California Complaints...... (Los Angeles, San Diego, Napa: relocation, luxury, apartments)

[prim2007]

Originally Posted by whowants2know

There is no need to "bash" anyplace to make constructive pro or con commments. It's the "CA is a trashcan" comments that are a waste of time and non-beneficial; and are usually posted by those who are just miserable with life in general and need a place to vent. No one said you have to limit your comments to Pollyannaish...you can give constructive advice without getting ludicrious.

Well said. I appreciate posts that advise on unsafe areas or warn about horrible commutes, particularly if alternatives are offered but general statements that say you must be crazy to move to CA are not helpful.

[kansaslady]

I grew up in SoCal, left in '94; and yes, it's expensive in CA, and yes there is crime, smog...BUT, no matter whether we like it in CA or not, or anyplace for that matter...I agree that there is no need for anyone to get rude or attack anyone personally.

It's important to hear the 'good and bad' about living anywhere, but why put down the residents? I guess some people who are unhappy and don't like themselves find that by putting down others it makes them appear better...sooo wrong!

[Sorcerer68]

Originally Posted by JerZ

Craigslist doesn't after all hold thousands of fabulous $900 apartments in wonderful areas "if you are just willing to do your homework". There really is an hour and a half commute to anywhere safe. Yes, home prices are outrageous.

Actually it does...not thousands but all a person needs is one. I've never commuted a long distance and never paid exorbinant amounts for housing. What you state isn't true. I can hook you up with an apartment on my street for under a grand and probably find you a job within walking distance. I found 1 bedroom apts under 900/mo walking distance to Old Pas recently. Home prices and cost of living are 2/3 less than where I just moved back from in Hawaii. It's all your point of view. There's plenty of cheap housing in the square states, rust belt and boonies.

Excellent post, OP.

[bmantx]

Originally Posted by whowants2know

we all read ongoing debates about CA. It's too expensive, it's too crowded, there is too much crime...etc., etc., etc. I grew up in SoCal and loved it...but for whatever personal reasons, we left in '94. I don't hate CA and never will. I just don't understand why people have to "knock" CA or any other state. I guess I'm just not a natural complainer and don't believe in putting down anyone, or anyone's choice of where they live.

Yes, housing is expensive in CA...so? It has been that way for a long time and will continue to be that way for a long time. Crowded? Sure, but so are other places in the country. Crime? Yes, there is crime, as there are in other places.

We can all find something wrong with living any place on the planet.

I just don't see the need to tell anyone that the place they choose to live is a lousy place to live. Where we live is a personal choice and is no one else's business.

CA has MUCH to offer, as well as every other state. There are pros and cons for living anywhere.

I happen to enjoy where we're living now...NE sector of KS. It has it's good points and bad points. But, it is where we chose to live and that pretty much says it all.

I totally agree... I used to live in CA, and moved to TX. I don't hate CA, It just wasn't MY place to live. Doesn't mean it isn't perfect for someone else. Every place has its pros and cons....

[skatealoneskatetogether]

I think most people are just jealouse that they either didn't or can't afford to live a lifestlye they desire in california. I think a good 5 out of 10 people would live here if they could afford it, they just wont admitt it. If they had 3 million for a house see how quick they would head to el segundo or redondo beach.

Thats the Bs that pisses me off. Most of the people visted california once or twice, and had no clue where to go except hollywood blvd or santa monica and they think they all of a sudden are california experts. Its pathetic.

[mommabear2]

The worst descriptions - actually assumptions - about California come from people who have never lived here. "Jello Country", "Land of the Fruits and Nuts", "Psycho liberals in California", "isn't it smoggy out there?"... These are all from people who have no idea what it's like. I personally love it - we almost moved to GA and I ALMOST cried at the thought...

[Caliguy2007]

Pick any State in the Country,and you'll find someone complaining about something.

A Person's Paradise can be another Person's Hell or Vice Versa....If anybody is unhappy where they are,they can move elsewhere,but if a person is unable to move,then you gotta just make the best of it where you currently are.

[katie45]

I agree with everyone on this posting! If a person doesn't like a particular area, then go away and leave the rest of us alone!

[cynwldkat]

The truely amazing thing about CA is the many different areas a person could choose to live. If you don't like the city move to the mountains. If you like the ocean move to the ocean (if you can afford the ocean). I spent my entire life in CA and will never say I hate CA. I now live in NC. My reasons for leaving was retirement....just could not afford to retire in CA. But when people complain about the crowds and the crime...there are many places in CA that have little of either of those. Yet you are always within driving distance to mountains, ocean, desert and city. How many states can a person do that??

[Malcolm]

Originally Posted by whowants2know

There is no need to "bash" anyplace to make constructive pro or con commments. It's the "CA is a trashcan" comments that are a waste of time and non-beneficial; and are usually posted by those who are just miserable with life in general and need a place to vent. No one said you have to limit your comments to Pollyannaish...you can give constructive advice without getting ludicrious.

I lived in So Cal for 18 years and hated it because of who I was and what I wanted out of life. So, So Cal isn't bad, it's just that my life style conflicted with the So Cal lifestyle.

For instance,

1) commute time for my job was 90 minutes one way. This wouldn't be too bad, but I have kids and a wife so I didn't get to see them all the time and I value them. So, personally, I couldn't do the So Cal thing anymore.

2) I didn't like the traffic in San Diego. I can write a book about the times my family and I were almost hit and really hit by inpatient idiots and racer punks in their Lancers. Personally, I don't want any of my kids to dye young. So this is another reason I left. If you don't mind the 90+ drivers on the freeway and the close calls then no problem. Stay in So Cal.

3) Home prices. If you don't mind paying out the nose for a stucco hut in the middle of the desert then So Cal is fine. But for me personally, I do mind. I just moved to Marion Iowa and bought a 3000 sq ft home on a half acre for a third the cost of my So Cal home, and I'm now 10 minutes from work. I did this because I value my family and want to live simple. If I were in college still, this wouldn't be something I'd do.

So it's really all a matter of how each person in life wants to remember things (traffic or no traffic = no kids or kids) and be remembered by. Me? I didn't want my kids to remember me as the dad that never saw them during the week because of commute times and financial pressures of a single income family. So it is all a matter of what type of life style you want.

I found out after living in So Cal for 18 years that I was a Midwest life style. Slow. Family-oriented. Simple. 48% cheaper cost of living. That's really the opposite for some (not all but for me it was) in So Cal.