Here are the reasons why people leave OC and SoCal (Los Angeles: apartment, to rent)

[Surfertx]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

I am one who did that, but I came back.

For as liberal as Oregon claims to be they don't like people from CA. Still very xenophobic up there. People are polite but not friendly, and once you mentioned CA(and Southern CA) you could get anything from an eye roll to a derogatory comment.

And Oregon isn't all that cheap either.

I also know several people who left CA(some for TX) and came back.

It's not so "one way" as you make it sound.

Thx for mentioning your story. I left CA 2 years ago for Houston TX and it's been a hard adjustment but good for business. But I do plan to come back. I can tell you that the people here in Houston are very courteous and genuinely nice.

[mrwumpus]

Having been born in OC and watched it double in population, and having moved away two years ago to an extreme change (Montana), my description of it from a different thread is appropriate here:

I have yet to find elsewhere that same energetic, diverse, cosmopolitan vibe that exists in OC (and I just mean in the sense of diverse people getting along with diverse people). It's like everyone is packed onto a huge cruise ship going to the same place and having fun despite the crowds.

That being said, we struggled in a constant grind to make ends meet. Eventually the rewards stopped outweighing the negatives. If I could afford to live there again in a single family home, I would just for the sake of my school-aged children so they could finish school where their roots and "tribe" reside.

On the other hand, having moved to an uncrowded incredibly beautiful place (NW Montana), I discovered upon return visits to OC that I had lost my tolerance for the crowds and traffic and pace there. Initially I was recharged by the energy and vibe, but pretty soon I felt like a salmon leaping up a crowded stream again. In fact even in Montana I avoid the "big" grocery store and stick to the small one.

We are scouting out for a compromise in the TX suburbs later this month where middle class OC refugees can still live the American dream.

[payutenyodagimas]

read an article last night about South Coast Plaza. its their 50th year anniversary. when it was founded in 1960, OC had only 1M population. now its more than 3M population. and guess whats their gross now? close to $2B. and that is from a land planted to lima beans.

[mrwumpus]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

read an article last night about South Coast Plaza. its their 50th year anniversary. when it was founded in 1960, OC had only 1M population. now its more than 3M population. and guess whats their gross now? close to $2B. and that is from a land planted to lima beans.

My dad lived in OC during the 1950s and said it was a lot of bean fields, orange groves, and dairies. I can't imagine the contrast for him.

My great grandmother infamously sold several acres in Signal Hill for $5 an acre to fund a Vegas gambling spree.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

read an article last night about South Coast Plaza. its their 50th year anniversary. when it was founded in 1960, OC had only 1M population. now its more than 3M population. and guess whats their gross now? close to $2B. and that is from a land planted to lima beans.

I remember when it was built and the area was open fields and lots of orange groves, etc. I could drive through Costa Mesa and hit 7 stop lights. Last time I checked it was 16.

It has changed. Love South Coast Plaza though.

[payutenyodagimas]

so for every reason to leave OC or SoCal, there is also another side of the story or shall I say, for every sorry story about the COL in OC or SoCal, there are also those who are laughing all the way to the bank.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by payutenyodagimas

so for every reason to leave OC or SoCal, there is also another side of the story or shall I say, for every sorry story about the COL in OC or SoCal, there are also those who are laughing all the way to the bank.

Yes, to deposit their paycheck that they live by, week to week.

Ifr you did not live in OC then, you have no idea of the change.

[pwrof3]

I left So Cal 2 years ago, after living in Long Beach my entire life.
Cost wasn't so much the issue, but quality of life. Got tired of the freeway traffic and thousands of people everywhere you go. For example, a food truck event in Los Angeles took me three hours to get to (30 miles total distance), I had to pay $20 to park somewhere and then wait in 2 hour lines at each food truck. It was not a great experience.
I've been in Northern CA in Concord. It's a bigger city in Contra Costa County, about 25 miles East of San Francisco and Oakland with a population of about 130,000. We have so many parks and open spaces. I feel like Northern CA cares a little more about preserving open space than So Cal. All developers see in So Cal is another plot of land to construct 20,000 condos. Oh, and I went to a food truck event in Concord. It took me 10 minutes to drive the 6 miles across town. Parking was free and none of the trucks had a line of more than 2 people. I feel like I've taken years of stress out of my life.

[pwrof3]

Originally Posted by mrwumpus

Having been born in OC and watched it double in population, and having moved away two years ago to an extreme change (Montana), my description of it from a different thread is appropriate here:



That being said, we struggled in a constant grind to make ends meet. Eventually the rewards stopped outweighing the negatives. If I could afford to live there again in a single family home, I would just for the sake of my school-aged children so they could finish school where their roots and "tribe" reside.

On the other hand, having moved to an uncrowded incredibly beautiful place (NW Montana), I discovered upon return visits to OC that I had lost my tolerance for the crowds and traffic and pace there. Initially I was recharged by the energy and vibe, but pretty soon I felt like a salmon leaping up a crowded stream again. In fact even in Montana I avoid the "big" grocery store and stick to the small one.

We are scouting out for a compromise in the TX suburbs later this month where middle class OC refugees can still live the American dream.

I know exactly how you feel, sir! Unfortunately for me, my wife just got offered a job making $250,000 a year back in So Cal, so we have to move back :/

[payutenyodagimas]

Originally Posted by pwrof3

I know exactly how you feel, sir! Unfortunately for me, my wife just got offered a job making $250,000 a year back in So Cal, so we have to move back :/

like for this one, the math works and so they are laughing all the way to the bank


for me and my family, am still waiting for the effect of all those leaving like lower cost of houses and more higher wages