Those of you who left So. Calif., where did you go and would you come back? (Fresno: best neighborhoods, oceanfront)

[Juilane]

My husband and I will soon retire. We have a pretty good deal here where we are renting from a good friend. Sold our home about a year ago in anticipation of our retirement. My questions; where did you go when you left Southern California and would you come back? Do you regret your move?

[cruitr]

We planned to retire to Las Vegas. Sun City Anthem to be exact. But we vacationed there a few days in August. Their hottest month. No way we're living there. If you retire to Las Vegas, you need to live in two cities. A summer city and a winter city. Las Vegas is beautiful about 6 months a year.

[Podo944]

Originally Posted by Juilane

My husband and I will soon retire. We have a pretty good deal here where we are renting from a good friend. Sold our home about a year ago in anticipation of our retirement. My questions; where did you go when you left Southern California and would you come back? Do you regret your move?

Knew we couldn't retire where we lived in So. Cal, but hubs had a decent job that he liked so stayed put. However, he got permission to work remote so we moved to Vancouver, Washington. We like rain, trees, mountains and some family is an easy day's day drive.

The challenge is we made this move right when the Corona crises hit, so things are of course weird and we're nervous about the economy, the health of the company he works for etc. In spite of the impending doom, I'd happy we moved. Rent is cheaper and we wouldn't mind buying at some point, that is if we don't end up fighting zombies in a dystopian future instead. But, if we have to fight zombies I'd rather do it here, cause what we've seen so far, we like a lot.

So yes, this is a very strange time to be in our honeymoon phase in our new home, but it is what it is, and I hope to stay and wouldn't move back to California. No hate for Cali, I was born and raised, we just prefer where we are now.

[jcp123]

My Ma left SoCal in the 70s after several bad incidents and a divorce. She went NorCal and even though SoCal is different now, I’m pretty sure she’d go NorCal in a heartbeat if she could afford it, but she still hates SoCal for her previous experiences and would never move back.

There’s a lot more to the story, but even with this addendum, it’s a lot shorter than her whole story and why I know it’s kinda bunk now.

[Moddedintegra56]

Originally Posted by cruitr

We planned to retire to Las Vegas. Sun City Anthem to be exact. But we vacationed there a few days in August. Their hottest month. No way we're living there. If you retire to Las Vegas, you need to live in two cities. A summer city and a winter city. Las Vegas is beautiful about 6 months a year.

Las Vegas is like Fresno with casinos, more crime, horrible schools, and slightly hotter weather.

Anyone who are going to cities like Las Vegas, cities in AZ, there was no point to leave if you could stand the heat.

Fresno and bakersfield--the last 2 big metropolitan affordable areas in CA actually have slightly cooler summers.

Anyone not retiring and raising a family im surprised are quick to go to ANY nevada city--notably Las Vegas or Reno which are the 2 big choices. Nevada has ranked LAST in consecutive years to have the worse school systems IN THE NATION. Fresno has clovis unified which is ranked as one of the best school districts in the state, and reputable high education college in Fresno state. Bakersfield has UC Bakersfield.

Even when it comes to moving options, the whole las vegas glitz and glamour also have people blinded and not only do they get there and start to see how things really are--unless you really are retired with lots of expandeble income, its not always a good option.

A lot of familes starting out going to Las Vegas and clamouring about buying homes for $200-300K--ive seen those homes in that range in Vegas and they arent great and not in the best neighborhoods-- add that with the worst education system in the nation, and horrible summers. You could just go to fresno or bakersfield at least schools are much better and summers slightly better.

Same for some who go to texas.

Places with hot summers are an automatic NO for many. But those who dont mind it, why even leave CA. You can find the same environment, with affordable housing in the Fresno area and Bakersfield area but at least you are still in CA.

[Futuremauian]

Originally Posted by Juilane

My husband and I will soon retire. We have a pretty good deal here where we are renting from a good friend. Sold our home about a year ago in anticipation of our retirement. My questions; where did you go when you left Southern California and would you come back? Do you regret your move?

I retired 6 years ago, sold my house and nearly everything I owned and moved to Maui with 2 suitcases and my car.

I rented for about 4 years, then purchased an oceanfront condo in the same building. Love it here! The warm ocean is a huge draw, along with this view!

If I moved back to California it would be to the Central Coast area and only if I needed medical care that isn't available here.

Santa Barbara was also in the running. I went to college at UCSB. Unfortunately it is more expensive than Maui.

[nmnita]

we left clear back in the 80s for work related reasons even though we had always planned on leaving sooner or later. WE went to Northern VA, enjoyed our 7 years their but decided we wanted to be closer to family as our grandkids were growing up: on to Dallas. Except for family I can't think of much we liked about living there. We retired in NM though we gave serious thought of retiring in Pawrump (spelling) just not far from Vegas. Long story short, we have been in NWA for 12 years and I can't think of a better place to live. Think we moved here our daughter and husband followed, our younger grand daughter graduated from U of of AR has married, has two children and considers this her forever home. Her older sister choose the same route after her hubby finished college. Now we are all here and loving most everything. Would we or any of us return to CA to live, probably not but never say never. In fact 2 of my daughters friends from college in So CA have now moved here with their families. It is a strange world out there I guess.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by Moddedintegra56

Fresno has clovis unified which is ranked as one of the best school districts in the state, and reputable high education college in Fresno state. Bakersfield has UC Bakersfield.

You mean Cal State Bakersfield.

[Finper]

Originally Posted by Moddedintegra56

Las Vegas is like Fresno with casinos, more crime, horrible schools, and slightly hotter weather.

Anyone who are going to cities like Las Vegas, cities in AZ, there was no point to leave if you could stand the heat.

Fresno and bakersfield--the last 2 big metropolitan affordable areas in CA actually have slightly cooler summers.

Anyone not retiring and raising a family im surprised are quick to go to ANY nevada city--notably Las Vegas or Reno which are the 2 big choices. Nevada has ranked LAST in consecutive years to have the worse school systems IN THE NATION. Fresno has clovis unified which is ranked as one of the best school districts in the state, and reputable high education college in Fresno state. Bakersfield has UC Bakersfield.

Even when it comes to moving options, the whole las vegas glitz and glamour also have people blinded and not only do they get there and start to see how things really are--unless you really are retired with lots of expandeble income, its not always a good option.

A lot of familes starting out going to Las Vegas and clamouring about buying homes for $200-300K--ive seen those homes in that range in Vegas and they arent great and not in the best neighborhoods-- add that with the worst education system in the nation, and horrible summers. You could just go to fresno or bakersfield at least schools are much better and summers slightly better.

Same for some who go to texas.

Places with hot summers are an automatic NO for many. But those who dont mind it, why even leave CA. You can find the same environment, with affordable housing in the Fresno area and Bakersfield area but at least you are still in CA.

The poster is retiring so schools are not a consideration. Everyone I know is planning on retiring in another state. The col and a lot of other negatives in Ca is not worth it anymore. Good God why would anyone move to Bakersfield just to stay in Ca?

Op I’m moving to Arizona next month it has a lot of positives for me. You should visit different states and find the one that fits for you. Good luck

[V8 Vega]

Las Vegas is really in a depression right now with this shutdown. I don't know if house prices are down like they were in 2008. A new or near new house for $200,00 is appealing for us retirees and out of this horrible Communist hellhole.