How many are thinking of leaving California? (Los Angeles, Pasadena: apartment, house prices)

[lawyer15]

At least I am thinking to leave California.

[Humanoid]

Originally Posted by lawyer15

At least I am thinking to leave California.

What are your reasons?

[Capt. Dan]

I'm not leaving. I LEFT! Best thing I ever did. No one to tell me what color I can paint my house. No one to tell me that I cant let someone smoke a cigarette in my business. No state income tax. Cost of living low enough that I can actually put a little $$ into savings each payday. Dont have to put up with a bunch of politically correct snobs. I was able to buy a house and acreage for what 2 years worth of rent is in California. And other than the Sierras, Tennessee is just as scenic as California!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Capt. Dan

And other than the Sierras, Tennessee is just as scenic as California!

I'm about 150 miles east of you and yep, its pretty here in the Tennessee Valley. Jobs, mild climate (except today it's butt cold), no traffic, and affordable housing.

Good place to be right now too.

Huntsville AL, Affordable Places To Weather The Downturn - Forbes.com

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

I don't believe you about your pay, its off the charts even for San Fransisco. Not only that its rather inconsistent with what you've said here over the last year. Why would someone making 130k+ plus whatever your husband makes be trying to decide whether to buy a house in a so-so neighborhood in the 200k range?

Because I'd rather put more money in the retirement accounts and, it's closer to work. I make top scale $9300 a month at one of the higher paying institutions, more with overtime. Check out page 2.

http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Career_Opport...dNurse_O_C.pdf

As for SF, I have a friend who makes $85 an hour at a hospital up there (you can make a lot more without benefits). So you may want to think twice before accusing me of lying again.

[leavingcali]

As my user name implies--yes, I want to leave. I've been seriously looking into it for about 3 years now. I don't think it will be happening anytime soon though. I have accepted that and try not to think about it much anymore. I used to be obsessed with getting out! Now, I have a good job during very difficult times, and it will be years before I can sell my condo (which is now less than half of what I paid for it). I feel trapped. I love my job and feel very grateful for it, but I feel trapped in this condo, in this neighborhood...I hate it here, right where I am, but I don't hate the city or the state (although if I could just pick up and leave, I would.)

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by Charles

I'm about 150 miles east of you and yep, its pretty here in the Tennessee Valley. Jobs, mild climate (except today it's butt cold), no traffic, and affordable housing.

Good place to be right now too.

Huntsville AL, Affordable Places To Weather The Downturn - Forbes.com

Hey neighbor! Another thing i forgot to mention. The music scene in this area is SECOND TO NONE! In a 200 mile radius you have Memphis [rock & blues] Nashville [country & country rock] Jackson,Tenn. [rockabilly] and Muscle Shoals,Alabama [home of everything] We arent missing a thing here as far as entertainment. And if an educated workforce is the topic, I'll put those scientists down in Huntsville and over in Tullahoma up against anything California has to offer!

[BennyPhoenix]

A nurse with additional skills and management responsibility can easily make $100,000 plus in the bay area and los angeles, especially with overtime.

[Humanoid]

Originally Posted by sheri257

As for SF, I have a friend who makes $85 an hour at a hospital up there (you can make a lot more without benefits). So you may want to think twice before accusing me of lying again.

Why is that? I still don't believe you. Your salary isn't very consistent with the comments you've made here. I learned long ago when things don't add up from people over the internet its more often than not because they are full of it.

But really I don't care. Its not relevant. Perhaps you really make $110k or perhaps you are full of it. I have no way of really knowing. $110k/year isn't a lot of money to me.

My point again is that California can't function as a state if hard working people with normal jobs can't even afford a house and despite record declines in house prices this is still the case. You can talk about how much people like the coast all you want, but if there are no teachers, firefighters, mechanics, construction workers etc etc it doesn't matter. You have no real community.

California is turning into a place where illegals, who are living multiple families per household, are supporting a sort of aristocracy. That isn't my idea of a nice community.

[sheri257]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

Why is that? I still don't believe you. Your salary isn't very consistent with the comments you've made here. I learned long ago when things don't add up from people over the internet its more often than not because they are full of it.

Look: I'm not trying to belabor the point but you accused me of lying about my salary. I post proof of what I make ... not to mention it's well known what Bay Area RN's make yet ... you say I'm full of it?

My priority is saving for retirement ... not putting all of my money into housing. Yeah ... I could spend another 200-400K on a house but I don't want to for obvious reasons. You, of all people, should understand that.

So why don't you lay off of the insults and get back to your anti-California rants ... if that makes you feel better.