Is there any place better than California?!

[BENZBOY15]

Originally Posted by MoMark

Similar situation. I was told by a California realtor who saw my home here in Missouri that if it were in most parts of California, it would run about $1,000,000 plus. It's 2301 sq. ft, custom built brick, tray ceilings, cathedral windows, three car garage, 50ft. back deck with built-in seating and lighting, on 4.3 park-like acres with hundreds of oaks and hickory trees and broad rolling lawns, a long paved and sealed blacktop driveway that stretches two acres long to the farm road, perfectly immaculate grounds, just a beautiful home...and I paid a quarter-mil for it. The price differences between an area like California and somewhere like you describe and where I am is incredible. To take advantage of it, you have to sell in the high priced areas and move to the low priced areas as locals can't enjoy the price differential as everything is relative, so for them, there's no break. It's truly amazing though.

On 4.3 acres? In coastal San Diego, you're looking at 3.5Mil+.

[BENZBOY15]

The question people should be asking themselves is: Do you mind non-perfect weather? I can't imagine playing golf in 90 degree weather with 100% humidity, with bugs attacking you and enjoying it. I can't imagine playing golf in 20 degree weather with a windchill of -3 while enjoying it.

I've been to a lot of beautiful places in the United States and the world. I have found, with some exceptions, that california retains the best places to live. San Diego, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe (My favorite!), Santa Barbara/Montecito, Carmel, Monterey, the Sierras, Santa Cruz, San Francisco....can you beat it?

The answer is you can't.

California has too much going for it. Great weather, a ton of things to do both inside and out, a million places to go and diverse people you can meet.

It has its problems, like pollution (why I didn't mention L.A), illegal immigrants, a massive drug problem that runs from the top of the socio-economic ladder to the bottom among others.

But so does every other "top" place to live in the U.S.A. I've heard that Florida is a great place, but when I went there all I saw was flat land, atrocious weather, and well, that's about it.

I love CT. Darien/Greenwich, NYC and Long Island make the cut. They are great also, and these are some of the few california-class locations. Some others that I love are Italy and the BVI.

California is simply the best....it can't be beat.

[Sassberto]

I love the east coast, from Virginia up to NYC, Long Island, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Boston, and coastal Mass.

Aside from that, the only other place I'd move would be Colorado, or possibly Chicago.

[tpanora]

I currently live in Florida--I would like to move to Northern California. I was born in San Fran--Heres is my story--me and my sister were separated when born. Same parents both born in San Fran--11 months apart. Well, I now have a family. I want to live closer to my sister after 49 years of separation. Ok so I am looking in Sac area and Fort Bragg or Antioch--my sister lives in Lakeport. Love that beautiful area, but the employment is very limited. So two hour drive is much better than a twice a year 8 hour plane ride.
I currently work at a auto dealership HR--Customer Relations--Employee Relations--Hold a BA in Business. I welcome all ideas. Thanks Nora

[snaketotem]

[quote=looking4home;167978]No, this isn't a joke. I have lived in CA for 35 years, and I just don't think there is another state/area that offers so much, and has such diverse natural beauty. [quote]

As a California Native, living much too long in Oregon, I have to agree with you. If it weren't for the overcrowding and cost of living, I'd move back to Northern California in a minute. I miss the natural beauty and the progressive thinking and I'm truly glad I was raised there.

[irwin]

Hey everyone. I have lurked around the CA board for awhile and posted on some other boards. I currently live in Phoenix and got out here about 2 years ago from the East Coast. At the time I considered either staying in Arizona or looking at moving to Los Angeles. I have to admit I had never been to LA before, but I thought it would basically be an East Coast with better weather. After visiting LA, I can tell you I was shocked. I liked the area around Venice and a couple of other select areas, but the driving everywhere and the HORRIBLE traffic floored me. After taking the Washington Metro everyday for six years I was shocked that a city the size of Los Angeles didn't have a real public transportation system. Not only does it kill the neighborhoods but sitting in traffic for so long literally sucks the life out of you. I can understand why the hayseeds and hicks in Phoenix wouldn't build such a system, but Los Angeles is supposedly a world-class city. I have been back several times since to visit my friend who lives in Brentwood and know that I would never like living in such a place. He's counting the days until he can transfer back to the East Coast. He describes LA as an American Tijuana. So much for my California dream...time to go back East.

[Collideascope]

For me, no, there is no place better.

But then, I realize that "better" is a purely subjective term. And I know plenty of people for whom there are better places.

There really is no need to make ones choice of where to live a competition.

[newportbeachsmostwanted]

Originally Posted by irwin

. He's counting the days until he can transfer back to the East Coast. He describes LA as an American Tijuana. So much for my California dream...time to go back East.

There's much more to CA than LA. This state is huge. It would be like to visit Miami and say, "The east coast sucks." Did you see Santa Barbara, San Diego, Laguna Beach, Ventura, SLO, San Francisco, Tahoe, or Carmel?

[irwin]

Originally Posted by newportbeachsmostwanted

There's much more to CA than LA. This state is huge. It would be like to visit Miami and say, "The east coast sucks." Did you see Santa Barbara, San Diego, Laguna Beach, Ventura, SLO, San Francisco, Tahoe, or Carmel?

I like San Francisco but the economy stinks compared to back East. But it is one of the few real cities on the West Coast (Seattle is a close second).

I like the natural beauty of California and the West, but living out here is another story entirely. I never realized how isolated it feels out here. The distances between places are massive and the car is a requirement. I love visiting the Caribbean...would never want to live there though.

And Miami is not the East Coast...it's Latin America!

[corduroyboy]

Originally Posted by newportbeachsmostwanted

There's much more to CA than LA. This state is huge. It would be like to visit Miami and say, "The east coast sucks." Did you see Santa Barbara, San Diego, Laguna Beach, Ventura, SLO, San Francisco, Tahoe, or Carmel?

You've also listed some of the, if not the most expensive places to live in CA. For visiting, sure most can do it. For living, hope you've got millions in the bank.