Ventura County: The “bestest” place ever to be

"Ventura County, Calif., is the absolute most desirable place to live in America."

By George Miller

We saw in the Washington Post that Ventura County had been rated the #1 county in the U.S. to live.  But for what and how was it rated? Well it turns out that was derived from a government rating system based upon “natural amenities,” meaning weather and geography. Yeah, that’s why many of us are here.

Ventura, CA coast. Photo: http://www.city-data.com/

According to the Post article, “the index combines ‘six measures of climate, topography, and water area that reflect environmental qualities most people prefer.’ Those qualities, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, include mild, sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity, topographic variation, and access to a body of water.”

Where else in the USA can you get a Mediterranean climate, relatively low humidity, 4-seasons outdoor life, farms, gardens, orchards, ocean, mountains, valleys, hills, plains, all only minutes to an hour or so away? I can’t think of anywhere else and I HAVE looked. Maybe SanDiego/OC.

Hidden Valley, Westlake, CA. Photo: Estately.com

But, other livability criteria weren’t included in the ratings, such as taxes, government efficiency/competence, business-friendliness, crime, schools, cost of living, health care, jobs & housing. Although most of those would pull down our rating considerably, most of us have evaluated the trade-offs at some point and are STLL here! So, remember that while you are trying to pay your mortgage/rent, bills and taxes, while dealing with government bureaucracies, schools, health care and trying to eke out a living.

Four growing seasons, mean all kinds of farms in Ventura County.

Camarillo, CA. looking across the fields toward CA-101 up the grade to Newbury Park. Photo: soarvc.org

Looking down from Mugu Peak in Pt. Mugu State Park to Naval Base Ventura County. Photo: hikespeak.com (great site!)

Read WaPo article

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George Miller is Publisher of Citizensjournal.us and a “retired” operations management consultant, active in civic affairs, living in Oxnard.

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