those who wanted to move to CA

[Den Mathias]

We have practically zero crime in my area, and me and my boyfriend make under 50,000 together and we can afford a 3 bedroom house on the coast. Our COL is quite low because we want it to be low. We don't require a giant house and 3 SUVs, and we get most of our food from a local farmers market and make our food from scratch.

Sorry, but you could offer me the biggest McMansion and a high paying job in the midwest and I still wouldn't live there. It's just not my cup of tea.[/quote]
I agree that if you live within your means, California can be had for considerably less than it was thought! I have polled friends, neighbors and retirees and if you have a paid mortgage then you can easily live on $40,000/year.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by jc76

I got called a *insert bad word for homosexual* for buying Heineken the other day! Come to our state! We are "Good Ol' Americans!"

Well, Indy's out. No hoosier hijinks for this guy. One of my favorite beers, Anchor Steam, happens to be brewed in San Francisco. In fact, I think it's the only good thing to ever come out of Baghdad-by-the-Bay! But if someone called me that because I was buying or drinking it, if it's even available in IN, I might just become their dentist's best friend!

[jc76]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Well, Indy's out. No hoosier hijinks for this guy. One of my favorite beers, Anchor Steam, happens to be brewed in San Francisco. In fact, I think it's the only good thing to ever come out of Baghdad-by-the-Bay! But if someone called me that because I was buying or drinking it, if it's even available in IN, I might just become their dentist's best friend!

Hahaha!!!! Yeah, well come on over here, get into the mindset of these people and you will be blown away by the shallowness of it all, of course there's good people here but I'd say 80% of the people here are meat and potatoes. Anything outside of their [box] is considered "weird" especially them there fancy California folk

[jc76]

Originally Posted by Den Mathias

We have practically zero crime in my area, and me and my boyfriend make under 50,000 together and we can afford a 3 bedroom house on the coast. Our COL is quite low because we want it to be low. We don't require a giant house and 3 SUVs, and we get most of our food from a local farmers market and make our food from scratch.

Sorry, but you could offer me the biggest McMansion and a high paying job in the midwest and I still wouldn't live there. It's just not my cup of tea.

I agree that if you live within your means, California can be had for considerably less than it was thought! I have polled friends, neighbors and retirees and if you have a paid mortgage then you can easily live on $40,000/year.[/quote]

See that's what I have noticed. It seems that besides the homes being quadruple the cost of the midwest, everything else is about the same.
My friend has lived in Hollywood for 13 years making 14.00 an hour and he still has enough $ to go on small trips and live a decent life. He and a roomie split a 2 bedroom and budget their money. Then again they dont require most the things that many people do.

[srdammanmich]

I have been eyeing the Tahoe area, but the taxes and Cali's unpredictable future may push me to the NV side.

[10,000Lakes]

Originally Posted by jc76

I agree that if you live within your means, California can be had for considerably less than it was thought! I have polled friends, neighbors and retirees and if you have a paid mortgage then you can easily live on $40,000/year.

See that's what I have noticed. It seems that besides the homes being quadruple the cost of the midwest, everything else is about the same.
My friend has lived in Hollywood for 13 years making 14.00 an hour and he still has enough $ to go on small trips and live a decent life. He and a roomie split a 2 bedroom and budget their money. Then again they dont require most the things that many people do.[/quote]


I disagree. Besides housing being more I think taxes, food, gas, registartion for cars etc are more expensive than the midwest BUT you can still live a good life in CA if your not rich. It's all how you look at things, and what you want from life.

[TristramShandy]

Originally Posted by 10,000Lakes

I disagree. Besides housing being more I think taxes, food, gas, registartion for cars etc are more expensive than the midwest BUT you can still live a good life in CA if your not rich. It's all how you look at things, and what you want from life.

Gas is definitely more expensive, but it is more than made up for me at least by not having to pay for home heating or air conditioning. As for the car registration, in every other state I lived in you had to get a registration AND and inspection.

Every state gets you in some way - - they just differ.

[JetJockey]

Originally Posted by TristramShandy

Gas is definitely more expensive, but it is more than made up for me at least by not having to pay for home heating or air conditioning. As for the car registration, in every other state I lived in you had to get a registration AND and inspection.

Every state gets you in some way - - they just differ.

Exactly. We don't have a heater OR air conditioner in our house. Of course, it does get chilly at night during the winter, but we have a grandfathered in wood fireplace so that keeps our tiny little house cozy.