If you are a fan of 'Two-Buck Chuck' -- also known as the Charles Shaw wine -- you might be interested in knowing that it's maker, the Bronco Wine Company, is located in Ceres.
Ceres is one of those places that seems to exist only in books. It's a city with just under 50,000 residents, but it feels like a small town. People know their neighbors in a friendly way. It has all of the amenities of a major city without the traffic or other problems. The weather is great, and there is never a need for a down parka. There are several festivals that take place throughout the year to the delight of the general population. Best of all, it's an affordable place to live. As an added bonus, you can get some incredible Mexican food at the local restaurants. This is literally heaven on earth, and it's no wonder that the population is increasing.
Moving to Ceres
Pack your stuff and head out! There is no real trick to moving here. The weather is conducive to moving at any time of the year, and getting a place to rent is no problem either. The landlord will run a credit check of course, so if you have a blip or so on file you might want to throw in references from prior landlords saying it wasn't because you forgot to pay your rent. That's really all they care about anyway. For good measure you can include a reference and proof of income from your boss, but mostly all of the checks are just a formality. If you have pets, include a reference for them as well, just in case. Other than that, you should be good to go. Be ready to plop down a security deposit immediately upon finding a place because the great ones go fast.
What Will it Cost?
The cost of living here is, quite frankly, amazing. The rental prices are impressive no matter where you are from, and if you are from one of the major cities you are going to swoon! In fact, expect the rental rates for a very nice 2-3 bedroom place to run someplace between a swoon and a tickle. Fantastic weather, a great little city, and you can afford it! Life just doesn't get much better than that.
Neighborhoods
When a city is this small and laid back you don't have to deal with much in the way of different neighborhoods. They want to improve and beautify areas that they don't own by insisting that those who do own those areas obey the suggestions they offer. Feel free to ignore them; everyone else does. On the plus side, you will always know who the gossips are by seeing who sits on these groups.
Hatch: This is a really nice area. You should find some attractive places to rent here, but be ready to jump, because they won't last in this part of town.
Moffett: There is not much in the way of vacancies here, but they are nice when you can find them. If your heart is set on living in this neighborhood, be ready to pounce if you see or hear of anything that is available.
Harp: This is a nice area and about average on rental vacancies.
Morgan: Good luck on this one. This is an area with older homes and residents that have been in the area for decades. There are virtually no vacancies but if you happen to find one, it's a nice area. The people are friendly and it's a warm environment.
River: Cool area with a lot of diversity in occupations. You could have a few lively dinner parties here and never have to worry about the noise as the area is a bit more secluded. There are a fair number of rental vacancies, but they tend to be on the larger size with 3-4 bedrooms being about average. Many people want smaller and more efficient places, so you might get a really great deal on the extra space. .
Central: This is the historic part of the city and the buildings show it. There are a number of vacancies here, primarily because so many people prefer new construction. However, if you want a nice and roomy place in a historic building, then you are about to hit the jackpot. There are enough vacancies here that you can negotiate your rent, so have fun!
Mitchell: This is the rest of the historic district, but there are fewer vacancies here. If you are wondering why, it's because the buildings were renovated into smaller and more modern apartments. Less space appeals to some people, go figure.
City Center: This is the oldest part of the city and it shows. In its defense, there is a huge revitalization program underway and the improvements are already obvious. This would be a great place to live if noise of construction doesn't bother you, and you can find a place. There are few vacancies here. Bummer.
Living in Ceres
If you are the sort of person who wants to live a life that isn't made up only of work and sleep, Ceres is a great place to do this. The weather is perfect for outdoor activities all year, with even January temperatures warm enough to merit nothing more than a jacket. As for summer, expect hot days in the '90s and cool summer nights in the '60s. This incredible weather makes it possible for the town to comfortably host outdoor community events throughout the year. There are also spring festivals and concerts in the park. Summer is largely devoted to people doing their own thing and being outside as much as possible. Swimming, hiking, and biking are all extremely popular with everyone.
Eventually you are going to want food and not going to want to cook it yourself -- you lazy bum. There are two outstanding Mexican restaurants in Ceres, and it's pretty hard to choose between them. Both offer outstanding food, service, and prices. Try them both and make your own decision. There is Alphonso's Mexican Grill over on Lawrence Street and then Chivas Crudas Birrieria Y Taqueria over on 4th Street (locals tend to call this place CC's, so if you hear that don't be surprised). If you are looking to just grab a great burger and maybe relax for a bit, try Jenny's Family Dining on Herndon road. It has a nod to the old west and a more rural life. It's cute and the food is great. If you are looking for the normal fast food places, they all exist here, including some of the larger chain Chinese places. You will not starve living here -- even if you refuse to cook.
Your life in a new town isn't complete until you have a place to hangout with your new friends and relax. After all, you're sure to want a place to let loose and party. For that you definitely want to head over to La Cueva Bar and Nightclub on Central Ave. It's generally hopping and a fun place to take out of town guests. If you just want to relax with a few friends and actually have a conversation, then try Sweet Lu's on 4th street. It's a nice place with live entertainment, but it's not too loud.
