California in Comparison (Lincoln: college, to live, price)
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Your comparison is mainly an urban vs rural one, not really a CA vs OR one. You could have just gone to the Redwood Coast of CA and made the same observations.
Also you need to shop around for a better deal on a car wash, I get my car washed and vacuumed for $12.
If my wife hadn't had three surgeries since early February, the third at the beginning of this month, we'd already be long gone. As it stands, we leave the first week of August to go purchase a hopme. We'll be moving to the Ozarks lake country of SW Missouri. A couiple of years of research and personal knowledge of the area combined to make it our most attractive choice for what we want in retirement living.
Wow, thats quite a switch from Sac. It looks like there are some nice forests out there. And it looks pretty close to Springfield which is good. One of the problems with some of the nicer retirement locations is that they are too remote in terms of quality health care and other supporting services.
Sorry to hear about your wife's surgeries. A friend of mine in CO was looking into the Kentucky Lakes area for his coming retirement. And one of the communities he liked and visited seemed great. But some of the reviews of the hospitals were horrible. Again no place is perfect. But as we age medical care does play a role in determining a decent place to retire. Who wants some nut job operating us anyway. And of course bad things do happen in well known facilities. But overall quality of care and compentencies are higher.
You have a point that's why I'm always on here whining about my state, because it's not what it used to be either. Growing up in Indiana (70's, 80's) it was a mix of white, black and Italians. As years went on and the southerners and the illigal mexicans found out we had alot of work that needed no education, they all flocked up here. The good clean families moved to other states or more rural areas. Now my area is consumed by Nascar rednecks and illegal Hispanics who take take take.
Guess that's why I don't think I'll mind the illegals in CA, I'm used to it and I've surrendered the fact that they are like cockroaches...they will be here forever. At least in the Southern California area I wont have too many rednecks flying thier stupid flag and drinking budweier in the yard with no shoes, shirt, or teeth.
PS- Bowling is all there is to do here from Oct-May...I hate bowling.
I just learned something! Italians aren't white!
Way to generalize with your comments about Southerners and "Illegal Mexicans".
So basically what you are saying is that jobs that require little/no education should only go to the uneducated natives of an area? History shows that poor/uneducated people flock to where the jobs they can obtain are. I guess you could fault Elkhart for having something (at one time) that other people wanted.
"The clean good families". LOL. What made them so clean and good? Are you implying that rednecks and "Illegal Hispanics" don't bathe, and are bad too?
What's wrong with NASCAR? I don't partake in its activities, but don't fault people for enjoying it. There's nothing wrong with enjoying a little sports/entertainment.
What do "NASCAR rednecks" and "Illegal Hispanics" take take take? Welfare services I assume?
The places of CA that we've recommended you previously will have plenty of beer swillin', toothless rednecks that enjoy NASCAR.
When you make it out to CA, if I ever happen to be in the area I'd be happy to treat you to a night of fun at the Brunswick Classic Lanes. Beer & hot dogs on me!
I had hope for you jc76, but I think you might grow to hate CA just as you hate IN. Good luck to you in your endeavors.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curmudgeon
If my wife hadn't had three surgeries since early February, the third at the beginning of this month, we'd already be long gone. As it stands, we leave the first week of August to go purchase a hopme. We'll be moving to the Ozarks lake country of SW Missouri. A couiple of years of research and personal knowledge of the area combined to make it our most attractive choice for what we want in retirement living.
Taxes have a cumulative effect on individuals and the economy. I certainly don 't agonize over them. I'm simply aware of how they and other factors affect the general cost of living. I spent the better part of 20 years dealing directly with these and other issues as a legislative analyst for the state. There's no mystery.
That being said, let me acquaint you with a few facts. With the exception of modest cost of living increases, my wife and I are living on what can be basically referred to as a "fixed income" made up of state pensions and Social Security. By the way, there weill be no COLAs in the latter for the next two years at a minimum.
My wife only worked for the state for 15 years so her pension is small. I lost half my pension in divorce some years ago. Of course, the divorce would have been cheap at twice the price. But the bottom line is that even after 25 years of state service, what I receive is not munificent. Thank goodness for Social Security.
Now, then. On to the matter of moving. Since the housing prices in California spiked at about the time my wife and I married we didn't purchase a home. If we'd done so we would have ended up house poor and would likely be upside-down right now. Instead, we wanted to have some fun but we also saved and invested. Now that we're retired we have a choice. We can remain in California, purchase a house at its still high prices and live as we've been living, frugally, or we can move elsewhere, purchase more home for far less money someplace we'd really like to be and have a cost of living that is between $15-20K a year less than it is here. We opt for the latter with plenty left over to travel and visit children and grandchildren who are scattered from coast-to-coast.
