Anyone else ready to leave CA? (San Diego, Jackson: rent, new home, to buy)

[damfinejoe]

Originally Posted by Boof

Damfinejoe, I do share your sentiments. Having lived in CA all my life, it will always be my favorite state...my true home. It does have alot to offer--Beaches, Mountains, Desert, beautiful Redwoods!, Disneyland, Hollywood, SF, Yosemite, etc... However, like you, due to circumstances beyond my control, it's time to move on. In many ways, I resent having to leave, but like you, being in my late 40s, it's just not worth the struggle anymore. There's got to be more to life than this.

My Husband & I are relocating to MO. in search of a better, quieter way of life. And altough it will be a big adjustment for us, we're looking very forward to the fact that it ISN'T CA. As the saying goes "When in Rome, Do As The Romans Do". So, we'll acclimate to their way of life, as it should be, and live happily ever after.... I wish you the best of luck in your move to PA. I hope you find exactly what you're looking for.

Thanks for the post, I know there are a lot of people who share these sentiments...and I could not agree with you more that "there's got to be more to life than this". And yes, it's going to be a huge adjustment for me as well, but that's invigorating in an unkown sort of way. I believe it's all in your attitude, and I'm looking forward to making the best of it! Before I moved to CA, I spent 2 years in Chicago and lived with a cool guy from MO - if he is an example of the kind of folks you are going to encounter, then you have no worries. Best of luck and if you look hard enough you are sure to find what you're looking for.

[damfinejoe]

Originally Posted by 2KidsforMe

We are native Californians, and left Orange County for Massachusetts nearly 7 years ago. The usual suspects applied: bigger house for the $, better schools, cleaner air, less crime & traffic, four seasons, and a different pace of life. What we really underestimated, however, is how much we would miss our family and friends. Every year that passes by it gets worse and worse. It's almost painfull now. Just something to consider...........

I feel your pain and I'm fortunate in that I'm moving to my family, which makes leaving CA that much easier. I'm going to miss CA, but in my late 40's now and really need a change from the selfish, self-indulgent, all-about-me lifestyle. You are absolutely right that family is something to consider and I realize how much I miss mine. But no for much longer

[myito]

I too believed that I needed to leave CA to experience the east coast, cheaper land, etc. Fast forward 6 years, my husband and I are coming back to CA for a better quality of life, more diversity and better cultural activities.

I don't care what anyone says, the weather cannot be beat and people are much happier in warmer climates. Luckily, we have kept property in CA and AZ which has appreciated nicely. Our home on the east coast has only risen about 25% while my other property has gone up about 150% in that same period -- guess it's true you get what you pay for.

Good luck on the east coast. Right now it's about 15 degrees here -- you can have that!

[irishprincess]

My experience going from California to Washington State

My husband was born and raised in the Bay Area. I relocated as a teen with my family from Columbus, Ohio to the East Bay 28 years ago. Although my entire family was originally from the Los Angeles area, my Dad did not want to return to that area for the same reasons that most have for leaving the state now. Northern Calif. was considered the safer, better place to raise a family. His work commute took about 20 minutes. That same commute today is almost an hour and a half! What took me ten minutes to commute in 1983 now takes 45 minutes! My husbands commute from the Central Valley to the Bay Area was 2 hours each way.That was average for most that lived in the Central Valley, but it was the only way a young family could afford a home. By 2005 the real estate market went completely crazy in California and we decided to follow through with a plan that had been delayed for almost 15 years (due to job stability there and not elsewhere). We wanted to move to Washington. So we did! Without a job! The house sold right away for it's asking price (which was way more than it would sell for today). We left California (financially ahead ) waiting to see what would happen next.

My husband found work within 5 months and he really likes his job. The pay is less and the cost of living is about the same, but the trade offs are worth it. We have the four seasons that I remember as a kid when we lived back east. My kids are enjoying coming home from school and playing in the snow. Lakes are within 10 miles in any given direction. The summer weather is hot and dry, like Calif., for about two months. The fall weather is cool, but welcome. We only mow the lawn for seven months out of the year instead of 10, which leaves more time to go somewhere or stay in with family. The competition level is somewhat lower and the people are more "laid back" than we are used to (not much paranoya). That was our only major adjustment...trying not hurry places and keeping the posted speed limit!

