[njohnson]

I've also heard many people complain that California weather is too boring, it's always the same. As bad as CT home prices are I think trying to figure out how to pay the mortgage in Cali would shorten my life significantly.

The original post in this thread really isn't a fair comparison. He is comparing the entire state of Connecticut to just the Northern part of New Jersey. In fact New Jersey when you include the entire state has the most dangerous city in the nation, as well as the safest according to the lastest stats. I stayed in Hoboken this summer with friends and I found it crowded and dirty but that was my short 2 day experience there. When we went down to Spring Lake, NJ it was a nice sleepy almost New England type town. It is hard to just an entire area based on such a short vantage point.

I live in Meriden, and it is instantly judged as one of the worst places in CT to live but my parents have lived here for 60 years and I have on and off for 28 years and we've never had any crime problems and we live in a good part of town with hard working middle class people. People instantly judge the town based on some stats but unless you live here you don't realize that there are some good parts that most people would never take the time to get to know.

[dusesean1986]

I can't stand the muggy summers of the Northeast, you feel like a piece of tape. Sorry, not trying to offend, just throwing in my three cents.

[dusesean1986]

Originally Posted by njohnson

I've also heard many people complain that California weather is too boring, it's always the same. .

It's true, I've lived here all my twenty years, and trust me, I need a weather change. We have a complete Meditteranean climate, there are no real distinct seasons. I can understand how you could complain, but I'm just on my toes for a little variety.

[njohnson]

As far as I am concerned the ideal is to own multiple properties in varying climates. That way you can pick and choose where you want to go and when and not let nature dictate what gets thrown at you.

I haven't reached that point yet but that is my plan. I can hire a rental company to rent out the property when not in use, paying for the mortgage while the real estate appreciates. My parents always complain about the CT winters. I'd like to eventually have a warm weather winter home so they and my family can go to get away from it all here.

[Boca to Santa Barbara]

Well, I have lived in CT, FL, NY, London (UK), and now Santa Barbara, CA. I agree about the boring mediterranian climate. We do not have weather in Santa Barbara, we have "climate."

However I would rather have boring 70 degree weather than suffer through another horrendous New England winter or unbearable Florida summer. London has both a hot, humind summer, and a dark, rainy fall, winter, and spring.