Leaving Socal to where? (San Diego, Orange: 2015, apartment, car insurance)

[04kL4nD]

I wouldn't be sorry either. Seattle is awesome in ways LA is not (LA is great to visit though).

[West of Encino]

Could try Arizona or Nevada.

[blauskies]

Originally Posted by Ghosted

I lived in South Florida for 5 years and I can tell you I hated it. The humidity is horrible and there are some of the worst drivers I have ever seen. The beaches and ocean are pretty nice but I would have to say that's the only thing going for Florida. I would never live there again.

I lived in Miami for 12 years, I agree on the drivers, but the humidity did not bother me at all. It's also not as cheap as people make it seem, the cost of living is going through the roof in most of South Florida, car insurance, property taxes and homeowners insurance are all very high. Home prices are lower than the metro areas of CA, but the jobs tend to not pay well for many on average as service jobs outweigh high paying tech jobs. Medical is big, knew a lot of people doing well who work in Medical due to high population of retirees and people requiring plastic surgery.

Most everyone you meet is from New York, predominantly LI or Greater New Jersey area, aside from the high % of Cubans and people from the Caribbean, also the 2nd largest Jewish population outside of NYC is in South Florida.

Crime is very bad, rents are very high for apartments and rentals based on the medians, so it's all relative. Even going further North into Broward and Palm Beach counties or as far north as Martin where there is little opportunity and mostly retiree haven, the cost of living is not much better.

I met people who moved from CA to the Miami area, some left after a year and many felt the same way as me, quality of jobs and compensation is just bad in some sectors.

[capoeira]

Originally Posted by genjy

You can move to some other states for "four distinct seasons" and a 5000sq/ft house for $100k, but you are really just choosing to not live in one of the most desirable areas in the world for somewhere that's just mundane.

There is probably not anywhere in the USA that one can get a 5,000 sq. ft. house for $100k.

Originally Posted by genjy

You can't beat SoCal's / LA's combination of culture, diversity, jobs, food, weather, education, and entertainment. It's world-class tier.

I completely disagree. Education in CA is third rate. Weather and entertainment are totally irrelavant if one cannot get the basics like a good house in an excellent school district. Almost any other metro outside of California would be a much better choice for a family with kids in school and a housing budget under $500,000.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by capoeira

I completely disagree. Education in CA is third rate. Weather and entertainment are totally irrelavant if one cannot get the basics like a good house in an excellent school district. Almost any other metro outside of California would be a much better choice for a family with kids in school and a housing budget under $500,000.

I am looking at it from an independent adult's point of view. Education = higher education.

I don't disagree SoCal is not the best place if a person's existence revolves around his or her child's public K-12 education.

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

We went to Washington. It was necessary for us for so many reasons, but it's true, there's a drought happening up here.

This is a beautiful place, but I will always feel like an outsider here & always be homesick for SoCal & for San Diego in particular.

[sourdough]

My wife and I(both Ca natives) moved to Spokane,Wa. in 1989. We both enjoyed leaving the "rate race". We both are retired now and since have moved back to where we started from. Not having to do the 9 to 5 routine anymore makes all the difference.

[Ghosted]

Originally Posted by blauskies

I lived in Miami for 12 years, I agree on the drivers, but the humidity did not bother me at all. It's also not as cheap as people make it seem, the cost of living is going through the roof in most of South Florida, car insurance, property taxes and homeowners insurance are all very high. Home prices are lower than the metro areas of CA, but the jobs tend to not pay well for many on average as service jobs outweigh high paying tech jobs. Medical is big, knew a lot of people doing well who work in Medical due to high population of retirees and people requiring plastic surgery.

Most everyone you meet is from New York, predominantly LI or Greater New Jersey area, aside from the high % of Cubans and people from the Caribbean, also the 2nd largest Jewish population outside of NYC is in South Florida.

Crime is very bad, rents are very high for apartments and rentals based on the medians, so it's all relative. Even going further North into Broward and Palm Beach counties or as far north as Martin where there is little opportunity and mostly retiree haven, the cost of living is not much better.

I met people who moved from CA to the Miami area, some left after a year and many felt the same way as me, quality of jobs and compensation is just bad in some sectors.

Spot on. I lived in north palm beach and port st lucie. There was so much crime in west Palm beach and we were hit by 4 hurricanes from 2004-2005. At one point we were out of power for one month when we got hit by 2 major hurricanes back to back. Never ate so many MREs in my life. Never again.

I will stick to California. Lots of pros and cons but the pros out weigh the cons by a huge margin in my opinion. You gotta go where you're most happy.

[SHABAZZ310]

If you leave SoCal I would suggest moving to Texas. They love California people there.

[V8 Vega]

Why, what a dumb question, Democrat party total control thats why!