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[quote=jc76;10619807]I must chime in and warn you all if you post positives on CA there are a certain few on here that may throw their rattle across the room.
jc76, that was really funny. And true.
"Every year for the last 4 years I have came down with severe depression during our long cold wet winter months here in Northern Indiana. Every year it gets worse. "
Have you ever tried using a light box with full-spectrum lighting? Works wonders for some people with SAD.
I'm wondering how many of you moved to California to achieve your dreams.
For those of your who feel that you have succeeded in achieving your goals, what does your dream life consist of, and how did you get there?
Please share your success stories.
Thanks,
This is really the story of our family. My mom and her sister moved out to CA from Michigan when they were in their early twenties. My mom's sister worked for the airlines as a stewardess. She would fly my mom out to visit and both fell in love with the state. Their California dream consisted of living at the beach and being able to enjoy that lifestyle year round. They decided they had experienced enough snow and cold for their lifetimes. So they both moved out here. They eventually married and raised families and they enjoyed many, many years of coastal living. Now as grandparents they are still enjoying the golden state along with their extended families.
As natives my wife and I moved away from CA to CO with the birth of our third child. We left for all the usual reasons, but mainly because of the COL and crouds - we were living in LA County (Torrance) at the time.
After living in CO for a number of years we began to miss the West Coast again. We began dreaming of the things we took so much for granted while growing up like year a round mild climate and the activities which can be enjoyed as a part of it. My wife and I had decided if we ever move back to the West Coast we would never live in the big cities again. We came to enjoy wide open spaces, less traffic and lack of smog we had experienced in CO. My dream place to live along the CA coast was Monterey. After gaining more skills and experience in my field I was starting to have recruiters contact me. Then after posting my resume online I got a cold call from a recruiter asking if I would ever considering relocating from CO to Monterey CA. I about fell out of my chair.
The difference for us was unlike others who come here starry eyed. As natives we knew exactly what we were looking for along with the pros/cons which come along with it. We came to realize that no place is perfect - just a trade off of one set of unique pros/cons with those of another.
Now we are fully enjoying life in the Golden State again, this time along the Monterey coast. It is truly an awesome place to live. We wake up to the sound of seagulls, sealions and waves crashing on the beach. After work we can walk to the beach and have a picnic dinner watching the surf or watch the sunset over the water from our living room window. All this we thank God for as we realize we are indeed forunate to have this opportunity.
Derek
Last edited by MtnSurfer; 09-06-2009 at 10:10 AM..
This is really the story of our family. My mom and her sister moved out to CA from Michigan when they were in their early twenties. My mom's sister worked for the airlines as a stewardess. She would fly my mom out to visit and both fell in love with the state. Their California dream consisted of living at the beach and being able to enjoy that lifestyle year round. They decided they had experienced enough snow and cold for their lifetimes. So they both moved out here. They eventually married and raised families and they enjoyed many, many years of coastal living. Now as grandparents they are still enjoying the golden state along with their extended families.
As natives my wife and I moved away from CA to CO with the birth of our third child. We left for all the usual reasons, but mainly because of the COL and crouds - we were living in LA County (Torrance) at the time.
After living in CO for a number of years we began to miss the West Coast again. We began dreaming of the things we took so much for granted while growing up like year a round mild climate and the activities which can be enjoyed as a part of it. My wife and I had decided if we ever move back to the West Coast we would never live in the big cities again. We came to enjoy wide open spaces, less traffic and lack of smog we had experienced in CO. My dream place to live along the CA coast was Monterey. After gaining more skills and experience in my field I was starting to have recruiters contact me. Then after posting my resume online I got a cold call from a recruiter asking if I would ever considering relocating from CO to Monterey CA. I about fell out of my chair.
The difference for us was unlike others who come here starry eyed. As natives we knew exactly what we were looking for along with the pros/cons which come along with it. We came to realize that no place is perfect - just a trade off of one set of unique pros/cons with those of another.
Now we are fully enjoying life in the Golden State again, this time along the Monterey coast. It is truly an awesome place to live. We wake up to the sound of seagulls, sealions and waves crashing on the beach. After work we can walk to the beach and have a picnic dinner watching the surf or watch the sunset over the water from our living room window. All this we thank God for as we realize we are indeed forunate to have this opportunity.
Derek
Nice photos. What camera did you use, if I may ask?
This is really the story of our family. My mom and her sister moved out to CA from Michigan when they were in their early twenties. My mom's sister worked for the airlines as a stewardess. She would fly my mom out to visit and both fell in love with the state. Their California dream consisted of living at the beach and being able to enjoy that lifestyle year round. They decided they had experienced enough snow and cold for their lifetimes. So they both moved out here. They eventually married and raised families and they enjoyed many, many years of coastal living. Now as grandparents they are still enjoying the golden state along with their extended families.
