Might have to leave California, help me figure out where to go

[trixie09]

Hi,

I've lived all along the West Coast, and grew up in L.A. I know what you're looking for, and the only thing standing in your way in some parts of California, would be the cost of housing. Myself, I made the error of thinking that climate wasn't a big deal, because leaving California meant I could get a better house. Let's just say that you'll want to avoid places like Seattle and Portland, if you like the weather in California. This 9 months of solid gray gets to you (but hey, it's not humid!)

Take a peek at the Central Coast of California. The housing prices really vary there from town to town. Not sure what you're looking for in a price range, but it fits many of your other requirements. I also like Southern Oregon, because it does not have the gloom factor, but it's pretty isolated.

I couldn't do Texas, even as cool as Austin is, because of the hot and humid weather. It's considered some type of tropical climate. But you can really get great housing, lots to do, and a pretty cool attitude there.

As far as North Carolina goes. My niece and her cuban musician boyfriend moved there a few years ago, because he had family there. After several months of being accosted verbally on the street, they decided that it wasn't worth it and moved back to the West Coast where people live and let live.

If you like California, then I'd probably spend some time researching other areas there. It's a big State, and sometimes the answer isn't moving to another State. Good luck!

[RobE]

The Texas weather you probably won't like and the state government is run by far right politicians and they may decide to go for immigration legislation similar to Arizona's. However, you are more likely to be able to find a job there than in a lot of other places in the country.

But fwiw, up here in western Washington state, we have temperate weather, it's very liberal and you can buy a house for under $300,000 if you are willing to live in the suburbs like Olympia, Yelm, Lacey, etc. I live in a very quiet multi-racial neighborhood where people mind their own business. We have an HOA, but it keeps the rules to a minimum. My Congress critter is one of the biggest liberals in the House.

This area is also full of animal lovers. Just about everyone in my development has a dog and there are quite a few pocket parks to walk your dog at.

Yes, it rains here 8-9 months of the year, but it is almost never more than drizzling and when it does snow it is barely enough to cover the ground and disappears in a couple of days (the exception being a freak storm we had a couple of years ago). The traffic isn't as bad as California, either. A lot of Californians are still coming up here to retire.

Unfortunately, there really aren't very many jobs here at the moment and if you want big city activities Seattle is 90 minutes away.

As for crime, this is a high property crime state. But you aren't likely to be a victim of violent crime unless you live in Tacoma or some of the bad parts of Seattle or perhaps Aberdeen. Seattle is kind of San Francisco for Dummies. I don't care for it, but my cousin lives there and loves it. So it just depends on your sensibility. Living in Seattle is very expensive relative to where I live and it isn't a fun place to have to use a car in. It is also a high property and sales tax state. It doesn't have an income tax, though.

I hope you find this hopeful.

[Jasmine728]

Originally Posted by califlo

mysticaltiger -
I have thought about Sacramento, but the air quality is really not so good. Like I stated earlier, I realize that I have to prioritize -
{For us, the most important factors are climate, diverse population and acceptance of people like me, low crime rate, good air quality due to our health issues, and the presence of at least one 4 yr university/college for my husband. The other things I listed are just preferences - I know utopia doesn't exist }

So, I know I won't be able to get some of the items on my initial want list. For example, we are enjoying where we live now so we are going to hold off on finding an area where we could actually buy a home for awhile.

Well you could live in the foothills above Sac and get rid of the air quality issues, there's Sac State or Sierra College is a 2 year college that's more toward the foothills.