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Where did you go (and no need to get too detailed if you are afraid we will all move there) and are you glad you left? If so, why? If not, why not?
Except for vacations, field work assignments, and Navy deployments, spent the first 66 years of my life in SoCal within 150 miles of where I was born. Upon retirement, I moved to the PNW. Major reasons is the SoCal cost-of-living, loss of the state's political balance, a hostile environment in which to freely exercise a certain federally-guaranteed constitutional right, and congestion.
I miss the SoCal semi-arid climate, the ocean, and culture, (e.g., opera, museums, Hollywood Bowl), and the natural beauty; but am very happy I made the move. Would not consider moving back, even if finances were not a consideration. Oh, and I do miss being able to filter on my Vespa. Second best attribute of Cal, after its climate.
Only if you're retired or work for a company that has plenty of vacation days or run your own business or work somewhere that allows you to work remotely or delegate your activities to someone else.
If you only got a week or two of vacation days, forget it.
Some Silicon Valley companies hire remote teams because they can't afford to pay the salaries required to get someone to want to move there.
You missed the part in his example where he pointed out the difference was like $8M in 30 years, and something just over $2M after 15 years. A lot of people could be financially independent / retire early even on that lower sum and vacation frequently in California. It's much easier to reach financial independence in lower cost areas. Most of the people who write FI blogs don't live in the most expensive parts of the country, and I don't think that's an accident.
Hi Derek
In the spring and fall I walk a lot but I don't do outdoors to the extent you do. I also didn't do outdoors much in California. I lived in Pleasanton which was pretty hot in the summer. I do see a lot of people paddleboarding, kayaking, and innner tubing on the Chatahoochee. I know one person that hikes almost every weekend and knows all the mountains, trails, waterfalls, and creeks within a 200 mile radius. He says a lot of people go rafting and kayaking.
There are multiple lakes of good size near me. I haven't gone in the water myself but see a lot of people out on the lakes. I'm older and don't have a friend network where we can all go out on the lake or creeks like I did when I was younger. As a solo person I don't do a lot of outdoor activities, just walk, short hikes, and in the gym.
One thing is we are on the south end of Appalachia so you can always go and explore the mountains and foothills.
Summers can be pretty hot and humid, but only for a few months. This year it's been mild and I think socal is getting our humidity. Much of the time the weather isn't much different than Ca to me. Even then it's up to the person. Last summer on a really hot day it was about 100 degrees in the sun and I'm in the car shaking my head at the people running at 1 in the afternoon. I think you do get used to it to some degree. I really don't think about the weather that much out here. I see more people out walking and jogging and biking more than I did when I was in Ca. The humidity can be a factor, but I am still amazed at how many people are outdoors. I walk in the park and see lots of people playing softball, tennis, soccer, and I've sen people out here playing cricket. A lot of restaurants have outdoor seating and almost always people are dining outside except for the very hottest days.
As far as bugs I haven't had much of an issue. My first house was in a heavily wooded area and I had come across some wood roaches about 6 times in the house my first 2 years. I never sprayed for bugs. My new house I have seen one roach. Mosquitos are more plentiful than what I encountered in Pleasanton, but it makes sense with so much wood and bodies of water. So summertime when I go out I do use mosquito repellant and I'm fine. So imho bugs haven't been an issue for me here. I haven't seen the bug problem here. Now in Fl I could see it as well as Galveston Island in Tx. Palmetto bugs where like an army there.
I originally moved to Atlanta to relaunch my business thinking it was old southern family traditions which would be perfect for my photography business, not the fast paced tech lifestyle of the bay area. Demographics for the business were more important than living close to the coast for me. Funny thing is there was no culture shock and the old southern traditions are not prevelant at all. Not many people have accents here. Atlanta is growing like crazy so a lot of transplants have moved in. Business wise Atlanta will grow and it has done really well with the film industry now ranked #2.
Savannah is the closest beach, but really the Florida pan handle is only an hour longer to get to. I do want to explore these areas when I get a more reliable car. Heck I may just rent a car for a few days and do it.
One thing I do love is exploring small towns and the history. Civil war, civil rights, etc. It's different for me since I did Ca for such a long time.
The bottom line is that I feel like culturally it was no change for me compared to Ca except that people here are more polite. I really did have the expectation that it was going to be a huge change I would have to get used to, but in the end it was my stereotyping the south much as many Ca posters do here. I understand where they are coming from as I held the same beliefs myself at one time.
Overall would I choose Ca over Ga? Money aside yes by a small margin and that would be for the geographical diversity and the edge in weather and maybe beach access.
Counting the financial aspect? Ga all the way.
