Leaving California (Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach: apartment, chapel, job transfer)

[dennismpat]

Originally Posted by Caliguy2007

I don't really consider myself as being a Moderator,but I will continue posting on here,especially when it comes to defending California against the haters

Right on!

Be sure to wave your California bear flag high also.

[Mvn2nc]

Originally Posted by cynwldkat

Mvn2nc,
So far it's been wonderful! Everything plus what I'd hoped for. I can say we are starting to "live" again instead of trying to survive. I do miss my children and grandchildren terribly as they are still living in Los Angeles. But they are only an airplane ride away....and who knows..once they come and visit us here they may want to move too! For us it has been a good move. We've only been here a little over 2 months but we're already moving at a different pace, if you know what I mean. We bought a nice home in a country setting near a lake (3 miles down the road) on two acres. Paid an unbelievable price. People smile here..they are friendly. You can leave your doors unlocked (at least out in the country where we are living). Many people will wave at you, just because that's what they do!!! You need a helping hand..your neighbors become fast friends. Always willing to lend a hand. This isn't just what I've experienced it's a know fact around here. People help people. The prices are amazing. Your money goes so much farther. Don't expect anyone to jump when you ask them to because as I mentioned their pace is much slower here..but it will eventually get done!! That part that was very hard for my hubby, being from CA, owning a business...well things had to be done yesterday. It drove him crazy at first. Luckily the people here were patient and understood that he was from CA and let it pass. Now he's finally getting the hang of relaxing and living his life the way it was ment to be lived. Take each day as it comes and enjoy it to it's fullest! As for things to do here...the lakes are amazing, the hills are green and beautiful, and there is plenty of places to go. Or you can just enjoy what is right in your own back yard. Yes, it's been a good move for us!

So good to hear and "Ditto" for us

[lorriem]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

Thinking about moving away? Already made the big move? Discuss why, where, and how you left or plan to leave California.

Moving from the SF bay area after living there for 25 years was the biggest mistake we ever made.You always think the grass is greener some place else but it is not.I would give anything to get back to CA anywhere in CA.

[lorriem]

Originally Posted by CrazyDaisy

My husband and I have looked all over the country for years. Too humid in the east and midwest, don't like tornados or hurricanes, like to go to the snow once in a while, but don't like living in it, get depressed with short, rainy days of the northwest, and can't enjoy the outdoors in the heat of Arizona. No. . .we aren't going anywhere. Just bought a vacation/retirement home in Sutter Creek and are loving it. It does help that we bought our first home in California in the late 60's for $32,000 and all the children are grown. Most of the grandchildren are here too.

I wish we had considered all of those things before we moved.We didn't and we are stuck in FL.Our grand children and children are still in CA and we miss them so much. We moved to the SF bay area in 79 and bought a house for $99,000. Wish we had do overs in life.

[Educatorspeakingtruth]

Here are my thoughts from being raised in Oregon and now Living in California:

What I remember from growing up and being raised in Oregon was that people are people. For the most part most people could care less what brand of clothes you wear, the kind of car you drive or even the house you live in. In Oregon, ones Character was what mattered. How you treated the people around you, mattered. How you contributed to your community mattered. Being friendly mattered. How you raised a family mattered. Were you a good father/mother, a good husband/wife? Many places have a "blue collar" hardwork approach. People are fairly practical. You could drive a mercedes or a bmw (or any kind of luxary auto maker), live in a large house, be rich, and if you were an inconsiderate, arrogant jerk? You were still a jerk even if you had money! Here it seems like you can treat people anyway (as poorly) you want, and as long as you have money or are in a position of power, or look really attractive. People will want to kiss up, get as close as they can and be your best friend based on what you can do for them! In Oregon, that won't get you very far. Now, just like most places if you want to find that lifestyle and or those kinds of people,you can find them. I'm speaking about the norm, the way the majority think. Oregon is a liberal state in terms of government, but many of its values are conservative and traditional. In terms of having a childhood and growing up: It was SAFE to play and there was a lot of room in my yard or neighbors yards to play in. We didn't have to drive to a park to play ball, we just went to each others back yards, they were actual yards to play in. Also there were so many opprotunities to be in the outdoors. We were just minutes away from camping, fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, bird watching etc. Instead of being hours away. It was easy to get away from it all and relax with nature and be with your family. I never rememberd crowds anywhere, except, airports, state fairs, malls, easter egg hunts, competitions, sporting events (Beaver Games!) or concerts. Never at the beach, lakes, rivers, mountains etc. Unlike So Cal, where you go to get away from it all to go the mountains, beaches, lakes, and rivers only to be met by 1,000's of people all with the same idea and you have to wait in traffic to and from! Oregon seems more relaxing, even when you try to relax in So Cal it is a challenge. I never really saw pollution until I moved to California. The air is so clean in Oregon because of all of the trees! I never thought of buying bottled water (a big waste of money in Oreogn!)? The tap water was clean enough! Not in So Cal! I only drink bottled water here, the tap water in So Cal is disgusting! Also recycling is occuring in most homes in Oregon and many grow their own produce, and have compost piles. Oregon is fairly tolerant just like California on many issues; and that is both good and bad depending on how you look at it. Sometimes traditions get taken away, and also sometimes change slowly occurs. Shopping is not huge in Oregon like it is here, which surprises me because of no sales tax in Oregon! I'm sure with teens in every city, shopping is a must! I'm talking about the norm here, the majority of people are not going in droves to the malls everyday. Also, I've never heard or seen any of the rich people hiring nannys to raise their children so the Dads can work (or play golf) and so the Moms can go shopping with all of her girlfriends for new jimmy choos, or dooney and burkes! In the So Cal that is a rare occasion I'm sure. (I hope) But it does happen, I have witnessed it with my own eyes. Plastic surgery is also more hidden and occuring less frequently in Oregon compared to So Cal. Hollywood and "the other Hollywood" (Adult Entertainment Industry or PORN) doesn't have such a large grip on the culture of Oregon (or even the rest of the U.S.) like it does in So Cal. Here it seems like those industries have such a strong grip on the culture, especially with the culture of our youth, that people can't even recognize it! Almost like they have blinders on their eyes. The Red Hot Chili Peppers even wrote a song about this called "Californication". Anyways, I'm not bitter towards my experiences here or the people I've encountered here. I feel so blessed to have the experiences and to meet the people I've met from living in California, it helped me grow into the person and into the man that I am! I feel now is the time for me to be a MAN and to make a grown, wise decision. That means moving to a place where I can be a successful future husband, future father and a successful professional teacher. A place that is affordable, and safe to start a family even though I don't have a family of my own yet. I'm not 20 anymore! This is how I see some of the differences between living in Oregon and living in California.

