What is attracting California and west coast folks to DFW? (Houston: hotel, townhome)

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

No, I'm not bitter, just upset with myself that I fell for the deal. I said the bit about my dad and sister in fun. Hey, I've made the best of it here and even though my kids don't remember much of CA, they like it here and that's the most important thing to me. They both said they'd never leave Texas. When I was their age, I wasn't thinking about leaving either. They actually could change their minds one day, but I'm sure I'll be on higher ground by then.

I am glad to see that your children consider TX home. My oldest son stayed in CA. He is single and has a decent job with the Irvine Company. When he has visited us he has commented on how he would consider moving here if he decided to settle down and have a family. He really enjoys he activities, a nice car, lots of traveling, etc.. and realizes that it will be more difficult to have this in CA. I don't think he will move, he lives in Newport Beach, but he really likes it here and I am sure it would be his second choice if he had to make one. Mom hope he does.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Soccersupporter

Weather is important to many and the sole deciding factor. We were fortunate in that our daughter went to college (TCU) in Texas so we were quite familiar many years before we decided to make the move. Weather was no surprise for us, and in fact we were quite familiar with TX having a daughter here and very close friends in Austin.

We also are not the typical CA transplant in that we probably brought more money than most since we sold out home of 29 years for $800,000. I am sure that makes us look at our move in a different light.

I still think a couple looking to start a family should consider other states than CA unless they are interested in being a 2 income family for the duration and both have jobs paying in the six figures. I can give advice from our experience, raising a family in CA on one income is nearly impossible and makes life so much less enjoyable. I took 6 months off when we moved to TX, my wife worked outside the home for the first time in 29 years. In CA she had a home based business to be with the children growing up. Our lives have changed drastically for the better, we are much more relaxed, less stress. I can only speak for us and our situation but we are very happy and although we loved CA are looking back at all.

BTW, you will find this hard to believe but I have not had one mosquito bite since we have moved here, now fire ants....

Don't remind me about $800,000. If I still lived there, I would have lived in my home for 33 years and that cash sounds great. I could live anywhere I wanted, helped with a charity, given money to help others, pay off my daughter's college loans from Baylor and Dallas Baptist, helped my son when he needed it, et al. Oh well, it's over and done with and I must quit looking back. Had my dad known, he never would have left CA. He unfortunately was quite impressed with the almighty dollar and would have loved to sell his home for nearly $1,000,000. Well, it wouldn't have sold for that much since he passed away in 1987, but for me, yes, I'd definitely have a piece of the pie. Actually though, my mom died in 1993 so the price would have gone up a sweet bit from '87.

I took many vacations to Texas when I was younger as my sister lived here but when one is young, he or she really doesn't usually pay that much attention to anything. Unfortunately, I was blind to lots of things.
The only thing that keeps me here is family, but I guess that's a big "only" thing.

I'm incredulous thinking you've never been bitten by a mosquito, but I do believe you. You're one of the few lucky ones.

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Soccersupporter

I am glad to see that your children consider TX home. My oldest son stayed in CA. He is single and has a decent job with the Irvine Company. When he has visited us he has commented on how he would consider moving here if he decided to settle down and have a family. He really enjoys he activities, a nice car, lots of traveling, etc.. and realizes that it will be more difficult to have this in CA. I don't think he will move, he lives in Newport Beach, but he really likes it here and I am sure it would be his second choice if he had to make one. Mom hope he does.

Oh good grief, Newport Beach/Balboa. That is where we spent every vacation from the time I was about 4 until I was in my 20s. I love that place and it was absolutely Heaven on Earth for us. Memories, tucked between the pages of my mind. My daughter even got to spend her 2nd birthday there with a huge family gathering. It was so wonderful, a beach-front home for two weeks. My little girl is 35 years old today and Monday, my little boy will be 32.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

That is so ridiculous. I believe I've seen "the bubble bit" posted by two on this forum now. We all don't need to have far away from home vacations so we can come back and bore anyone who will listen about how fabulous they were.

