For Those Thinking of Leaving, Where are You Looking to Go? (Palo Alto: how much, find a job)

[markfromCA]

Denver Colorado. Lot's of family, clean air, water and a good place to raise kids.

[Greenchili]

Originally Posted by trixie09

I left San Luis Obispo County 6 years ago, after growing up in California. We had an opportunity near Seattle, and saw what we could buy for the same $$. We also THOUGHT that we hated the predictability of the SLO weather. Boy.. was I wrong! It's one of those conundrums. You can get a fabulous house in other areas, but if you are one of those people that cares about the weather, or notices it, then be careful choosing your new location. It takes about 3 years to really get the feeling for the new town you've chosen, and how the weather, etc., will affect you.

Yeah.. I can get a gorgeous house up here in Seattle! But.. unfortunately, because it's gray and gloomy for 9 months out of the year (no lie) you don't really get to enjoy it. People get all excited here from July 1st to September 10th, because that is the only time you can count on any consistent sunshine. This past fall and spring has been unusual, in that it's been sunnier. Let's just put it this way... the longest stretch in history in this area for no rain has been 51 days. And those 51 days were in July/August back in the 40s.

My point is this. I think it's a great idea to find a new place to live if you'd like a different quality of life. BUT be really as realistic as possible about the new place. Don't dismiss the negative comments you might read online, as I did, about the new place. Now, some of my family who moved here is perfectly happy with the weather, and the others hate it. But it's about 70/30% on that.

Much of what I miss is not directly attributable to the weather, but it's the cause and effect. I took things like fresh produce, eating outdoors, having outdoor parties, not having cold feet all the time, for granted. For others, that may not be important, but it is to me.

I am considering a move back to SLO.. and if not, then perhaps Southern Oregon, which gets the same amount of rain as SLO area, and has the things like fresh produce, wineries, and that warm outdoorsy lifestyle. Do your research, rent before you buy in your new state. Don't assume that people living in those other areas are just being negative -- I should have listened to them.

Hope you get to come back! Weather IS important to me. Its not too bad here in Lompoc,just the June gloom is a bit of a downer,but most times the sun in out in the aftn. I love having no AC here,and never really getting too
cold either. Although, this morn its kinda cool. Good luck!

Greenchili

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by markfromCA

Denver Colorado. Lot's of family, clean air, water and a good place to raise kids.

You'd better scratch the "clean air" comment from your list because everyone knows Denver has terrible air quality.

[rgb123]

I'm in Texas now. I lived in California for 8 months in 2004. I loved it there. I miss it. I'm from Illinois... I keep getting job offers in the middle of the Desert (i.e. Twentynine Palms) and I am seriously considering it....there is really no place like California....but not everyone feels that way. Depends on the person.

I don't hate Texas...but I don't love it either. There are lots of things to like about it....I feel like I'm considering marriage between someone Im crazy about and another who makes the most sense on paper and is a suitable partner...

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by trixie09

I left San Luis Obispo County 6 years ago, after growing up in California. We had an opportunity near Seattle, and saw what we could buy for the same $$. We also THOUGHT that we hated the predictability of the SLO weather. Boy.. was I wrong! It's one of those conundrums. You can get a fabulous house in other areas, but if you are one of those people that cares about the weather, or notices it, then be careful choosing your new location. It takes about 3 years to really get the feeling for the new town you've chosen, and how the weather, etc., will affect you.

Yeah.. I can get a gorgeous house up here in Seattle! But.. unfortunately, because it's gray and gloomy for 9 months out of the year (no lie) you don't really get to enjoy it. People get all excited here from July 1st to September 10th, because that is the only time you can count on any consistent sunshine. This past fall and spring has been unusual, in that it's been sunnier. Let's just put it this way... the longest stretch in history in this area for no rain has been 51 days. And those 51 days were in July/August back in the 40s.

My point is this. I think it's a great idea to find a new place to live if you'd like a different quality of life. BUT be really as realistic as possible about the new place. Don't dismiss the negative comments you might read online, as I did, about the new place. Now, some of my family who moved here is perfectly happy with the weather, and the others hate it. But it's about 70/30% on that.

Much of what I miss is not directly attributable to the weather, but it's the cause and effect. I took things like fresh produce, eating outdoors, having outdoor parties, not having cold feet all the time, for granted. For others, that may not be important, but it is to me.

I am considering a move back to SLO.. and if not, then perhaps Southern Oregon, which gets the same amount of rain as SLO area, and has the things like fresh produce, wineries, and that warm outdoorsy lifestyle. Do your research, rent before you buy in your new state. Don't assume that people living in those other areas are just being negative -- I should have listened to them.

The idea that weather must be perfect to go outside is very much endemic to people who came to California from elsewhere ... for the weather (or their offspring). You might have heard of something called "Goretex."

Go get some today!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by TristramShandy

An article about people from Sacramento moving to Oklahoma in a central Pennsylvanian newspaper?

....and posted by a guy in Alabama.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by rgb123

I'm in Texas now. I lived in California for 8 months in 2004. I loved it there. I miss it. I'm from Illinois... I keep getting job offers in the middle of the Desert (i.e. Twentynine Palms) and I am seriously considering it....there is really no place like California....but not everyone feels that way. Depends on the person.

I don't hate Texas...but I don't love it either. There are lots of things to like about it....I feel like I'm considering marriage between someone Im crazy about and another who makes the most sense on paper and is a suitable partner...

29 Palms? Are you kidding? That's hardly the mythical California people dream about. It's the middle of the freaking desert. You might as well move to Phoenix. At least there's civilization there.

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by jaynetarzana

You'd better scratch the "clean air" comment from your list because everyone knows Denver has terrible air quality.

Yeah, it's gotten a LOT better over the past decade due to air quality restrictions, but it's still not all that great in the city, mostly due to the fact that the city sits right at the base of the Rockies. If there isn't any wind, the smog just sits there. I only notice it every so often though - mostly in the middle of summer when there aren't afternoon thunderstorms.

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

29 Palms? Are you kidding? That's hardly the mythical California people dream about. It's the middle of the freaking desert. You might as well move to Phoenix. At least there's civilization there.

excuse me. But I'm not dreaming of a mythical California. I've been to twentynine palms. I don't have job offers in Phoenix, but thanks.

[Ludachris]

Originally Posted by sheri257

That was true a few months ago ... not anymore. Yes, the wealthier areas have taken longer to come down but ... Silicon Valley took a major hit just in the last month with significant price drops. The nicer areas are finally coming down in a major way.

Just saw this post again and couldn't help but notice... those expensive areas in Silicon Valley still haven't come down all that much from what I've seen. It's still crazy expensive in places like Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino, etc. I just did a quick search and couldn't find any decent 3-4 bedroom/2 bath homes for under $800k in Los Gatos (and not in Los Gatos mountains, but in the town). Maybe a crappy little fixer-upper, but that's about it. I guess the housing crash isn't hitting all areas as much as some thought it would, at least not yet anyway. But it actually looks to be stabilizing a little bit - or should I say, just not declining at high rate.