[Slackajawea]

My spouse and I are both native Californians and we moved to Minneapolis about six years ago. I love California for too many reasons to list here, but we both were ready to leave and neither of use would move back. California is broken in some really fundamental ways that may not be possible to fix.

1. Because of all the ballot initiatives passed, the legislature controls only 40% of State spending; everything else is allocated out piece meal in the State Constitution. That's why the State is broke and all the state agencies are incapable of providing basic services. To fix the situation, it would require that the Constitution be amended to repeal or alter every one of the ballot initiatives.

2. Proposition 13 starved the schools of tax revenues needed to operate. Without Proposition 13, however, the property taxes would be so unbearable people would still be losing their homes through tax forfeiture.

3. California is crazy-crowded and more people move there every day. The best thing California could do is declare a moratorium on relocating there (from inside or outside the U.S.) long enough for the State to figure out how to run the State smoothly and provide services to the current number of residents. Unfortunately, when the State tried to do that, the U.S. Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional.

4. Cost of living. I don't even need to elaborate on this topic since it's got so much press the last few years.

5. Etc.

I miss California, but the quality of life that I enjoy now is so much better.

[DawnW]

We moved from Pasadena 2 years ago.

We now live near Charlotte, NC. We sold our Pasadena house for more than double what we paid for it and bought in one of the best areas of Charlotte for much less.

I miss the West Coast and would like to at least return to the West, but we can't afford to move back to LA and have the style of living we would like to have.

Dawn

[Ultrarunner]

Slackajawea... I would agree with you in that CA has had the initiative process going back forever. Only in the last 30 years did the people really take matters into their own and I blame this on the legislature for not doing their elected jobs. Either legislators are too out of touch with citizens concerns or they lack the political will to legislate.

Silently, many legislators see the Initiative Process as a way to keep their hands clean and say the "People Have Spoken"... which is the perfect example of plausible deniability.

I disagree with you on Prop 13 and CA Public Schools.

If Prop 13 is responsible for poor performing schools then all California Public Schools would be poor performing and this is clearly not the case.

In my city, we have public school on both ends of the spectrum... from top to bottom... so I don't see how anyone can blame Prop 13 for the vast differences in the same school district.

[lorriem]

Originally Posted by DawnW

We moved from Pasadena 2 years ago.

We now live near Charlotte, NC. We sold our Pasadena house for more than double what we paid for it and bought in one of the best areas of Charlotte for much less.

I miss the West Coast and would like to at least return to the West, but we can't afford to move back to LA and have the style of living we would like to have.

Dawn

Dawn that is like us word for word all but the state is the same.

[Mvn2nc]

Originally Posted by DawnW

We moved from Pasadena 2 years ago.

We now live near Charlotte, NC. We sold our Pasadena house for more than double what we paid for it and bought in one of the best areas of Charlotte for much less.

I miss the West Coast and would like to at least return to the West, but we can't afford to move back to LA and have the style of living we would like to have.

Dawn

I am in Mooresville and left the Central Coast last year