Moving back to California?

Agreed, Don't get me wrong California is gorgeous and you do pay for the views and diversity in land here but I feel like right now with everything going on it's just a weird time for everyone around the world but at the end of the day you gotta stick with your heart and go with what you want to do !

 

CA is a failed state and is going to implode one day. If you were one of the lucky ones to leave, don't ever come back to this hell hole. I have been living in CA for almost 60 years now. Once was one of the best places to live. I am leaving this place as soon as I can. Good luck.

 

Feel your pain. A headhunter moved me back to my hometown of DFW a few years ago. I made the mistake about complaining about the food diversity here. My coworkers gave blank stares, like "We have good restaurants here."

 

This! ^^^ Not sure what EH&S is but as a resident of Az living about 100mi south of Flag I can tell you that the job markets are tough and wages aren't the greatest. While it is beautiful here and there is PLENTY to do if you like the outdoors it is a financial sacrifice to live here.

 

I was born in Missouri and grew up in Texas for about half of my childhood, then my father's job moved us to CA midway through high school and been here since (with a brief 10 month stint in Oregon).

There's a lot I miss about TX but the one thing I've come to learn that I can't live without is the mountains and forested areas. Ease of access to countless forest trails and federal BLM land that you can explore endlessly, rather than just miles and miles of flat, gated off private land.

Although I am sick of living in southern CA, too hot for my liking and too many people in the metropolitan areas, not to mention the cost of living in the bigger areas. My wife is from a smaller town further north, closer to the Sierra Nevada mountains and we're thinking of moving there soon. But I can't see myself living in the midwest ever again.

 

would love to hear a more nuanced reasoning as to why you feel this way. Simply saying "this place sucks, its a hell hole, and anyone who leaves is smart and anyone who stays is dumb" doesn't really cut it.

 

There's more places to visit from SoCal like NorCal, Vegas, Reno/Tahoe, etc...and all that is within a day's drive if that's what you mean by travel. Not too familiar with the gulf states but I imagine possible places to go are less likely to be "destinations".

Another thing to consider. Although you might be netting fewer dollars at the end of the month in California, your probably building equity in a (probably) more expensive house?

I live in the PNW, which minus the rainy months (all 10 of them) has many of the benefits of NorCal.

 

I'm so ready to move out of the Bay Area and CA But a wise person once told me that once you do you can never afford to come back. At least to the same socioeconomic level you were before moving out. If you can afford to live good neighborhood in the Bay Area you can afford any location. The rest of the state is unremarkable and you're better off where the COL and civic pleasures are both affordable and safe IMHO

 

I went to college in SoCal and loved it way back when and single. Then married, had a family, and realized how much I missed the pacific northwest. Moved back to PNW in '88 and haven't looked back. I travel a lot for work and visit SoCal 10+ times a year, well not this year, but anyway, I love the SoCal weather near the coast, but there are so many people, so much traffic, tax upon tax upon tax that will continue to get worse. I don't think I could do it unless I had a bunch of family there and $1M+ to spend on a house near the ocean.

 

We left SoCal and lived in the Sierra Nevada in NorCal for a year on 3 wooded acres with a stream and livestock. It was like paradise for me, but over time we found out how difficult it was to drive an hour to the grocery store every time and be far from good restaurants and shopping and, well, culture, even if the cost of living compared to SoCal was vastly more affordable.

We moved back to L.A. and haven't looked back. It's just home. In my opinion do what makes you happy. We lived in the most beautiful place but weren't happy. It's not worth it to be miserable in a place where you think you are "supposed" to be happy.

(Rural CA and urban CA are like two different states to me.)

 

We hired a guy out of the Bay Area, he quit after a couple months after he realized we wouldn't be able to move back if he stayed any longer. Considering he was supposed to be some super smart senior level guy, he didn't figure that out until after he left.

 

as much as i hate southern cali...........i love it more. I also need to be around family. all my family is within 15 min drive.

 

https://youtu.be/FdizL4on-Rc

 

https://youtu.be/m_P-sP698sA

 

Legendary

 

This thread is staying pretty civil

Hope everybody has a good weekend

 

All of your reasoning sounds very sound and well thought out to me. Im a big proponent of do what makes you happy, within reason of course. I could personally never live in the political climate of California but the 2 times ive been to socal it was a really good time and I enjoyed being there. If I can help it i wont go back to norcal though. Not my cup of tea. Id say if you can find a job that supports the COL increase and you would be happier there, then go for it.

 

Against all odds lol

 

Agreed, I avoid Houston if I can at all help it.

It has one thing going for it....its better than Waco.