If You Had to Move to Either Texas or Mexico, Which Would You Pick? (San Diego: appointed, rental)

[As Above So Below...]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

I don’t need a job and I would rather be around the beauty of the Yucatán Peninsula rather than Texas and all of them Texans that think everything in Texas is bigger and better in that oily sandbox .

So youre retired. Great! I can see someone who is retired choosing Mexico over Texas. If you do need a job and have to provide, thats a completely different story.

It goes back to the ridiculously dumb question we sometimes see on here: if you could live anywhere and money was no object, where would you live? Id personally live in Kauai. Id be very happy there! But life doesnt work that way. Money is always going to be an object and I have to make money to pay the bills and take care of my family. So given that, where would I live? I grew up in California and I left because it was too expensive. I tried Chicago but I dont tolerate cold weather. So given that I have to choose between cold winters or hot summers and want to live some place affordable with lots of opportunity, I might as well at least choose a super diverse/international place with a great culinary and culture scene.

Thats what I did.

[Futuremauian]

I grew up in the Central Valley of California and assumed I would never be able to afford to live on the California coast. For that reason, I planned on retiring to Coastal Mexico. I enjoyed the people and the tropical vibe in Cabo, Mazatlan, Cancun, etc. My backup plan was Costa Rica.

By the time I retired, I realized that I could afford a U.S. beachfront location. I moved to Maui (my favorite place), bought an oceanfront condo, and have been living very happily here for the past 8 years. I only have to shift my gaze from this computer screen slightly left to see the ocean and Molokai from my living room recliner. It's awesome, and I share my home with my 22 year-old twin grandsons. What a joy!

To me, Mexico has lost it's luster. Too much crime and uncertainty. Better for the young!

[MechAndy]

Futuremauian,
How do you like Lahaina ?
We really enjoyed one of our anniversaries there.

Sitting by the beach just seems to lower the blood pressure huh?

I too was raised in California (for the most part) and I knew I’d never own a California beach property.
We ended up with some acreage on the water in Washington state.

I like the cool weather a lot but might be snow birding it to Florida to warm up in deep of the winter when there is only 8 hours of light.

[tikkasf]

I have visited neither one and as such have to for the most part base my choice on what I have read or/and heard. If I was being offered a paid ( flight and lodging) vacation and had to choose either Mexico (appropriate vacation area/s) or TX.....I would choose Mexico. Otherwise it would be Texas and I would hope it would work out ok......I think the climate would be problem. Having grown up in the Central Valley of CA, I probably could acclimate to the summer heat in TX.....but, unlike the Central Valley, my understanding is TX is more humid and that would not work out well for me. Since I am currently retired, employment is not factor. Although a part time job might be something I would look into. Pay rate would not matter though and no need for benefits. In looking at map of Texas, my impression is I am more likely to find public land with some hiking trails in the western areas of TX. .....more hilly and mountainous areas.. Also, I would like the idea of being close to NM. On the other hand, my impression is the cities/towns that are more likely to have amenities that I am used to and desire are in the eastern half of TX.....a area that I assume is also more humid

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

Futuremauian,
How do you like Lahaina ?
We really enjoyed one of our anniversaries there.

Sitting by the beach just seems to lower the blood pressure huh?

I too was raised in California (for the most part) and I knew I’d never own a California beach property.
We ended up with some acreage on the water in Washington state.

I like the cool weather a lot but might be snow birding it to Florida to warm up in deep of the winter when there is only 8 hours of light.

Whoa, Andy! Florida? Why so far? Why not just southern CA (or Mexico?)

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by 18Montclair

According to this, a lot of huge corporations allow it including many of the most sought after, like Google, American Express, and Facebook.

https://opensourcedworkplace.com/new...home-employees


Nope we arent conducting a study, we're looking at people who have made the move and are happy and thriving.

Well if you are looking at people who moved and are happy, why bother asking? You are looking for only one view point and not a counter. That makes the original post disingenuous.

[MechAndy]

We still own property in the Bay Area that we bought near 40 years ago.
It’s not really much warmer than our place near Sequim in the winter.
Danville CA gets notoriously cold in the winter because of Mt. Diablo.
It will crack an engine block on a boat.
I know that too well.

We have family on Islamorada and I really like it there.
Not cheap by any means but neither is Danville.

[saibot]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

Whoa, Andy! Florida? Why so far? Why not just southern CA (or Mexico?)

If you want a warm beach in the winter, it's not down here. My brother and sister-in-law live in the Seattle area and they do come down to SoCal for some sunshine in the winter, but not to the beach. They both grew up here and know better than that. They go to Palm Springs.

[Futuremauian]

Originally Posted by MechAndy

Futuremauian,
How do you like Lahaina ?
We really enjoyed one of our anniversaries there.

Sitting by the beach just seems to lower the blood pressure huh?

I too was raised in California (for the most part) and I knew I’d never own a California beach property.
We ended up with some acreage on the water in Washington state.

I like the cool weather a lot but might be snow birding it to Florida to warm up in deep of the winter when there is only 8 hours of light.

Washington is beautiful. I have several neighbors from there who snow bird here.

I live just north of Kaanapali in Honokowai. We have a supermarket, plus several restaurants and a farmer's market within walking distance. Usually, I visit Lahaina town about once a week for one thing or another. Nice place for a stroll!

Being able to see and hear the ocean constantly is a genuine pleasure and good for one's health. I can step outside and go for a swim easily, and I do that several times a week.

Florida sounds like a nice place for snow birding. My next-door neighbors have a house there in the Villages besides the condo here and their main home in San Clemente. They travel from place to place, golfing and enjoying retirement. I've visited Florida repeatedly, most recently for a cruise to Key West, Cuba, and Grand Cayman.

I've always been an avid traveler, having visited around 100 countries on 6 continents. Covid shut down my travels and I was thankful to ride out the pandemic here in Maui. I've just returned from California and Las Vegas. Next up will likely be an Alaska Cruise and fishing trip with my grandsons.

Best of luck to you!

[MechAndy]

And to you as well.