Is the grass always greener in San Diego? (lease, car registration)

[tonyinsd]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

As long as you are responsible for yourself and no one else, go for it. If you have family, that is the attitude of a loser.

If you have a family and you're miserable, how the hell are you going to tell your kids, go out there and go after what you want?

They're going to say, dad, but you hate what you're doing.

And they'd be right.

[shmoov_groovzsd]

Originally Posted by tonyinsd

If you have a family and you're miserable, how the hell are you going to tell your kids, go out there and go after what you want?

They're going to say, dad, but you hate what you're doing.

And they'd be right.

A parent(s) dropping everything that he/she has invested in with a family for the sake of self assurance and perceived happiness would be a complete loser.

Its like the morons I hear that want to have a baby or be in a long term relationship that dont get in one because of some excuse like "I dont want to be like my divorced parents". Its lame and a cheap cop out of actually learning how to deal with someones own obstacles in life. If anything, a parent telling their kids to go out there after what they want would carry far more validation because they DONT want to be miserable like them. Pity vs selflessness.

As far as the update to the OP,
There are some folks, mostly middle class families that would NEVER trade off the lifestyle and support a community provides with COL. There is no beach or view that could ever replace it. There are people that I know that live here, are happy, earn a decent salary for SD, but have no interest in the ocean in their backyard, nature walks etc. They would simply prefer to have a house they can chill out in and be around their family.
I dont have kids, but have friends that do here. The bonus of living in SD if you can afford it, IS all of the above like ocean, nice weather etc. But sometimes I think the parents are more interested than the kids lol. Kids only know what they know and in somewhat limited fashion. There is no reference except maybe to compare certain kid things or events they can relate to if they have traveled.
But I know my little nephew when he visits from the east coast is pretty stoked about getting to go out all the time here. But he also loves the snow out there. We'll see how he thinks when he is on his own as an adult

[barryg]

Sun and good weather aren't everything for sure. But once you move to a place without it, you'll miss it! I for one love being able to run 12 months out of the year in comfortable temps. But like anyplace, you get complacent and "bored" sometimes.

[T. Damon]

Actually it gets mostly golden brown for much of the year.

[Ragnar]

A change of scenery can certainly help some folks, and sometimes it's just time for a change and you need the courage and planning to make the change of job/location. However, if you're not finding significant ways to be content and enjoy life where you are, it's very likely you will feel the same way in the next place. And likewise, if you are finding significant contentment and things to love about your current location, you likely will feel the same way in the next place.

Be very careful about making a move to someplace new when you're grumpy about where you presently are.

[SDrelocate]

Good advice, take some time making decision to move anywhere.

I see a lot of folks thinking a move will improve overall life, only to hop again in couple years.

[rgb123]

agree...some families might be closer to perfect and can do well if they all live in the same neighborhood...but more likely that is codependence

It is hard to move away from family initially, and friends especially if you lived in one are your whole life. But I've done it enough times now I have friends all over the place, and I've maintained good friendships at home too.

I visit my dad and my brother, the others really needed to have 2000 miles between us....

Originally Posted by jwblue

I agree to an extent.

Having said that, people put too much emphasis on friends and family.

Too many times I have seen a "good" friend stab someone in the back. That goes for family members as well.

I am amazed sometimes the sacrifices people will make for friends and family.

Frankly, friends are pretty interchangeable in my life. I can always make new friends.

Family? Eh. How much of my life do I need to sacrifice for a family member? Should I stay near family members so I can see them more often and have the same conversations and
same bickering. It seems like all families do this.

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by SDrelocate

Good advice, take some time making decision to move anywhere.

I see a lot of folks thinking a move will improve overall life, only to hop again in couple years.

it depends on the person and their personality. I've moved a lot, but I was a geography major and into urban studies so it was kind of a natural curiosity and I knew I wouldn't stay in most of the places I went. It's a great way to grow and learn the world we live in vs. just our own small world around us. It's not for everyone but its also not as scary as many of (I think) the older set make it out to be. I think overall people are becoming more transient and its something that can really help a career these days vs. laying down roots in one place as is just the nature of the economy now.

For a teacher that is probably not true, but just saying....some people will "hop" but it doesn't necessarily mean it was a bad choice or bad experience.

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

A change of scenery can certainly help some folks, and sometimes it's just time for a change and you need the courage and planning to make the change of job/location. However, if you're not finding significant ways to be content and enjoy life where you are, it's very likely you will feel the same way in the next place. And likewise, if you are finding significant contentment and things to love about your current location, you likely will feel the same way in the next place.

Be very careful about making a move to someplace new when you're grumpy about where you presently are.

I can honestly say that geography has played a huge role in my happiness in the places I've lived, from the weather, to the layout of the town, to the specific apartment or home I've lived in. Moving is hard, but usually jump starts me into making other changes I need to make in my life as well.

The personal relationships you develop are the most important (in my opinion) and if you are not particularly attached to a place, if those relationships dissolve you might just want to move again...

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by rgb123

... It's not for everyone but its also not as scary as many of (I think) the older set make it out to be. I think overall people are becoming more transient and its something that can really help a career these days vs. laying down roots in one place as is just the nature of the economy now.
...

Ironically, it was during the 60's that corporations started moving their executives here and there on the company's whim. So the "older set" is probably more fed up with moving than leery of it.