Monterrey and bike riding sounds quite delightful to me. I'd take that any day to the beer drinking and noise at the Texas Motor Speedway but really, there is no comparison between the two. They do still allow drinking there, don't they?

I don't know, I don't drink.

Believe me I would take Monterrey too, going to an Indy car or Nascar race is in a whole different category. My point is that in CA the $$$ are just not there for activities like this after paying the bills, especially if you want to take your kids. We can do so much more here and there is plenty to do, you just have to be open to it and willing to explore.

This past winter, spring was the first time I have truly experienced these seasons. We had 6 inches of snow. Our neighborhood looked like a winter wonderland. I took the kids out of schools and we played in the snow. Every house on our block made snowmen. Spring is amazing here, to see nature come alive again is something you don't have in CA. I am looking forward to seeing the beginning of fall because we only saw the end coming in November. I will never get tired of this, it is spectacular.

I have not found a lack of beauty in Texas but I guess is is all a matter of perspective. I happen to think the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Alaska, Mississippi River are all beautiful so I guess it is a matter of choice. I don't have to have the ocean, the mountains. Sure they are nice but I can find beauty in almost anything. There are some beautiful rivers, lakes in TX. I get excited just to drive into the open country and see the miles of open fields, the small towns. Growing up in CA all my life I am like a kid in a candy store here.

I guess I sound like a TX travel bureau representative but I can't help it, we love our change and have no regrets. Tomorrow, we will be having a Father's Day barbecue. We will play badminton, maybe swim a little, horseshoes, my son-in-law likes to beat me. After that my-son-in-law who is a HS basketball coach, my 14 year old and I will watch the NBA finals in our media room. My wife and my 2 daughters will play with our granddaughter and do what moms and daughters do, compare notes, talk about cute little things our granddaughter does just like our daughter did.

Life is grand! I just wish everyone in CA, TX, wherever, could enjoy their lives like we are, wherever they live. Just remember one thing, how much you enjoy life is based more on what is inside your head, your heart, than the place you live. Only you can make life what it should be, don't depend on where you live, how much you have. Enjoy your family, your friends. You make life what it is, you and you alone.

Happy Father's Day tomorrow!

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by sheri257

If you and Momof2DFW are representative of Texas then, most Texans must be really rude and mean. You guys are really something else.

As I mentioned earlier (which you apparently didn't bother to read) I've travelled quite a bit.

I just moved to the Central Coast. There's so much to do here ... I've been busy doing all of the things I didn't have time to do when I vacationed here over the years. Hence, this is my (permanent) vacation.

So why don't you quit prejudging and sniping and get back to a reasonable discussion?

Sheri,

Maybe you got on the wrong thread and it is you that have the problem. This is the title of the thread "What is attracting California and West Coast folks to DFW?" And you wonder why you get the reaction you do? You need to post on the CA board where you will be appreciated. This is not about how much better CA is than TX although you would like it to be. You are pretty silly to expect any other reaction than what you get. Maybe you should just move on or is there some other reason you are on this thread and completely off topic? How about posting reasons why Californians and West Coast Folks are attracted to DFW? Just what I thought.....

[lh_newbie]

It seems like everyone from CA is saying the only reason to live in TX is the cost of living. This cracks me up. You know what I can't stand about California? The over-the-top liberal politics. California should have a motto, "The Robin Hood State: why work when someone else can pay for it?". California is more socialistic than any other state in the union. Period. This is the #1 reason I would never move there, because honestly, my wife and I make plenty of money - we could afford to live there. We chose not to. It's the principal of paying massive taxes to supplement others that have made choices that are financially poor (whether it be having a bunch of kids, lack of education or coming into the country illegally). Heck, even the politicians can't make financially wise decisions. Who's ever heard of resetting your house taxes ONLY when a home sells? I could not imagine trying to create and stick to a budget with hand cuffs like that. Poor decisions made by fools (IMO). Yup, I will NEVER move to California.

