Anyone else want to leave Cali as bad as I do?

My experience at the superior court building I went to for a minor traffic offense was just yet one more reason why I want to leave this state. I was told to show up early- which I did. There was already a HUGE line out the door. But before I even got there, there was nowhere to park except their parking lot, which was almost full and they only took cash, and didn't make change. What a bunch of bullshit.

So anyway, I get in line. I swear 90% of the folks in like looked fresh from the ghetto. We were ushered in. They only took the first 50 people for court. The rest of us waited in line. The building looks like it was built in the 70's. The interior is literally falling apart and it stank. I must have waited 2 hours in line so I could schedule another court date, only to find out that the next one I could attend would be in February. So I said fuck it and just paid the full fine instead.

Its not just this one thing. Its a LOT of things. Despite the housing bust, houses are still way overpriced and incredibly, people are still paying out the nose for even a small house. The state just raised taxes again on incomes. Everything is overcrowded- the grocery stores, events, downtown, parking lots, movie theaters... and so on. There's just too many damned people EVERYWHERE and they're all out there competing against each other.

I'm actually considering just simply packing up and moving to Texas and find a job there. I somehow don't see things getting any better or more affordable here. I'm fed up with it! Anyone else feel the same?

 

I'm with ya. Where did you go to court?

 

I'm still young and haven't experienced half the things you have probably, but I really enjoy it here.

 

Fuck this state!

 

you know, Lex Luthor had a plan to get rid of Cali in superman...

 

Ya... its a great place when you're young. But when you get married and start looking at how much you'll need to put down on a house, suddenly its not so fantastic anymore. Pretty much anything decent in my area is around $500,000. We make a pretty decent income. But its still not enough to buy and not be putting ourselves into a financially risky situation come one of both of us lost our jobs.

 

Love the state, not the government. But at least my diploma is signed by Arnold, thats worth something, right?

 

California... Proof that Tax and Spend does not work.

 

Yes I feel like leaving all the time but whem I'm out of CA for more then a few weeks I couldn't wait to go back.

 

What do you know Bob, we finally agree on something. I loved this place when I was younger. Go to the beach, the mountains, hot chicks everywhere. Tons of fun stuff to do, but then it hits you. Now im older, married, paying bills, starting a family. I cant afford a house, apartments are expensive as hell. They tax the crap out of us. I hate the politics. We have one of the largest populations but the state is broke as hell. Overcrowded and over run by crime. I wish I could convince the wife to move, but that wont happen. One day, I hope, I will leave this god awful state. Until then, Im gonna be an angry, bitter, gun owner on the edge of a breakdown. Dont piss me off!!

 

Guess for me my perspective is different. I'm originally from TN and I can tell you that comparing TN to CA is like night and day. For one, TN doesn't have income tax. Secondly, their freeways, schools, public buildings, and even rest stops are either new or really well-maintained. Thirdly, you can buy a pretty nice house with an actual big yard or even some acreage for under $200,000. Lastly, there's only 6 million people in the whole state so you don't have to deal with all those crowds.

I must admit that Cali has been kind of good to me job and money wise. The weather is also nice here. But god the cost of living just about makes all of that totally non relevant. With what I've saved I can live about 200 times better just about anywhere else. The hell with Cali.

 

I don't know...San Diego is pretty cool.



It's a major city, of course there are going to be a lot of people! I don't mind though, coming from New York, I'm used to it.

 

California has it's ups and downs. Lately a lot more downs. Yeah, the way the court system works sucks but it's probably the same at every state, just less crowded. Anything that has to do with the court system seems to be a task. They want you to pay your fines right then and there but if they actually owe you money, it will take 6-8 weeks to refund you. Yeah the taxes were raised, the houses are expensive, blah blah... but I still enjoy being in the center of everything. An hour away from the beaches, two from the mountains. Although I get what you're saying, it would be nice to live a simpler life.

 

You young guys... again , I hear ya. When I was a young-un like you all, I too thought the state was pretty kick ass. I actually like the natural beauty of the state. I think the rural parts of it are a lot nicer than the cities which I could do without. But there's no work in those areas. 90% of the state's area is totally rural and largely conservative. The rest is ridiculously liberal and expensive. There are two extremes and not a lot inbetween. The same with class. There's a lot of filthy rich, a boatload of poor, and a barely surviving middle class. Its like Brazil rather than a US state.

Again- I liked it when I was younger. But when some of you all get married... let me know how you feel then.

 

I want to move back to New York.

 

i hear what you are saying. i am tired of socal because of the cost of living and the overcrowding (and then peoples attitudes and behaviors because of that). i would love to go elsewhere, but i have a really kick ass job that would be hard to give up. maybe my priorites will change if the state gets worse

 

That's the thing. We have had good jobs as well. They make it tempting to stay because you wonder how you can do better anywhere else. I started making a decent income 3-4 years ago and immediately started saving. The reasoning is if we save enough, which we pretty much have, we can leave, buy a house almost for cash elsewhere, then there's not as much of a reason to have such a great job.

Secondly, incomes are less in other states. But for example in TX, there's no income tax. So let's say you make $100k in Cali. In reality almost $35k-$40k will be taxed away. In Texas let's say you make $60k. Its actually the same income as 100k in Cali. That and the cost of living in TX is 1/4th the cost of most metros in Cali.

 

I grew up here, turned 17 and left for Arizona one day, just got in the truck and left... I graduated high school and went in the navy, and now// Well I am back and stuck here! I'd leave if I had somethign better lined up when I retire from the navy in another 3 years.

 

Aha, found your problem!

btw, I've been to almost all the states and I still like California, Florida, and NY best. I know what you mean about TX though, houses are cheap there but just not for me. I'd rather live in a rural area in CA but like you said, the jobs are in the city. I would hate to commute that far.

 

Count me in I know just how you feel, its like California cant get enough of your money, no matter how much of our money they get its never enough.

cant balance the budget ? thats ok just double the registration

cant pay these high ranking state officials ? thats ok we will just increase income tax

cant pay for more cops ? thats ok just add another red light camera on every corner

California is one of the most beautiful places but the way things are headed FUCK THIS PLACE !!!