Love/Hate for California (San Diego, San Francisco: 2014, public schools, taxes)

[ElectroPlumber]

As previously stated, the only thing I really don't like about CA is the cost of living. And, I do think the cost of living here is a big deal. It's not just housing, it's utilities, groceries, gas for your car, fees, etc., etc.

The increase in salaries here do not compensate for the increased cost of living compared to other states.

[Clarks]

Funny that someone thinks living up country Hawaii would be a life of privation.

The important part of this whole discussion, is that only the economically marginal really give a hoot. What ever it costs extra to live here (a contention I dispute) it isn't enough to get wound up about. If you find a problem, you need a new job.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by ElectroPlumber

As previously stated, the only thing I really don't like about CA is the cost of living. And, I do think the cost of living here is a big deal. It's not just housing, it's utilities, groceries, gas for your car, fees, etc., etc.

The increase in salaries here do not compensate for the increased cost of living compared to other states.

In our recent experience, most costs are just about 2/3 of what they were in CA with housing being even lower. However, wages are lower as well. But for a couple of CA retirees who don't have to work it all makes a significant difference.

I don't care how anyone wishes to parse it, CA is a high cost of living state.

[Clarks]

I don't care how anyone wishes to parse it, CA is a high cost of living state.

If the purported high cost of living forces people to leave, is that a bad thing?

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Clarks

If the purported high cost of living forces people to leave, is that a bad thing?

It can be. It depends upon who's leaving and what's left.

[Clarks]

I suppose it will be the poor that leave, I can see them now, in their beat up old trucks with mattresses tied over the hood, heading east down route 66, heading for cheap places like Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, god love'em, somebody ought to write a book, kinda like Grapes of Wrath only backwards, maybe call it "affordable trailers is OK"

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Clarks

I suppose it will be the poor that leave, I can see them now, in their beat up old trucks with mattresses tied over the hood, heading east down route 66, heading for cheap places like Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, god love'em, somebody ought to write a book, kinda like Grapes of Wrath only backwards, maybe call it "affordable trailers is OK"

...or it may be the intelligent who wipe their brows with relief upon accessing the much better highways in neighboring states without having broken an axle and give thanks for having left the arrogance, delusional apologists and insanity of California politics and fiscal issues behind them, trading in 217 people per square mile for 82, bless your heart.

[creative36]

People hate on California because it resides in Mordor.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

It can be. It depends upon who's leaving and what's left.

very good points...If the right people leave Calif it can improve the state, but that isn't always the case..

Many people, like you and others I know are leaving or have left for a quieter life, as well as safer enviornment and states that are not bankrupt. Those are the one that would benefit California.

Nita

[Clarks]

trading in 217 people per square mile for 82, bless your heart.

24 California Counties have a population density less than your 217. Those 24 counties have a land area much greater than the state of Missouri.
12 have a population density below 100. Ditto

The nice thing about California is that you get to pick your California.

With half the state uninhabited Federal land, there is plenty of empty land, not much empty land east of the 100th Meridian.

I was born in a town of 15,000 people. After Vandenburg Air Force base was created, that jumped to nearly 50,000, and is now nearly 100,000

If it were to go back to 15,000 it would once again be a nice town.