Los Angeles to Alpharetta (Atlanta, Sandy Springs: how much, houses, tech jobs)

[tiffsbiz]

Originally Posted by sidlarrie

My wife and I are moving from Santa Monica California to Alpharetta Georgia in Feb 08. Born & raised in Southern California and always loved it here but its changed. The traffic is ridiculous, the illegals are more and more daily, the gangs in L.A. are very dangerous and it is too expensive, I mean WAY TOO EXPENSIVE.. I know Atlanta and the 40 mile radius of Atlanta has bad traffic but besides the Traffic issue, I really love it over there.
The house prices in Georgia are incredible compared to L.A. Homes plus its a lot greener. Can anybody tell me any reason why it would be a mistake for us to make the move. I'm retired and we cashed out our home in California and will buy a home in Alpharetta for Cash. So being retired and not having to work in any particular city or worry about commuting for work, I dont see how it would be a mistake. I read a lot of negative stuff posted about Georgia but I really never saw any of the stuff, maybe I missed it..
I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could post some reply's about anything that would help me or put me more at ease with our move.
Thanks in Advance,
Sid.

My family and I are moving this week from North L.A. to Henry County for the reasons you mentioned above. After spending a lot of time with real estate agents and brokers, I'm satisfied with our decision. If you have specific questions, please feel free to PM me.

[lastminutemom]

What kind of retirement are you envisioning? Do you golf, etc? Do you want to work part time? Anything? You need a plan. What you like/want to do should help drive your decisions. Are you ready for a 55+ community? Del Webb is building "sun cities" on both the southern and northern end of Metro Atlanta.

Chateau Elan and the area around there might be nice to consider.

Do you like the theatre, symphony etc?

My only concern about what you posted is that Atlanta has some of the same problems -- we are one of the fastest growing states for illegals, crime seems to be increasing, etc.

[jaeidiaz]

Originally Posted by sidlarrie

The traffic is ridiculous, the illegals are more and more daily, the gangs in L.A. are very dangerous and it is too expensive, I mean WAY TOO EXPENSIVE..

While I think its GREAT you are moving from Santa Monica to GA (I too live in L.A. and want to move to ATL) - I just wanted to say I think its messed up that you say "illegals." That just irritates me. Just remember, California was established/founded by the Mexicans, so WE are actually the "illegals." Just food for thought.

[tiffsbiz]

Originally Posted by jaeidiaz

While I think its GREAT you are moving from Santa Monica to GA (I too live in L.A. and want to move to ATL) - I just wanted to say I think its messed up that you say "illegals." That just irritates me. Just remember, California was established/founded by the Mexicans, so WE are actually the "illegals." Just food for thought.

I feel the need to respond to this, simply because I really don't understand why people can't distinguish the difference between Mexican-Americans, and foreigners (be they, Mexicans from Mexico, Persians from Iran, Nigerians, etc.). Anyone who comes here, and sucks our system dry, just because they can - I have a problem with. True, Mexicans were one of the first people in California, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they were not the first. And to add to that - that is not the way things are now. This land has seen many conquerers from Europe (who are now long gone), and many people have suffered - but we are in the here and now. Is the U.S. supposed to bear the brunt of other nations' economical problems? Are you comfortable with shouldering some of it through your hard earned money? We have our own problems - i.e., homelessness, people who can't afford health coverage, overworked and overtaxed service people in the health and human services sector... You name it, we have our own issues. So you can get off your high and mighty horse, or you can stay in Cali and enjoy it.

And to say we are the illegals - I don't really know who you are referring to, but being African American, myself - I find that really offensive. We are the only peoples, in the entire U.S. history, that were kidnapped from our native land, and stripped of our language and customs. So, I'll be d@mned if someone calls me "illegal." What the hell am I then? I'm as American as they come, sweety - I really have no choice. I don't have any ties to the homeland - because "massa" saw to that 400 years ago.

P.S. I'm not sure if you are aware, but there is a move being made by some of the Latin gangs out here to exterminate any Black people they see. Many of these gang members are foreign. I live in a decent area, but some of the hot zones are not 5 miles from where I live. I guess, by your logic, since "this was their land first," it's ok, because we're "the illegals."

[netdragon]

If it weren't for foreigners, our country would fall apart. Working class foreigners take jobs no else would take and lower inflation by offering lower labor costs. It has always been like that and probably always will (italians, irish in the past, now mexicans, ukranians, etc). That is why many politicians only pretend they care about reinforcing the border between the US and Mexico. What many really want is hard-working Mexicans to move in (whether illegal or not) and just to keep out the criminals and drug trafficking. The only reason that illegal immigrants haven't already been given automatic citizenship in my opinion is because some border states have a big political influence and the people there have a misconception that there is some negative affect on their economies when a large part of the economy is due to these hard-working individuals trying to improve their situation and that of their family.

