My fellow Californians..Are you struggling with the possibility of leaving? (relocate, income)

[CalGal953]

Originally Posted by JenniferLynn

Yes, the cost of living is higher in CA than where we are now, but as many posters have already stated, what is that compared to one's happiness?

AMEN!!! I moved out of California to Texas (not by choice, thanks to my dad's stupid company) 14 years ago and found that I have been far less happy in Texas than I've ever been in California. When I visited CA 4 years ago I was happier than I've ever been in my non-California life and since then I've been determined to come back home. Living elsewhere, even if it is cheaper, is pointless if I'm not happy.

[w1ngzer0]

Originally Posted by sheri257

I finally gave up on it and went back to school so I could afford to live where I wanted to live.

Same here. My hope is when im ready, i can get hired with CHP or one of the big PD's in Sacramento. The forensic department's with most states are hit and miss with hiring.

[osopaths]

I'm at the crossroads of my life, 38 years old, and feel in my soul that the quality of life here is not worth the cost. I'm a native though and it's been difficult to figure out where else to move in the U.S. I'm not ready for retiring, but am looking for stability and enjoying my life. What type of list and questions did you come up with to determine you needed to move? Any advise for me? I'm on leave of absence from work, have a business degree, no savings, healthy....I'm really confused.

Seems like I'm doing a lot of comparing to California, but realizing the California I grew up in and the country is different. I've become more cynical and feel like I'm looking at life "half way empty, instead of half way full".

[whitebutterfly]

20 years ago, we moved from New Jersey to California. It took 5 years of studying and planning. It helped that my husband was native california born, and there was some family there too.

In making the decision to move to Arkansas, it is also a 4-5 year plan, as we study the state, and what its all about. There is a lot to consider. Jobs, when you need one, the weather, costs, taxes, politics, religion, the people, etc.. It is not easy task. But dont go blind. Do your homework. Talk with people there. Go visit a few times(vacations). Get to know the state.

Does the weather concern us? Yes. But California has earthquakes. But I don't live in an earthquake area. And in Arkansas, I won't live on a river bank, and I look to the internet to tell me where the tornadoes are less or have never been. I'm not going to pick tornado alley. :-) Arkansas has a lot to offer. My daddy was from the south, and all my memories of the south are dear to my heart. You have to decide first, what's most important to you.

[osopaths]

Thanks White!!! Guess it's studying time and taking a visit to some places. I've been looking in the South and I have some good friends down there, visited Coastal Mississippi and New Orleans a dozen times at least last year. It is a matter of what is important in life.

[cityx]

Originally Posted by osopaths

Seems like I'm doing a lot of comparing to California, but realizing the California I grew up in and the country is different. I've become more cynical and feel like I'm looking at life "half way empty, instead of half way full".

I relate to what you are saying. I'm also in a similar predicament and I'm just a couple of years younger than you. I gave up a store management position of many years with a national retailer a year and a half ago to return to school and finally get my degree. Sometimes I doubt if I made the right decision but since there is no turning back, (unless I want to start paying back thousands of dollars in student loans right now), I feel like I have to follow through with my decision at whatever the cost.
The cyncism that you speak of is a feeling that I also identify with quite well. I think part of it comes from the fact that we have entered a transitional age, (early mid-life crisis?), and wish to experience more out of life and have personal dreams and goals that are seemingly difficult to fullfill. This manifests into a frustration with just about EVERYTHING in life! Many people on this board pretty much know that I gripe and moan about how I dislike 80% of everything that is Sacramento. My issues come from my own personal frustrations with lots of things. However, I can honestly say that if everything was 100% picture perfect in my life I would still conclude that the Sacramento region is not the area for me and does not provide what I am looking for in an urban environment. I would much prefer Seattle or Orange County to live out the rest of my days, and one day soon, I will relocate when I'm done with school and all the logistics are squared away.
On another point, in my opinion, things have changed dramatically in this country over the past 8 or so years. The economy is poor, (the Sacramento region being especially hard hit), the never ending "war" in Iraq, a questionable Presidential Administration and a feeling of distrust for the government, astronomical gas prices, health care issues, etc., etc.. The bottom line is that many people are just fed up with EVERYTHING right now even if they are subconsciously reacting to it. The overall vibe I get from many people is that they are stressed out, worried, and keyed up about many things that appear out of their control. This has to play a big part in our overall sense of self and our direction in life.
Hang in there. Hopefully, things will get better soon!