As natives my wife and I moved away from CA to CO with the birth of our third child. We left for all the usual reasons, but mainly because of the COL and crouds - we were living in LA County (Torrance) at the time.
After living in CO for a number of years we began to miss the West Coast again. We began dreaming of the things we took so much for granted while growing up like year a round mild climate and the activities which can be enjoyed as a part of it. My wife and I had decided if we ever move back to the West Coast we would never live in the big cities again. We came to enjoy wide open spaces, less traffic and lack of smog we had experienced in CO. My dream place to live along the CA coast was Monterey. After gaining more skills and experience in my field I was starting to have recruiters contact me. Then after posting my resume online I got a cold call from a recruiter asking if I would ever considering relocating from CO to Monterey CA. I about fell out of my chair.
The difference for us was unlike others who come here starry eyed. As natives we knew exactly what we were looking for along with the pros/cons which come along with it. We came to realize that no place is perfect - just a trade off of one set of unique pros/cons with those of another.
Now we are fully enjoying life in the Golden State again, this time along the Monterey coast. It is truly an awesome place to live. We wake up to the sound of seagulls, sealions and waves crashing on the beach. After work we can walk to the beach and have a picnic dinner watching the surf or watch the sunset over the water from our living room window. All this we thank God for as we realize we are indeed forunate to have this opportunity.
I had trouble sleeping for awhile last night and started thinking about this post. It is so heart warming to hear the positives. I remembered another, we bought our first home in 1961 and our neighbors had a daughter just 2 months older than our daughter (almost 2 at the time) Anyway, they had moved from upstate NY with nothing more than the cloths on their backs, a car, 4 kids and mayber a few thousand dollars in their savings. I don't know how much, but I know it wasn't a lot. They had sold a house in NY. Let me tell all you youngsters, in those days a nice profit on a home was about $2000 to $4000 and these couple was very much working class, neither had high school educations I don't think. I know Jan didn't. Anyway we became very good friends, she was 5 years older than me. Because her husband had no real skills or training he often would find a job, just to lose it a year or so later. I remember how excited he was when he got hired by Lockheed. It was the first time he had ever had any benefits. The thought of medical and life insurance was something they had only dreamed of. That Christmas her kids each got 1 gift, that is they could afford. Fast forward about 10 or 15 years, lots of hard work and add another kid to their brew. They purchased a little drive thru hamburger place, some rental property and a made a few other investmensts. By then, their 4 bedroom,1100 sq ft home had been replaced by one in a much better area, consisting of about 2000 sq ft, they were taking trips to Vegas 4 and 5 times a year (his passion) and enjoying life to the fullest. Not only were they financually secure, they were happy with their lives. I did lose contact with them, but I would bet they still live in San Gabriel Valley and are enjoying retirement. Do remember though, this was the very early 60s when Calif was thriving, it is a little different today. I doubt, if they had attempted that kind of a move in the early years of 2000 the outcome would be a positive.
I must chime in and warn you all if you post positives on CA there are a certain few on here that may throw their rattle across the room.
jc76, that was really funny. And true.
"Every year for the last 4 years I have came down with severe depression during our long cold wet winter months here in Northern Indiana. Every year it gets worse. "
Have you ever tried using a light box with full-spectrum lighting? Works wonders for some people with SAD.
Yeah for two years along w/ meds. None of it worked, having to do all that just made it worse because it reminded me how bad it sucks to be here
Those lamps aint cheap either!
Nice photos. What camera did you use, if I may ask?
Thanks, photography is a hobby of mine, which grew after moving to CO. The beauty of the Rockies tend to inspire. Anyway I have been shooting with Canon Digital SLRs for a while now.
My dream place to live along the CA coast was Monterey. After gaining more skills and experience in my field I was starting to have recruiters contact me. Then after posting my resume online I got a cold call from a recruiter asking if I would ever considering relocating from CO to Monterey CA. I about fell out of my chair.
This goes to show you the power of positive thought
Thanks for sharing your story, and your pictures are beautiful!
It's great to hear that some people are seeking out the life they want, and are succeeding at achieving it.
I have had a love affair with CA ever since I visited for the first time 15 years ago. Although, I also love my home state of MA, and I'm not sure I could cut ties and move 3,000 miles away.
I guess for now, I will have to settle for visiting. Maybe some day I can afford a home in both states, so I don't have to choose .
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