Are there reasons to stay in Orange County? (Los Angeles, San Diego: camper, taxes)

[luckodeirish]

This may sound a bit odd, but I am starting to view California as an old friend who sadly, is terminally ill and is not going to rally and become healthy again. Therefore, I am trying to decide if it is time to bail.
However, I know it is easy to become frustrated and make decisions based on that frustration, so I'm asking for some feedback or good reasons to stay in California.

I am single, live in Lemon Heights, female, great job, some travel so I get away a few times per month on business, good friends, healthy. I make enough to have fun, shop, etc. However, the crowds, traffic and most of all the freaking taxes are killing me.

Talk me off the ledge or push me off!

[ysr_racer]

Originally Posted by luckodeirish

I am single, live in Lemon Heights, female, great job, some travel so I get away a few times per month on business, good friends, healthy. I make enough to have fun, shop, etc...

All that and you're still not happy? What more do you want out of life?

[red4ce]

I'll be sure to take you spot on the freeway.

[luckodeirish]

Originally Posted by ysr_racer

All that and you're still not happy? What more do you want out of life?

It's an excellent question. I am happy, just frustrated with what seems to be a location that went from being a great place to a declining over populated cesspool.
I wake up every day optimistic, so the question "what else do you want out of life" is really something to ponder. Maybe I'm just being a negative Nellie.
Thanks for your response.

[ysr_racer]

When I was single I met a lot of women like you. They were attractive, successful, had good jobs, had friends, yet they were still unhappy.

I couldn't figure it out, so I just passed on them.

Life's too short to be unhappy.

[luckodeirish]

Originally Posted by ysr_racer

When I was single I met a lot of women like you. They were attractive, successful, had good jobs, had friends, yet they were still unhappy.

I couldn't figure it out, so I just passed on them.

Life's too short to be unhappy.

A lot of woman like me? I said twice I am not unhappy, yet you are for some reason insisting that I am unhappy. Not sure why, but okay. I mistakenly read your reply as an attempt to get me to think a bit about why I might want to leave the state, but now I see that the intent is to convince me that I'm a chronically unhappy person.

[mrsltd]

Originally Posted by luckodeirish

This may sound a bit odd, but I am starting to view California as an old friend who sadly, is terminally ill and is not going to rally and become healthy again. Therefore, I am trying to decide if it is time to bail.
However, I know it is easy to become frustrated and make decisions based on that frustration, so I'm asking for some feedback or good reasons to stay in California.

I am single, live in Lemon Heights, female, great job, some travel so I get away a few times per month on business, good friends, healthy. I make enough to have fun, shop, etc. However, the crowds, traffic and most of all the freaking taxes are killing me.

Talk me off the ledge or push me off!

If I lived in Lemon Heights, I'd NEVER want to leave.

That whole area is awesome, as is most of Tustin as well. (the Ranch area needs some seasoning, though).

You can come off the ledge now.

[russlancea]

@ ysr_racer: i think this requires some girl-talk

@ luckodeirish: Yes, you can come off the ledge, but where in the world is Lemon Heights? Ok, just looked it up. Oh man, I think I've been there. What a beautiful place.

I haven't been on this board long enough, but it seems like most people dream of moving to Orange County and want advice on how to do it based on limited funds. You seem to have "made it" and would be the envy of many people.

I hate crowds, traffic and high taxes too. Where do you think you'd move to (what state) if you did?

[Coldjensens]

You concerns seem to be that OC is not as nice as it used to be. However it is still nicer than a great many other places. If the OC lifestyle is what you are looking for, you are not going to find it better anywhere else. If you are looking for something else, then yes, you need to scamper away.

If you want non-crowded, then you pretty much have to give up perfect weather. You can still be warm in paces like Texas or Alabama, but you will have to live with heat humidity and other problems. Every single place has warts and almost every single place is not as nice as it used to be (some places, like parts of Los Angeles, Detroit or New York have improved and/or are improving but most places become more crowded more developed and government become more messed up and corrupt over time. You could move to Missoula Montana but is it not as great at it used to be.

So first, you need to figure out what you want. If you are wanting great weather, suburban living nearby beaches and mountains, and loads of chain restaurants and shops - stay put. It does not get any better. If you want to be rid of traffic, crowds, taxes and incredibly stupid government (instead of only moderately stupid government), then you will have to give something up in the exchange. Probably several things. If you discover you can only be happy in a place that is absolutely perfect in every way, then just hunker down and be prepared to be unhappy.

[Fran66]

Originally Posted by luckodeirish

This may sound a bit odd, but I am starting to view California as an old friend who sadly, is terminally ill and is not going to rally and become healthy again. Therefore, I am trying to decide if it is time to bail.

However, I know it is easy to become frustrated and make decisions based on that frustration, so I'm asking for some feedback or good reasons to stay in California.

I am single, live in Lemon Heights, female, great job, some travel so I get away a few times per month on business, good friends, healthy. I make enough to have fun, shop, etc. However, the crowds, traffic and most of all the freaking taxes are killing me.

Talk me off the ledge or push me off!

Hi -- I know where Lemon Heights is. I was raised in SD, and I lived in OC for 35 years. Couldn't wait to retire and get out of OC. I retired to NM. Also, I've lived all over The US and in Europe. So listen to me, Girl ~

I hated OC and still do. Too many buildings, too many freeways/streets, too many people. (I lived 9 miles from my work. Commute took me 30 minutes in the morning, and 30-45 minutes after work.) Not nearly enough green and beauty. Not to mention the superficiality of people (in general -- not every single person).

But I miss Southern CA very, very much. There is nothing like CA. So I'm moving back. However, I'm moving to North San Diego County. Oceanside, I think. (I WANT to live in Oceanside.) That area is pretty (to me), close to the ocean, and quiet enough. And when I want more, I can go to OC or SD.

Aside from NYC and San Francisco, Southern CA has performance halls, museums, the ocean, great weather -- and SO many things to do! -- like no other place in The US. No matter where I've lived (except for Europe), I've never liked ANY place NEARLY as much as I've liked Southern CA.

I don't know you at all, so I'm not trying to 'psych you out', but I think that the source of your discontent -- at least partially -- is something or someone else. Just a thought. I certainly might be wrong. But it's always worth considering. And maybe just moving to a different city/county in Southern CA would be good for you, if a move is possible.

I wish you well!