I need out of the Bay Area, where should I go? (Sacramento: job market, school)

[NorCal Dude]

Go to where ever your net worth can grow the most. The end.

Moving some place for lifestyle is for idle rich, and kooks who want to forget they are poor.

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by Ceece

My friends who moved to the Bay Area from Texas won't even go back to Texas because of the heat. It's a real thing, like not wanting to live in zero temps even though there is indoor heating. Lifestyle is always a consideration unless you never go outside and are ok with that. At this point in my life I'm even less tolerant to heat than I was when I was younger. I'd go colder but I'd never go hotter. I wouldn't do east coast humidity either but that doesn't mean the east coast sucks.

There is nothing wrong with Texas, but OP mentioned not liking heat so some of us picked up on that and suggest less hot places. It's IS hotter there than it is here. Fact. That is all. Not a rant.

Texas hosts a range of temperatures Map of Texas (Map Average Temperatures) : Worldofmaps.net - online Maps and Travel Information

Some places are hot and dry some places are hot and humid some places only have mild heat.

Right now the Bay Area is experiencing hotter temperatures than most of Texas.
Texas Temperature Map - Air Sports Net

Where did your friend live in Texas?

I lived most of my life in Houston and I can tell you that the heat there is certainly tolerable. I personally love humidity. The biggest complaint people have about Houston weather is the humidity.

There is a huge misconception that all of Texas is an unbearable oven by people who have only lived or visited one part of Texas. It would be like only visiting San Diego or the Central Valley and thinking all of CA has that type of weather.

[rednas]

Originally Posted by TVC15

There is a huge misconception that all of Texas is an unbearable oven by people who have only lived or visited one part of Texas. It would be like only visiting San Diego or the Central Valley and thinking all of CA has that type of weather.

or visiting death valley thinking that its an adequate representation of the whole state of California.

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by rednas

or visiting death valley thinking that its an adequate representation of the whole state of California.

Thanks for another excellent example! Texas hosts a wide range of temperatures just like CA.

[afdinatl]

Knoxville, TN
Annapolis, MD
Atlanta Northern Suburbs

[Natural510]

Texas has water issues just like California, though.

[TR95]

Originally Posted by TVC15

Texas hosts a range of temperatures Map of Texas (Map Average Temperatures) : Worldofmaps.net - online Maps and Travel Information

Some places are hot and dry some places are hot and humid some places only have mild heat.

Right now the Bay Area is experiencing hotter temperatures than most of Texas.
Texas Temperature Map - Air Sports Net

Where did your friend live in Texas?

I lived most of my life in Houston and I can tell you that the heat there is certainly tolerable. I personally love humidity. The biggest complaint people have about Houston weather is the humidity.

There is a huge misconception that all of Texas is an unbearable oven by people who have only lived or visited one part of Texas. It would be like only visiting San Diego or the Central Valley and thinking all of CA has that type of weather.

I travel to Houston every couple weeks. While it was quite pleasant on 9/24 and 9/25 the last time I was there, it wasn't so pleasant in mid-June when the temperature was close to 90 coupled with close to 80% humidity walking around downtown from a parking garage across the street to go to lunch. You couldn't walk more than a block without a slight sweat starting. Even at night, it doesn't get much below 75 with high humidity so a simple stroll to dinner could result in a light drenching.

It wasn't quite pleasant in July either when I was there. In May it was mid-80's and almost tolerable. At one point last January when I was there an ice storm came through and made it miserable for most of the city. I realize an ice storm hardly ever happens in Houston, but it does and the OP would need to be aware coming from California that the weather in Texas is abysmal in comparison. Now someone coming from the midwest might enjoy the Texas weather. It's all relative and what one is used to. People have said you get used to the humidity in Houston once you have lived there for a while, and I think I can believe that.

When the weather does become pleasant in terms of cooling down into the 60's or 70's it is usually coupled with a severe thunderstorm or a nice stiff 25-30 mph breeze coming out of the north. That to me is not pleasant. Again, it is all relative. Texas can be tolerable depending on what you are used to and what you want out of life.

The one thing that maybe people don't realize about much of Texas are the allergies and asthma that develop in people. My son has never had issues, and within 2 years of living in Texas he has developed severe asthma. The rest of our family has developed severe allergies as well. I've lived in 8 states and never have experienced anything close to the allergies here. The state of Texas ranks very poorly in this area as the attached will show. Just something the OP should think about before making a move.

http://www.aafa.org/pdfs/FINAL_publi...pring_2014.pdf

Asthma Cases Increase as Cities Continue to Ignore Federal Ozone Standards » EcoWatch

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by dalparadise

PS--I would also agree that Colorado is a nicer place to live, but you are not on vacation. You are jumpstarting your earning potential and making up for lost time. Go where the money and the jobs are and the COL is lower.

This. The OP needs to go live wherever will get their career on track.

My brother was in this situation last year, he moved from Los Angeles to Oklahoma for a 6 month contract job at Conoco Phillips. He hated living there... but now he is back in L.A. making double what he was.

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by Ceece

Colorado? I know a couple people from Ptown who moved there and seem pretty happy with their decision. It's definitely NOT California

I don't get why you couldn't find internships while you were in school like the 22 year olds did, but if you're just interested in transferring, and not career questions, I'll just stand by CO.

Colorado is nice, I moved here to Denver from the Bay 4 years ago. But yes there are a lot of differences... you get quite spoiled living in Bay with it's big city amenities and outdoor living.

The winters here can be long and harsh (Oct -to- May). Also, neither the food nor nightlife are near the level of the Bay. However, salaries are about the same at 1/2 COL.

[Mini-apple-less]

I'd say Colorado would be good. Maybe western North Carolina too? Though that is a pretty conservative state.