[tiffsbiz]

Originally Posted by netdragon

If it weren't for foreigners, our country would fall apart. Working class foreigners take jobs no else would take and lower inflation by offering lower labor costs. It has always been like that and probably always will (italians, irish in the past, now mexicans, ukranians, etc). That is why many politicians only pretend they care about reinforcing the border between the US and Mexico. What many really want is hard-working Mexicans to move in (whether illegal or not) and just to keep out the criminals and drug trafficking. The only reason that illegal immigrants haven't already been given automatic citizenship in my opinion is because some border states have a big political influence and the people there have a misconception that there is some negative affect on their economies when a large part of the economy is due to these hard-working individuals trying to improve their situation and that of their family.

I think we would survive just fine, if we were an island. Capitalism = greed, and if it was necessary, corporations would find a way to deal with it. Not to mention, I dare you to tell everything you just said to someone in the health care system. Chances are they'll laugh at you, and ask you to explain why "such and such" hospital down the street just closed down; why the whole health care system is falling apart for that matter. We are feeling the repercussions in California, you just have to open your eyes. I'm seeing it first hand which is why I'm getting the he11 out. Cali folks can stay if they want to.

The U.S. milked the slave trade - and became the superpower because of it. It's time to re-evaluate our whole economical system, because doing things the old way is going to cripple our health care system and economy in the long run.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by jaeidiaz

I just wanted to say I think its messed up that you say "illegals." That just irritates me. Just remember, California was established/founded by the Mexicans, so WE are actually the "illegals." Just food for thought.

jaeidiaz, I think you'll going to discover very quickly that this is not a fake politically correct board, and hopefully common sense will snap into place and you will not generically brand people as, or hint that they are racist, because they speak of one group, while you try to make believe they're speaking of everyone in one race.

"Illegals" makes reference to people who cross the boarder into the U.S. illegally. Illegal. Against the laws of this country. The laws we must all abide by. Illegals (from any country) cross over and/or around legal checkpoints. They enter the work force under the table, many times being paid by cash, avoid paying taxes, use the health care system freely, many times without paying a single dime for treatment in the ER rooms, and avoid making an effort to even learn the basics of the language of the country they've snuck into. They cause those of us who ARE here legally to pay into a tax system to support them, while many of us do not even have basic insurance or healthcare, and have kids in schools that are falling apart.

No where at any time in my years on this board have I seen anyone refer to a Mexican, South American, African, or anyone else from a foreign land as "an illegal", when that person has taken the time to go through the proper immigration process, and enter this country legally, and contribute as a citizen (or applied citizen here).

For the record, Native Americans were in California before anyone else. Mexicans and Spaniards took their land from them, and later, European white settlers from them. That was then and it was pretty crappy - this, however, is now.

So really, it doesn't matter if "you don't like the word illegals". Get over it and take the politically correct LP off of the turntable - it's got a scratch and it keep repeating itself through your speakers. The real world awaits you if you wish to enter it.

[applejuice]

I second Asheville...you may also want to consider Greenville, SC. I visited a couple of weeks ago and was surpised at how much I loved it.


Good Luck!

[sidlarrie]

Thanks for all the warm reply's guys. I got a little teary eyed the other nite when I was Ironing my Confederate Flag..

[jaeidiaz]

Originally Posted by atlantagreg30127

jaeidiaz, I think you'll going to discover very quickly that this is not a fake politically correct board, and hopefully common sense will snap into place and you will not generically brand people as, or hint that they are racist, because they speak of one group, while you try to make believe they're speaking of everyone in one race.

"Illegals" makes reference to people who cross the boarder into the U.S. illegally. Illegal. Against the laws of this country. The laws we must all abide by. Illegals (from any country) cross over and/or around legal checkpoints. They enter the work force under the table, many times being paid by cash, avoid paying taxes, use the health care system freely, many times without paying a single dime for treatment in the ER rooms, and avoid making an effort to even learn the basics of the language of the country they've snuck into. They cause those of us who ARE here legally to pay into a tax system to support them, while many of us do not even have basic insurance or healthcare, and have kids in schools that are falling apart.

No where at any time in my years on this board have I seen anyone refer to a Mexican, South American, African, or anyone else from a foreign land as "an illegal", when that person has taken the time to go through the proper immigration process, and enter this country legally, and contribute as a citizen (or applied citizen here).

For the record, Native Americans were in California before anyone else. Mexicans and Spaniards took their land from them, and later, European white settlers from them. That was then and it was pretty crappy - this, however, is now.

So really, it doesn't matter if "you don't like the word illegals". Get over it and take the politically correct LP off of the turntable - it's got a scratch and it keep repeating itself through your speakers. The real world awaits you if you wish to enter it.

Stalking again. I'll have you know I was referring to L.A. only. I know my own black history enough not to have to go through the entire speech. Most of what is being said now isn't worth commenting on because it will only lead to more words being said; not that what others are saying is not important. Some things are just better left unsaid because someone will always take something out of context.

I just know what my viewpoints are and discussing it at length isn't important. I don't need to see my own writing to know what's true to me; especially with you. All you will do is continue to stalk me, so I will end this now.