Thinking of relocating somewhere rural -- stay in California or leave the state? (Fresno: living, prices)

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

Most of CA (landwise) would fit your bill. Only 3% of CA is crowded, has bad traffic, bad air, etc.

I live in eastern CA-the Gold Country/Sierras. You may want to look at Calaveras, Tuolumne and Mariposa counties. The median home price in my area is $225K, no traffic issues. My 11 mile commute took me 21 minutes give or take a minute with pleasant scenery all the way to town.

Our schools were rated in the top 20% nationwide. You can send me a Direct Message if you want more details.

It's cooler there than Redding, too, isn't it?

[sarahhorselover]

Originally Posted by semispherical

Penn Valley, greater Lincoln, Wheatland, Sheridan -- all have relatively cheap land, but I'm not sure about the schools. If you have more money to spend try closer to I-80: Loomis, Rocklin, Lincoln, Penryn, etc.

The real answer is going to be where you can find a job, and how much you can afford to spend.

I was guessing around $250k to be conservative. If we sold tomorrow, we could walk away with around $150-175k cash in our pockets. We could put enough down to have a nice, low mortgage and not have to worry as much about work.

My husband is fairly confident that he could take a salary cut in order to stay with his current IT job and telecommute (high-speed internet is a must). Staying in California would be a bonus because he could still go into the office now and again as needed. My folks live near his work, so he could even stay overnight if needed.

I do finance and HR, so I don't usually have trouble finding work. However, my dream is to start my own non-profit equine therapy center for teens and veterans with mental health issues. That may or may not happen depending on where (if) we relocate and our proximity to a VA and other people in general. I currently do finance and HR for a non-profit where I'm also getting some grant writing experience, so I think one day it might be doable. But I expect that we'd be bleeding money for the most part. Hence the need for a low mortgage.

[Chuck5000]

I'm from the East Coast. Let me tell you, dozens of 80 degree days with humidity, and 15 or 20 days over 90 with humidity, do NOT equal the discomfort level of dozens and dozens of days of dry 98+ days.

When it's over 99, it's over body temp, and you need to be inside, or you need to move like a turtle.

Humid but less-than-99 temps are easier to deal with and get a bad rap. There's tons of good rural living all over the US with that weather, along with some cold. You can get acreage.

California can spoil people. I live in CA myself, don't get me wrong. But wanting everything that coastal CA has re: climate at a low price is not realistic.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe

It's cooler there than Redding, too, isn't it?

Much more so. Four real seasons. Plus it cools off at night. At 2000 feet 100 degree days have lows in the mid 60s and 15% humidity. Most summer days at that elevation run in the 90s or less.

[XavierPacheco]

Clovis, California. It's nice and near places like Shaver Lake, Yosemite, and there are a lot of open space to have your own ranch.

[sarahhorselover]

Originally Posted by Chuck5000

I'm from the East Coast. Let me tell you, dozens of 80 degree days with humidity, and 15 or 20 days over 90 with humidity, do NOT equal the discomfort level of dozens and dozens of days of dry 98+ days.

When it's over 99, it's over body temp, and you need to be inside, or you need to move like a turtle.

Humid but less-than-99 temps are easier to deal with and get a bad rap. There's tons of good rural living all over the US with that weather, along with some cold. You can get acreage.

California can spoil people. I live in CA myself, don't get me wrong. But wanting everything that coastal CA has re: climate at a low price is not realistic.

Maybe I'm just weird, but dry hot really doesn't bother me that much. I taught riding lessons at the UCDavis Equestrian Center all summer long, even when it was well over 100 degrees. I slathered myself up in SPF 50 sunblock and rocked the only tan I've ever had (my friends say that less white != tan, but I beg to differ). As long as I have lots and lots of water, I can manage.

I currently live in East Contra Costa County, so I'm still in an area that gets plenty of 100+ days per year, and a "summer" that lasts from May through November. I prefer that over weird Jersey weather where I have to run the AC in May when it's 65 degrees or else I'll fog up my car windows. I hate feeling sticky. Ew. But I might have gotten used to it if I had stayed longer. I know that I could never get used to New Orleans, Houston, or DC weather. That was unbearable.

I really wouldn't mind some snow, but my husband is more hesitant. I think it would be nice to have a white Christmas! It's weird to be able to BBQ on our patio in t-shirts on Christmas day. Just weird. Seasons would be a nice change. Just not seasons that include a hot, humid summer.

I've toyed with the idea of Dallas, Louisville (although I have no idea what the weather's like there), Boise, Missoula, and Oroville, so I'm not opposed to leaving California, although my husband would like to stay (hence keeping Oroville on the list).

What areas are you thinking of that don't have too terribly much humidity but offer decent schools, reasonably-priced land, and won't ostracize us for being liberals who don't attend church?

[NewbieHere]

Try Fallbrook, north of San Diego.

[sarahhorselover]

Having lived in California all of my life, I'm amazed at how many of these cities and counties I'm having to Google! Methinks I need to escape the Bay Area bubble more often.

I do remember as a child we would visit family friends up in Garberville. It was so pretty up there! They lived up on a hill and their nearest neighbor was miles away. I thought it was great! Our friend, his dog, my sister, and I would be turned loose to roam the hills for hours. Only downside: outhouse. Just, no. But I'm sure there are plenty of houses with real bathrooms around those hills, especially in the last 30 years.

Thanks everyone for all the advice. I have a lot more research to do!

[Chuck5000]

To respond to your question, first, I'd say given your weather experience you should have options on the Eastern side of CA, Sierra foothills and north, although you might need to go 300 to 400k.

You could look at Google Maps satellite view to get an idea of where the kind of topography you want is.

In the Eastern US, you'd be fine culturally (although it depends on the town and county) anywhere north of Virginia, I think. But the Northeast is not at all like the South even in its more conservative parts..

You could look at New Hampshire (look at parts away from Boston; nearby Bos = expensive), Vermont, or Maine. I'd say those are best choices. Mass is nice as well (Berkshires and Western MA, rural; closer to Boston is much more expensive.) Upstate NY has beautiful areas, is the cheapest, but more economically depressed than New England. NJ doesn't have as much that is rural, but maybe the far northwestern corner near the NY state border. CT's nicest parts are closer to NY, therefore more expensive, but maybe the north western corner of the state could work. I don't think NJ or CT feel like as good of a choice as NH, VT or ME.

[movinon]

Maybe a place to start would be by doing some market research regarding your therapeutic riding venture. For example, there are several established ones in the Sacramento area, at least one of which already has a Wounded Warrior program. Perhaps by weeding out areas which already are covered by those services, you could narrow down your potential locations a bit. Just a thought.