But, to get back on subject, the reason people move here is cost of living, jobs and to be near family. I suspect this covers 90% (or more) of the relocations. It's not a stretch to equate cost of living, especially for the non-wealthy, as a quality of life thing. If you are independently wealthy, cost of living can be irrelevant. Unfortunately, only something like 3% of Americans are independently wealthy. I am not one of them.

Brian

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by sheri257

You could just as easily be talking about yourself. Afterall, you post quite a bit on the California board with, of course, different arguments.

So I came over here instead of arguing with you on the California board ... what's the difference, really?

Getting back to the topic at hand ... you pretty much say you moved to Texas to save money. That pretty much is the bottom line for most Californians. If the cost savings wasn't there most people wouldn't have moved there.

No, we moved to TX to be near our granddaughter. The lower cost of living, having a mortgage free home, and no debt was simply a nice by-product of our move. Meeting new friends, having a life time of new experiences, and more financial security was an expectation that was fully met. Any other questions?

[Rose Red]

Originally Posted by Soccersupporter

Amen.

I second that!

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

Don't remind me about $800,000. If I still lived there, I would have lived in my home for 33 years and that cash sounds great. I could live anywhere I wanted, helped with a charity, given money to help others, pay off my daughter's college loans from Baylor and Dallas Baptist, helped my son when he needed it, et al. Oh well, it's over and done with and I must quit looking back. Had my dad known, he never would have left CA. He unfortunately was quite impressed with the almighty dollar and would have loved to sell his home for nearly $1,000,000. Well, it wouldn't have sold for that much since he passed away in 1987, but for me, yes, I'd definitely have a piece of the pie. Actually though, my mom died in 1993 so the price would have gone up a sweet bit from '87.

I took many vacations to Texas when I was younger as my sister lived here but when one is young, he or she really doesn't usually pay that much attention to anything. Unfortunately, I was blind to lots of things.
The only thing that keeps me here is family, but I guess that's a big "only" thing.

I'm incredulous thinking you've never been bitten by a mosquito, but I do believe you. You're one of the few lucky ones.

I am surprised too. I do spray our yard regularly and there is no real standing water in our area so I guess we are lucky. I really like the variety of bugs here, some are so ugly their beautiful, as long as they stay outside.

I can related to the college loans having put 2 through with 2 to go still. My youngest daughter is looking at Dallas Baptist. How does it compare price wise with TCU? Did you daughter have a good experience there?

California has changed so much. When I moved to Irvine it was a city of about 60,000. I think it is over 160,000 now and extremely crowded. It is a great community to have raise a family. There 2 little lakes with swimming lagoons, basketball, racquetball, tennis, volleyball, bike/jogging paths, etc. We bought our house in 1979 for $122,000. It was 2 years old and had originally sold for $87,000. Needless to say it is now out of reach for a young family, unlike it was back then. It was actually a housing development meant to supply moderate income housing for the city, so much for that.

I am not so sure that you would like CA as much as you think you would unless you moved to a remote less crowded area. It is a shocker for us coming this way in a positive aspect. It may be just as much coming from TX to CA in a negative once the reality set in.

[Soccersupporter]

Originally Posted by Canine*Castle

Oh good grief, Newport Beach/Balboa. That is where we spent every vacation from the time I was about 4 until I was in my 20s. I love that place and it was absolutely Heaven on Earth for us. Memories, tucked between the pages of my mind. My daughter even got to spend her 2nd birthday there with a huge family gathering. It was so wonderful, a beach-front home for two weeks. My little girl is 35 years old today and Monday, my little boy will be 32.

Same here, Easter break in Newport was unreal. Rented many a 2 weeks there. It is too crowded now and a 2 week rental will cost you anywhere from $2000 a week for a shack with running water to $7700 for a 3 bed 2 bath on the boardwalk.

You sound a little older than me so I doubt we would have bumped into each other but that is too funny. What street did you rent on? Sometime we would rent in Balboa close to the big church. Loved eating at the Orange Julius in Balboa. I used to body surf at the Wedge, I was not smart enough to know better.

My oldest is 27, my youngest is 14. Man have I been busy!