Want to move back to California (Newport Beach: car insurance, find a job, purchase)

[Twinkle Toes]

I see lots of fellow Californians who also moved to Hell - I mean, Texas. I did too. We moved to San Antonio, had a huge (6500 sq. ft) home built in The Dominion, but what it all boils down to is there's nothing like being home again. The day we left Texas to come back to California was probably the happiest day of our lives.

[pll]

We're moving back to California as soon as we can. We are returning with a renewed appreciation for the lovely state we were born in. It's not perfect but it's what we are used to. The problem is we moved our young children to a small town in Idaho. They are older now. They have grown accustomed to the seasons and they don't mind the cold and snowy winters. They love skiing and snowboarding.They know that Dad and Mom have always been sunworshipers and are longing to get back to their native land.but they may not follow. For all of you that take your children to other states at an early age to live this may apply to you.

[dogmom]

We are also on our way back...lifelong native southern Californians, moved ot of state 3 years ago looking for the better, bigger house and cheaper lifestyle. Found the bigger house but with it came wierd people, hot weather and such...not for us..

Our kids are grown, so schools are not a huge issue except that good schools keep property values up. We are seriously considering Beaumont, schools are ok, close to the desert where my elderly parents are, close to the mountains, close to the beach..a short drive to Ontario airport since we like to travel. The main thing is we are going home...

Might end up in Nor Cal, but seems like SoCal is tugging at us harder...

Will also check out Corona, Fontana, Temecula, etc..

[sidney02]

So glad to have found this thread. I really need to share with you how much I want to go back to California. As one person posted (I think Ktrube) you just can't put your finger on it....but we must return to our home state of California.

We moved to this fly-over state with a population of approx. 70k (mt. plains state) about 2 years ago. It was a financial decision and we were almost forced to because of that. Like someone posted also, sometimes when you lose something you can realize how much you loved it.

A few months after we moved here, it was when the garbage can fell on me while walking on a slippery driveway that I got honest with myself about moving back (it was a funny event, no injuries). I finally admitted that I wasn't willing to live with intense wind, dark ominous cloud cover, unpredictable weather and surprise hail and blizzard storms.

When we moved here, we planned to plant a garden we are used to. However, before we started, we saw the neighbor's tomatoes wiped out by hail (in the month of June). We heard about "master gardeners"....the reason they are popular here, is because they go to classes that educate them on local plants, etc. that will survive the weather and soi here.

We miss the beauty of California. We are from Northern California. I think about the wonderful rainy winters. The gardenias. Being able to take a nice walk around the neighborhood without being concerned about lightening and high winds.

I think about the wonderful choices: great restaurants, even the malls, the Sierras, the ocean, San Francisco. we miss the great Mexican and Thai food.

Yes, the Sacramento area can get very warm...but the lovely evenings make up for it. I will take the extreme heat over the unpredictable threatening weather here.

I miss getting a nice bottle of Cabernet for $2.99. Here, the same label costs $7.99. The produce departments here in the two main grocery stores are slathered with water. I assume it's because of the altitude. The fish is bad and expensive (except, I sometimes can get frozen salad shrimp from Canada).

Sorry, I could go on and on. Thanks for listening.

[dogmom]

Sidney, are you thinking you might be able to come home? We did end up back in SoCal, the housing prices have dropped so much it just clicked for us, when we thought once we left CA a few years ago, we would never be able to afford to come back home.

I hope you can make it work, either where you are, or where you want to go. How long have you been in your new state? It does take a couple years to adjust, and if you find you need to stay where you are, try to find the good in where you are. Home IS where you make it. Good luck!

[sidney02]

Dogmom...thanks for your encouragement. You are so correct to try and find the good in where you are. I really work at that.

The one thing here are the deer. I can get great photos of them when they let me. I am so glad you were able to move back. Was it like a dream come true? Bet so.

We have been here 2 years...California is and always will be in my blood and I am sure we can return when possible. Again, thanks for being so kind.

[dogmom]

Sidney, feel free to dm me anytime you want to vent or chat..where in Nor Cal are you from? Our son and wife live just east of Sacramento, we lived in Newcastle briefly..but are native to the L.A. area..

Hang in there, yes we are glad to be home, but we were ready to make a home wherever we landed..

take care dear!

[sidney02]

dogmom, we lived in Roseville and Lincoln (approx. 30 mil east of Sacramento proper). Newcastle is lovely..more desirable and expensive than in the valley (Rocklin, Roseville, etc.) I must keep our dream alive on moving back to California. It keeps me going here. Kind of "lame" but oh well, that's how I feel.

Today and three days ago, it snowed here. The temp. went down to 20 degrees. Our home has a great view of the "Black Hills" and I must say, the snow scene is lovely.

We bought a 1972 - 3000 sq. (upstairs 1500 and downstairs 1500) home on an acre and1/4 for $230k two years ago (they were desperate). Much of the acreage is on the hill behind us where the wild life live (red fox, deer, turkeys and wild cats [in the winter]).

Our plan is to redo the house and sell. It was covered in wood paneling and we delight in tearing it down. Because of the view we hope to get an okay price out of it.

The real estate here has been pretty stable ...it should be, because there aren't that many local people who change homes. A lot of easterners (such as Michigan) people relocate to "our banana belt of SD".

Our taxes on this home aren't that cheap ..we pay $3,892.56 (they're calculated by 16.80 x assessed value). this is about $1,300. more taxes than a comp home in the Lincoln area. The sales tax (local) is 6%. We have no State tax. But that is made up for in other areas I yet have to identify. I know California is higher, but look what you get.

My only concern is how California's finances are shaping out. We're hoping taxes won't jump higher and higher because of the economical problems. I pray everyday that California will retrieve itself. Its is such a precious state.

Thanks for your post. Let's keep in touch.

[dogmom]

Sidney, our son lives in Lincoln! Small world...

You know, your home and land sound lovely...If there is one piece of advice I could give you, make where you are your 'HOME'. Ours is a long sad story, but home is not a 'place' its where you are... I spent 5 years of my life wishing I was back 'home' in CA, and yes we did end up here, but you know, I regret not making our other home 'Home'. does that make sense. It would have saved a lot of sadness and expense. Just sayin'.

I am going to dm you my email..I would LOVE to see some pictures of your home in S.D. It is beautiful there, we have been to Mt Rushmore, so much history there in Lead and all those little towns...that cemetery is awesome where Buffalo Bill is buried, so historical and if a cemetery could be called Awesome, that would be the one..

Stay in touch, I am disabled/retired...send me an email!...Barb

[misplaced1]

We moved out of Ca. for 2 years. I was in love with our new home in the midwest. The property, the moisture, the utility bills, the quiet, the trees, the rich soil. I was born in Oregon and lived in Oregon and Colorado before moving to California 19 years ago.

My husband was missing Ca. after being here so long. He was actually also born in Ca. Well due to a medical issue we sold our home in the midwest and ended up back here in Ca. Not long after we were back he realized what he was missing here didn't exist here at all and he wanted to go back. All the reasons we left are still here, he just forgot them for until he got back. We have bought another house and will be moving back out of California.