[osopaths]

Thanks Cityx. Nice hearing what you had to say. I'll have to read up on your views of Sacramento. I'm from southern California (Long Beach, OC) and saw the changes happening here in 2001. I think there are many job opportunities out in OC, but it doesn't have the urban flair I like. Orange County does have a conservative feel, even in their business culture, where Los Angeles is more laid back, of course depending on the field you are in. Seattle is something I've been thinking about. I lived in Portland, Oregon for a couple of years, in the early-mid 90s, and loved the city.

[cityx]

Originally Posted by osopaths

Thanks Cityx. Nice hearing what you had to say. I'll have to read up on your views of Sacramento. I'm from southern California (Long Beach, OC) and saw the changes happening here in 2001. I think there are many job opportunities out in OC, but it doesn't have the urban flair I like. Orange County does have a conservative feel, even in their business culture, where Los Angeles is more laid back, of course depending on the field you are in. Seattle is something I've been thinking about. I lived in Portland, Oregon for a couple of years, in the early-mid 90s, and loved the city.

Hey osopaths,

I grew up essentialy in the Whittier area, then Fullerton. Moved to Sac in 1994 then Seattle in 1999 for about three years. You are correct - Orange County is conservative in many ways, but for some reason, I just click with the vibe down there and just feel pretty chill whenever I'm there. Maybe because it's my home I guess. People always say, (at least on the OC board), that OC is superficial, too Republican, even racist. I've never dealt with racism personally there, (I'm hispanic), and even though the politics in OC are generally conservative; I still feel that it is considerably more progressive minded and diverse then let's say, Placer County is up here.
My time in Seattle was awesome! A little frustrating to make friends there because there is a certain element of coldness, (not rudness per say, just indifference) coming from the natives there. I would ask CityGirl72 more about that.
Overall though, Seattle is very clean, I think much safer crime-wise than much of Sacramento, very progressive politically, and just one heck of a beautiful city to live in. Lots of theatres if you like plays, great nightlife, and pretty diverse. It rains quite a bit there but I think what bothers most people is the unrelenting deep overcast that lingers over the city much of the year and it can still be quite chilly even in May and June. If you get the "cloudy day blues", then Seattle is not for you. Since you lived in Portland then you know what I'm talking about. One of my favorite things to do, (and dirt cheap), was if I had a rough day at work I would hop on a round trip ferry to Bainbridge Island to clear my head. I will always cherish those "mini-cruises" as my best memories of Seattle. Oh, and the micro-brew beers are awesome too! <guzzle guzzle>

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by TONORAD

But, for those of you considering leaving California, think very long and hard. Rent first if you can and keep your California home until you are damned sure you want to leave.

I think many people are just moving to the wrong places. In Southwest Connecticut, three of the seven homes in my culdesac house families from California. They LOVE it here, and I see many CA plates daily so it looks like many are considering the area. Close to NYC, not far from Boston, Providence and Philly and, while the home prices are fairly expensive, it's not as bad as CA. Fairfield County is a nice place to live with an excellent quality of life and some of the best school districts in the country if you have kids. Lots of green, a well-educated population and plenty of things to do.

If you're considering leaving CA (as my parents did 25 years ago), do your research carefully. Move somewhere that's similar to CA in some ways, but different (in a positive way) in others.

Just my .02.

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

I think many people are just moving to the wrong places. In Southwest Connecticut, three of the seven homes in my culdesac house families from California. They LOVE it here, and I see many CA plates daily so it looks like many are considering the area. Close to NYC, not far from Boston, Providence and Philly and, while the home prices are fairly expensive, it's not as bad as CA. Fairfield County is a nice place to live with an excellent quality of life and some of the best school districts in the country if you have kids. Lots of green, a well-educated population and plenty of things to do.

If you're considering leaving CA (as my parents did 25 years ago), do your research carefully. Move somewhere that's similar to CA in some ways, but different (in a positive way) in others.

Just my .02.

Actually, Connecticut is one of the few states where CA has a positive net migration rate. Meaning more people from CT are moving to CA than vice versa.

Data from the CA Department of Finance for the last 5 years
The California Department of Finance put together a report looking at the migration patterns of California for a 5-year period.

Top States by inflow of Californians
California to Nevada 199,125
California to Arizona 186,151
California to Texas 182,789
California to Washington 155,577
California to Oregon 131,836
California to Colorado 111,322

Top States where movement to California is greater then inflow of Californians
New York to California 95,952
Illinois to California 74,139
Hawaii to California 44,192
Massachusetts to California 43,591
Pennsylvania to California 39,185
New Jersey to California 35,140
Connecticut to California 17,851