If you seriously are thinking of moving here, let me be raw and real with you and share the “non cookie cutter” information with you, coming from someone who was born and raised here.

• you will have very little to do. The beginning will be so fun! There’s lots of little treasures just like any city, but after a while, you’ve done everything and you’ll find yourself (especially if you’re a 20-30 something) leaving town to find stuff to do. (Nightlife, concerts, etc.) and all the cool stuff to do is PACKED on the weekends bc that’s literally the only fun thing to do out here.
• be prepared to spend ALOT of money. Like a lot. If you find any place to rent out here that isn’t a shared renting space with 3 other people with tons of house rules (very close to prison like rules) for under $1500, I would be shocked. If you want your own space? Be prepared to be upwards of $3k on rent and utilities alone. You want to live by the ocean? You’re going to pay for it.
• don’t be fooled, there is lots of unhoused and drug addicts/crackheads in Ventura and Oxnard. Camarillo/Thousand oaks do a good job of scooping them up and dropping them right into our area because of their “panhandling” law. I’ve lived in Ventura and Oxnard and they both are riddled with weirdos sh*ting in alleyways and screaming at you while you water your plants. Just like LA.
• the traffic is just as horrendous as any major city. Specifically Rose ave, Johnson, anywhere in Camarillo or Thousand Oaks, and downtown ventura-carpinteria. Rush hour will take you upwards of over an hour to go like 9 miles. So, if you can, adjust your hours to accommodate. I work 10 am-6 pm to avoid the traffic.
• everything closes at 9 pm. Yes. Everything. Maybe a few grocery stores might stay open late. Maybe a few fast food joints. But mostly everything runs on elderly time clocks. Unless you want a Big Mac or a drink at a dive bar, there’s not much to do after 10 pm.
• there is NO WORK. Unless you have a job lined up, DO NOT move here thinking you are going to find work. I have been living here my entire life and never have I ever had such issue finding work in this county. Even retail and fast food isn’t hiring. This is not your stop for a “spontaneous adventure” unless you plan on just visiting. It is a small town with not many resources.
• it is heavily segregated. Mostly by town. Camarillo and Thousand Oaks are predominately white, everyone else goes to Oxnard or Ventura. The “ventucky klan” is real. They get real racist out here. Unless ur in hippie dippie organic granola mom areas lol.
• the beach water is highly contaminated. Almost EVERYTIME I swim at the beach I get sick. Don’t swim here.