Torn over move to N. California

[revktbakes]

I made the same move but came to SoCal instead of NoCal. Here is my experience; COL is the biggest issue. I would say rent in an area that you like for the time being and look for a short sale or foreclosure. Property is ridiculous in all of California. Crime is about the same. I lived in Atlanta for 5 years off Camp Creek and never experienced any crime against me or property. If you are looking for trouble it most certainly will find you. So the argument about crime being an issue is mostly false. Same for California, if you are looking for trouble than it will find you but for the most part unless your in a gang or looking for drugs than just stay out of their neighborhoods and you wont get in trouble. As a Black man my family and I love the diversity of California. People are nice and the authentic Asian and Mexican dishes are great. Education is equal to Georgia. There are good schools and not so good schools. I would have to say the the not so good schools are better than those in GA where the top schools in both states are on par. Georgia just seems to be stuck in the Civil War mentality am I referring to blacks and whites. Its just ridiculous the hatred for one another and I was born and raised in Savannah. Personnaly I would wait until my daughter finished highschool but if you got the cash to spend than make the move. Keep in mind that IROBOT was correct that the water in the bay area is freezing and SF gets mighty cold. Atlanta is a great city. If your skilled and talented than you will make good money and you cant beat the cost of living. North Gwinnet and North Fulton have excellent schools as well as east Cobb. The traffic sucks but leave for work earlier and go to the gym. America is way to fat anyways! I dont think you can lose either way.

[sjnative]

Odd that this is in a Georgia foum. Did you post in the Nor Cal forum as well?

I say move to the SFBA, and not to denounce living in ATL.

It sounds like you've been there long enough that you're bored with it and the outerlying areas, e.g. Florida, and that what you want is not to be found where you live now. That's reason enough to move anywhere else.

I think you should ask yourself how much your current house/property matters to you. Sure, it's nice, but do you want your reluctance to leave to effectively anchor you to where you are? It sounds like that's what it's doing right now.

Also ask yourself if it really matters how much smaller your house would be in Walnut Creek(?) if you'll have only one daughter. It sounds like, practically speaking, you really would need only two bedrooms and even a standard 3 bedroom/two bath tract home on a small lot will be livable. I've lived in such my whole life. It's not terrible.

Also ask yourself how much the size of your new house will matter if you're going to be going places on the weekends, especially SF or other parts of the Bay Area. You might not spend that much time in your supposedly inferior new home for it to matter that much.

Also consider there will likely be a larger Indian population for you to spend time with- that alone may keep you out of the house even more than your arts/museum interests which SF can fulfill and if SF can't, then SF + LA can.

To repeat, I think that your circumstance of having seen and done everything in your area, your being bored with it and your seeing what you want somewhere else are very good reasons to move.

It will take motivation and courage on your part- the courage to leave your relative state of security- but I think the costs and compromises will be worth it.

[sjnative]

BTW I read some of your replies- I hadn't checked to see how old this thread is- and you've left me more inclined to move to Texas or Chicago than ATL

[hatgirl007]

Whynot.

You can stay put or take a gamble. It's purely depends on how you live life. From your standards I feel that San Francisco rather than the Bay Area would better suit you.

I don't care what you say......................Being in and around water changes your entire being. Hate to sound like an "energy/earth" person but there is something calming and satisfying about getting off work, heading to the beach, and walking close to the ocean. Great food of ALL ethnicities in Cali. Economy issues and all - there is no place like CA. It took me 6 years to realize that. You may not have a huge mansion but you will have good people you meet from all cultures who are pretty cool people as long as you avoide the "fake crowd". You can always come back to Georgia if you change your mind.

What I have learned in my present situation is :DO NOT BUY ANYTHING UNTIL YOUR HEART AND MIND MAKES YOU FEEL YOU ARE AT HOME IN THAT STATE. This will allow you to stay flexible.

Hope you choose to ride the roller coaster instead of staying on the merry-go-round.