It's a lifestyle choice. We'd be the first to agree that if California was still what it was several decades ago you wouldn't be able to blast us out. But it's not and we're moving. It's as simple as that. For those of you who worship at the feet of the once Golden State, more power to you. For us its lost its luster and I feel sorry for those who are drawn to the Hollywood version of it that is long past. I think they're setting themselves up for disappointment.
G'day!
Excellent post. ::exhibiting humility on my part::
I completely understand and may have partly taken your previous post a little out of context.
I didn't want to pay for CA either, so I left. What I was paying to live in the IE (regular household costs for myself) wasn't worth it to me. You don't get what you pay for in most parts of CA. So, I can understand why you'd want to move to MO. BTW, KC is a fine city if you ever head up that way.
I don't worship at the feet of CA. I love it, but would probably never want to live in it again, if that makes any sense. I love it like a brother, a brother that always picks on me.
Good luck to you as well.
Last edited by David Aguilar; 06-26-2009 at 11:45 AM..
Wow, thats quite a switch from Sac. It looks like there are some nice forests out there. And it looks pretty close to Springfield which is good. One of the problems with some of the nicer retirement locations is that they are too remote in terms of quality health care and other supporting services.
Sorry to hear about your wife's surgeries. A friend of mine in CO was looking into the Kentucky Lakes area for his coming retirement. And one of the communities he liked and visited seemed great. But some of the reviews of the hospitals were horrible. Again no place is perfect. But as we age medical care does play a role in determining a decent place to retire. Who wants some nut job operating us anyway. And of course bad things do happen in well known facilities. But overall quality of care and compentencies are higher.
Derek
Access to competent health care is a major consideration. As Bette Davis put it so well, "There ain't nothin' about aging for sissies!"
The Ozarks are rolling rather than high, heavily wooded and full of rivers and streams, as well as several large lakes. We're looking forward to it. Fishing is excellent as is hunting. I only do the latter with a camera.
It's not the hunting, per se. I don't hunt with guns or bows and haven't since I returned from combat in 1969. I do "hunt" with a camera, however.
The issue is not the hunting. The issue is that in MO there isn't the government-imposed stigma and over-control of firearms there is here in CA. It's a matter of approach more than a matter of substance.
As Thomas Jefferson put it, "Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases."
I don't worship at the feet of CA. I love it, but would probably never want to live in it again, if that makes any sense. I love it like a brother, a brother that always pick on me.
Good luck to you as well.
Thanks! We will decidedly leave with mixed feelings as California is and has been home to both of us for most of our lives.
For both of us, working in the political arena, doing bill analysis, writing bills, testifying before policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, working with members, their staff and the Governors' Office, etc. was interesting and challenging. It could also be frustrating and infuriating. But if it was nothing else, it was stimulating.
However, there was also a down-side to all that knowledge and access. Otto Von Bismark once famously said, "Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." He was quite right. We both know too much about "real politik" here in California and it has soured living here for us as it permeates all elements of the California experience. Unfortunately, we don't see it getting any better as we've worked with and through many Governors and many changes in the Legislature. In the end the same troubles persist.
When I was young I loved living in and being from California. I wish that was still the c ase.
I've the the drive over the boarder many many times. The difference hits me as I get closer to the Bay Area, but upper NorCal and lower Oregon are not all that different.
Hmm, I wonder if your agreement with the OP has anything to do with this?
Some people are just tired of the CONSTANT COMPLAINING about the state. This whole "this is not the CA I grew up in and it's only getting worse" is getting very tired - - just constant complaining from people. I'd love for all of you slow drivers to go 55 in the left-hand lane - - as long as you are leaving and not coming back!
Hmmm, what can i tell you. it's the truth. whether you like it or not. I love it when people get mad at other people's opinions. so, if you love CA great!! good!! that's your opinion and I'm happy for you that you do. I'm not getting mean or condescending toward you about it!! so I happen to not care for CA any longer great that's my opinion. there's no need for you to get worked up over it!! and what makes you say that i drive 55?? and believe me if i could leave i would.
Why do you have to be so overly sensitive? I was calling out his BS and how he was actually comparing OR to Sacramento despite not wanting to admit it. If you don't agree with what I said move on, it is honest MY opinion and I have every right to express it. If you're going to complain then be prepared for people to shoot back and if you don't want to hear others people's opinions who don't agree with you then keep quiet and don't start threads like this, it's as simple as that.
kudos!!! you are right!! it does go both ways. honestly one of my pet peeves is that people only have tolerance for others when it's what they believe and get quite mean to others who do not agree with their opinion. I try hard not to be that way! but i can see what you mean...thanks for pointing out my hypocrisy lol
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But the bottom line is that even after 25 years of state service, what I receive is not munificent. Thank goodness for Social Security.
and believe me if i could leave i would. 