It is hard to make comparisons when you move out of that state. It really is the crowds that drive people out of the state and nothing else. There are many museums, great restaraunts, the ocean and the mountains were about the same distance in opposite directions from our home, there is evidence of the state's history all around (from the Gold Rush era to the Missions that are still left standing), the wine countries and spas are a treat to visit and if you love plants and flowers, you can manage a garden most of the year. That is what I miss. But it will still be there when ever we go back to visit. The hard part was leaving friends and family, but long distance phone calls are so cheap now and emailing photos keeps us close. Yes, the neighbors were closely packed together and some people got irritated easily, but I think most of it is because they commute long hours to work or stick with jobs they hate because the jobs are hard to find. The stress and competition level is high. If you want to keep your job, you work long hours for a standard 40 hour work week paycheck. People are easily replaced in that environment.

To have a spouse come home before dinner time while the kids are still young is worth the changes. Not waiting in long lines at Costco is nice. Neighbors having more elbow room, but still there for one another means alot. And going to a major city is only 20 minutes away when we need it! I have learned that time and being a friend first brings some great new relationships that I would hate to leave behind if we ever had to move again. And the number one rule, if you leave California don't talk about what you miss to anyone other than a Californian! And they have to be a recent transplant as well because once they become laid back like the locals, they aren't going to care anymore!

We still have the option to move back to California at any time, but it really would be a tough decision to make. Just thinking about the driving makes one's blood pressure go up!

[Nbrakern]

Hi it's Nbrakern. I'm moving to Warwick. It is in Orange County. To me that is upstate. It's beautiful country there. Lots of Bed and Breakfasts and such. Great schools. A lot of people from Manhattan are moving there. It's 1 1/2 or less by car to the city. Yes the snow scares us a little bit, but staying here in Los Angeles scares us more. We have a 3 year old little boy, and we are sick of being house poor. Also.... I've always loved Manhattan, but my husband doesn't want to raise the baby in an apartment, but is ready to leave CA. This is my opportunity to live in New York. He fell in love with Warwick immediately. Soooo once my house sells... here we come!!!

[Sassberto]

Originally Posted by Nbrakern

It's 1 1/2 or less by car to the city.

Try that on a weekday... 90 minutes easily turns into 2+ hrs. Getting through the tunnel or over the GWB on a weekday is pretty tough. Most people commute to the PATH or MetroNorth... just an FYI.

[vfrpilot]

2Kids-
I agree with you about missing family and friends. We moved to CO from San Marcos 3 years ago. We have 3 adult 'kids' in SoCal and really miss being part of their everyday lives. We have a young daughter and had to weigh many factors before we moved. The schools in San Marcos was probably the biggest factor. We are extremely happy with the school she's in now. Our financial situation is much better and I think that goes a long way in your quality of life. I was lucky in that I can work just about anywhere and could choose an area that had great schools and is really desireable, without having to consider commuting.
Our 2 older daughters are considering moving to CO, so we may have to take fewer trips to SoCal anyways.
So far we haven't experienced any CSA -California Seperation Anxiety
Paul

[2KidsforMe]

Thanks everyone for the replies! So far, we have yet to convice anyone to follow us to the North East. Our family fears the cold too much! I'm glad the move away has worked out for so many of you. One of the things I miss about CA is the people. Good luck to you all!

[slay6454]

Keep in mind that if you buy a modular home you will have a very difficult time finding any mortgage company to refinance for you down the road. And a manufactured or mobile home is extremely difficult to refi unlessits on a permanent foundation. And forget it if its in a mobilehome park.
Loan Processor

[ExNYC]

Originally Posted by Nbrakern

Hi it's Nbrakern. I'm moving to Warwick. It is in Orange County. To me that is upstate. It's beautiful country there. Lots of Bed and Breakfasts and such. Great schools. A lot of people from Manhattan are moving there. It's 1 1/2 or less by car to the city. Yes the snow scares us a little bit, but staying here in Los Angeles scares us more. We have a 3 year old little boy, and we are sick of being house poor. Also.... I've always loved Manhattan, but my husband doesn't want to raise the baby in an apartment, but is ready to leave CA. This is my opportunity to live in New York. He fell in love with Warwick immediately. Soooo once my house sells... here we come!!!

Hi there, yes that is 'upstate'. It's a long way to drive but look at it this way: in LA you can sit in your car for two hours to go about a mile. In Warwick, NY, two hours should take you into NYC. Your husband should have a comfortable car, a good radio and books on tape. Enjoy your pretty little town.