I have to say reading these threads make me believe there aren't many positives about California (San Francisco: rent, credit card)

[Twinkle Toes]

Lots of us have roots here, and lots of us have families here. Most of us don't constantly b*tch and whine about hating it here. If you're unhappy with your circumstances - change them, simple as that. At one point I thought there could possibly be something better out there for me. I moved out of state. I didn't have friends or family or anything in the state I moved to. I lived there for a while, decided I didn't like it there, and I moved back. Nobody paid my way, I didn't ask anybody for a hand out, I did it on my own.

[Lovehound]

EscapeCalifornia is one of the best posters here at C-D. I just gave him a +rep on general principles, that he's doing a good job posting at C-D.

Or she. I don't know his/her gender nor does it matter in this context.

[Sassberto]

California was a lot better for me before I had my kid.

I have a half-brother who is a native. He is totally content to have only one child, and stay in his charming 900sf craftsman he bought for 110k in a 10-years up-and-coming area for the rest of his life. For him, it is perfect, even though at one point they did consider leaving too.

If your wants align well with CA, then it is a pleasure. If they don't, then you'll eventually come to the realization that there are a lot of tradeoffs that you will have to make.

[D-Towner]

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

Lots of us have roots here, and lots of us have families here. Most of us don't constantly b*tch and whine about hating it here. If you're unhappy with your circumstances - change them, simple as that. At one point I thought there could possibly be something better out there for me. I moved out of state. I didn't have friends or family or anything in the state I moved to. I lived there for a while, decided I didn't like it there, and I moved back. Nobody paid my way, I didn't ask anybody for a hand out, I did it on my own.

okay, I don't think you should be so hard on Escape

[Twinkle Toes]

I'm not being hard on him. Have you been here long enough to read his posts? My posts? Trust me, I'm not being hard on him.

[D-Towner]

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

I'm not being hard on him. Have you been here long enough to read his posts? My posts? Trust me, I'm not being hard on him.

I don't know if I have or not

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

Then GO already!!!!!

Do you not understand the concept of not making a move until I'm financially ready? Not everyone has a huge bank account and can afford to take off to another state on a whim. I refuse to leave until I'm ready to make it a success.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

If your wants align well with CA, then it is a pleasure. If they don't, then you'll eventually come to the realization that there are a lot of tradeoffs that you will have to make.

Nicely put. I'm a native, born in San Diego, raised for years in Newport Beach. I raised five children here (and KY, VA, TX and back here again) and now they're all adults and doing quite well for themselves. Two of them are in other states, CO and NJ.

I recently retired from state service and because I lost half my retirement funds, and about all of everything else, in divorce from my childrens' mother it's no longer feasible to stay here. We have to go where we can afford it and maximize our retirements. We've both lived in other states and countries and our wants and needs do not align with what California now offers. It's as simple as that.

Actually, if I could turn back the clock 3-4 decades I'd be more than content to live here (well, not HERE but California) until I died. However, the reality is that I can't, I'm not and I won't.

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Do you not understand the concept of not making a move until I'm financially ready? Not everyone has a huge bank account and can afford to take off to another state on a whim. I refuse to leave until I'm ready to make it a success.

You'll never be ready. I guess we'll just have to listen to you whine and b*tch for the next 50 years.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Twinkle Toes

You'll never be ready. I guess we'll just have to listen to you whine and b*tch for the next 50 years.

You have no idea what my timeline and financial checklist is.