Why do people still want to live in California? (San Francisco: unemployment, theatre)

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Durpie

Your happiness is worth money. I don't live in California, but I'm sure its because of just being from there, being used to it and the cost of living, the status of being from California, weather, and the outdoors. Most people don't move to and from somewhere due to the cost of living.

Have you ever heard the phrase that money can’t buy happiness? And what is this status thing? Weird concept

[emotiioo]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

Ask people in the upper Midwest if they value climate vs shoveling snow most of the year. Or how about people in the Great Plains who deal with Tornadoes or those on the Gulf Coast that need to worry about Hurricanes each year. How about those in Texas that have stifling heat and humidity for about 1/2 of the year?

The fact of the matter is that most places will need to deal with one thing or another. I would agree that with global warming, droughts, fires and poor air quality are making the quality of life in California much worse. On the other hand, many other parts of the country have their own issues with Global Warming.

Not everyone shovels snow or has the climate of the Dakotas. I do wonder if people realize what they are giving up to live in a mild climate. And if they realize that even thst boon is rapidly changing.

Again most people go from the comfort of air conditioning or heating to a car or shopping center or friends home or restaurant that also offers air conditioning and heating. They don't live out in the elements. The dread of shoveling snow not withstanding, do people not realize there are other places in the US that might meet their needs?

[evening sun]

Originally Posted by emotiioo

Not everyone shovels snow or has the climate of the Dakotas. I do wonder if people realize what they are giving up to live in a mild climate. And if they realize that even thst boon is rapidly changing.

Again most people go from the comfort of air conditioning or heating to a car or shopping center or friends home or restaurant that also offers air conditioning and heating. They don't live out in the elements. The dread of shoveling snow not withstanding, do people not realize there are other places in the US that might meet their needs?

Yes, we realize that, we are not uneducated idiots. But I like where I am. You do you.

[luv4horses]

Family live there?
Career advancement?
Make a big pile of money before you have kids ( then leave)?
Cannabis and end of life decisions?

Certainly not the environment anymore. It’s not the 50s, 60s, 70s, or even 80s.

[foodyum]

Originally Posted by emotiioo

I'm genuinely curious.

We sold our last 2 properties in California to totally divest ourselves of financial ties to this state. With wildfires, pandemic pandemonium, climate change, lack of electricity and water, high taxes and higher insurance its no longer a safe nor particularly profitable place for out investment. Cost of living still remains high and the state population continues to grow

My mate has relatives who are still convinced that its the best place to be and that it further extends some kind of coveted status on them for being California residents. I still wonder how this mystique fits into the reality of a place thars burdened by overpopulation and a host of problems unique to this location.

So why do people still want to live there? Do you think this is or will change? Whats the next destination for those who find California too troubled to move there?

Certain entertainment careers only exist in California so if you are a camera man or an actor, more good, paying jobs are going to be there. Same with some high tech related jobs or specific sports (surfing, skateboarding, beach volleyball) related industries. I can think of others too (CBD, fashion, rap music, wine, luxury cars, international real estate) that although not exclusive to California it is one of the few places were those companies are located and the more senior jobs are plentiful.
I do see it changing slowly in some industries as the pandemic has made working from home more common.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by emotiioo

Not everyone shovels snow or has the climate of the Dakotas. I do wonder if people realize what they are giving up to live in a mild climate. And if they realize that even thst boon is rapidly changing.

Again most people go from the comfort of air conditioning or heating to a car or shopping center or friends home or restaurant that also offers air conditioning and heating. They don't live out in the elements. The dread of shoveling snow not withstanding, do people not realize there are other places in the US that might meet their needs?

Sure, plenty of people are moving to other states, even pre-COVID. There was mass migration to other tech cities, such as Seattle, Portland, Austin and Denver. This will probably continue. Pre-COVID, more people were moving in vs moving out, lured by the prevalence of high paying jobs, weather, city life and recreational opportunities. They were often willing to put up with the negative aspects of CA (e.g., high cost of living, crowds, fire risk) when compared against the good. It is not clear yet on the long-term impact of this with COVID nor whether the recent fires have changed the overall migration trends.

[Hemlock140]

I have many friends and relatives that have remained there, though about half have moved up here to WA and one brother is moving to Oregon. The others have paid-off Prop 13 homes with low taxes, in areas without wildfires, have installed generators (natural gas) and drought resistant landscaping. Those moving there hear about the good - weather, natural beauty, high paying jobs and either don't know about the negatives, or ignore it. Despite the problems it will always attract people, even the homeless because of the dry, mild climate.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by emotiioo

Is climate really that compelling of a reason? Surely there are other places where it doesn't snow. Most humans in the US live in the controlled environment of home with AC and heat/car with the same etc.

Originally Posted by emotiioo

Again most people go from the comfort of air conditioning or heating to a car or shopping center or friends home or restaurant that also offers air conditioning and heating. They don't live out in the elements.

You are apparently not much of an outdoor person. In my circles, few people who are not quite elderly live in this "perpetual indoor a/c & heat environment." One reason that we live in California is so we DON'T have to live in this way. In fact, we personally never turn on the heat at all and use the a/c only in the most dire heat waves (such as the last week ). And we are outside every single day doing our preferred outdoor activities which could not be done without mountains, the beach, and a year-round mild climate.

The premise of your thread is so strange. It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself that leaving California was the right choice by attempting to persuade others that it's a terrible place to live.

[mysticaltyger]

--People often stick with what's familiar, not what's best for them.
--It's a pain to move.
--People want to stay near friends and family.
--It's not that easy to find another job in a pandemic where lots of things are closed and unemployment is in the double digits.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

Have you ever heard the phrase that money can’t buy happiness?

Yeah, but based on your posts on finances, you know it's a lie--or at least an exaggeration. Up to a certain point, money definitely does buy happiness.