize in organics, one which also farms its own food. The farmer’s market here is the best we’ve seen in California. Check out this link http://www.farmerandcook.com
We are eating almost exclusively organic, my husband is volunteering on 2 CSA’s, and is farming our front yard. I love to cook, and here in Ojai, I have cooked more than anywhere else I have lived. The food people here are a wonderful and varied crowd. Volunteer at the CSA for The Farmer and The Cook, and you will meet some of them. Also check out the quarterly publication “Edible Ojai”
[quote]We also value learning, not only academically, but also cultural and environmental experiences.[/quote]
For a small town there are an amazing amount of things to do, see, learn, participate in……We often find ourselves having to choose between multiple desirable options in one day and are more social here than anywhere else we have ever lived before.
[quote]We want to live somewhere where weekends are bike rides and horseback, maybe golf or a trip to the lake. Not video games and a constant struggle to come up with something to do in the gray rain (we live in Seattle now).
Mostly, I want to sit outside and eat a hot tomato of the vine, drink a glass of wine and and watch my kids play with the dog more than 6 weeks out of the year.
Is this a fantasy, or is that what it is like in Ojai?[/quote]
yes, yes, & yes
[quote]Lastly, You mentioned in one post that it is H-O-T. How hot and for how long? I could really use some HOT right now.[/quote]
It can be in the hundreds here during July, August, & September – which the tomatoes LOVE. Almost always cools down enough at night to turn off the AC and open the windows (seriously). Maybe we ran our AC at night last summer a total of 2 weeks. I was worried about the heat when we moved here, but found that I loved it. So far, we are having a very mild summer where the heat is concerned.
A final thought for you ~ Ojai sits on a vortex. We have had some very profound experiences since moving here ~ spiritually speaking ~ Everyone that moves here does. You will find yourself being presented with the opportunity to heal and evolve. If Ojai is for you, you will know it. If it is not, you will know that as well. Listen to what you are receiving.