Ca is not as much fun when you are stressed about housing, jobs, stability. When you can attain financial security it is amazing how pleasant everyday life is. If you can attain that security in Ca you might have the best of both worlds, but it's hard if you aren't already a homeowner.
Hope this helps.
This is all very interesting, aslowdodge. I think a lot of it has to do with perspective. And as much as CA folks like to think we're open minded, we all come with our own biases. Granted no place is perfect. But GA seems to have offered you a very good QOL in addition to more financial independance.
I didn't realize you were also a photographer. I bet there is a lot of beautiful natural scenery as a backdrop for your photos with all that green. Though it sounds like you've retired. Even so, once a photographer always one. I'm sure you still see things through that artistic lens even if only to appreciate it.
Glad to hear about the culture shock wasn't too extreme. I was reading on another forum some still complaining about racism being alive and well. But maybe that varies depending on the city or area. I also read that crime was worse in certain areas like near Savannah, for example. But the same is true in certain parts of CA, I guess.
When I looked at that lake it seems massive with lots of great spots for water sports. I was wondering if gators lived in those waters. Though they say gators are less common in that part of the state.
Because we live in an area with lots of military folks, we made quite a few friends from the south. So I realize it can be great for some families. There is no one perfect for everyone, including CA. I like that you've found you'll best place to live all things considered.
You missed the part in his example where he pointed out the difference was like $8M in 30 years, and something just over $2M after 15 years. A lot of people could be financially independent / retire early even on that lower sum and vacation frequently in California. It's much easier to reach financial independence in lower cost areas. Most of the people who write FI blogs don't live in the most expensive parts of the country, and I don't think that's an accident.
That's true, although if I were financially independent, I'm not sure if I'd still call California home if I want that money to last as long as possible and see the world. It's definitely one of the top places I'd want to frequently vacation in although the world has far more interesting places I'd want to visit outside of California. Paradoxically, living in California is more beneficial for those who actually work for a living but do not have enough vacation days to venture away from home frequently. Weekend trips to places like Napa, Santa Monica, and Yosemite are only possible if you live in or near California rather than somewhere where you have to fly in.
The out of control cost of living will soon become a major crisis for the California economy if not already. Case in point, my wife worked as a postdoc in San Francisco briefly and made about 50K a year, one of the HIGHEST salaries for her job grade which is still below poverty level for such a city. Due to her department's limited budget, it took a ton of negotiating and begging to get them to budge to that salary. Nearly all of her coworkers either lived at home or have a high earning spouse. Nobody in their right mind will move to a place like SF for a job that pays 50K.
I rented to young 18 year old that had a dream of coming to California... she was the oldest of 6 kids in Colorado... her parents told her when she was 18 and graduated it was her choice... only knew the older sister of a friend back home... offered her a couch for two weeks.
Packed up her little Ford Escort and headed to SF...
She was working within 2 days... saw help wanted for a Restaurant under the apartment... asked if she had any experience waiting tables... she said 4 years... and could also cook... pluck chickens, fillet fish... etc.
Soon she was asked if she wanted a side job catering big events... she said yes... paid well...
She also enrolled in FREE San Francisco City College...
I met her and two roommates when they replied to an ad I had placed for a rental in Oakland... impressed at just how hard working they were... she sold her car because it was a liability in SF... took BART and biked...
She made close to 50k the first year waiting tables....
Her parents always offered to pay for a one way ticket back to Denver...
Later she joined Americorp and went o Fiji...
Now 30... she lives in Colorado... but said she wouldn't trade the life experiences of her 20's for anything...
More and more California seems to be a place to make your money and leave...
Except for vacations, field work assignments, and Navy deployments, spent the first 66 years of my life in SoCal within 150 miles of where I was born. Upon retirement, I moved to the PNW. Major reasons is the SoCal cost-of-living, loss of the state's political balance, a hostile environment in which to freely exercise a certain federally-guaranteed constitutional right, and congestion.
I miss the SoCal semi-arid climate, the ocean, and culture, (e.g., opera, museums, Hollywood Bowl), and the natural beauty; but am very happy I made the move. Would not consider moving back, even if finances were not a consideration. Oh, and I do miss being able to filter on my Vespa. Second best attribute of Cal, after its climate.
For most, the above are the reasons for moving if they can. Many stay because they cannot find employment elsewhere and have very little money saved due to the COL in CA.
I am in SoCal right now and after driving to the beaches in OC I realize while they are beautiful the congestion makes them a rare place to actually visit, as parking places ceased to exist by about 11 Am at every beach I went to.
The congestion/traffic impacts just about everything a person does, except maybe walk in their neighborhood. Long lines at gas, restaurants, stores, etc. Not all but at to many. Yes there is a lot to potentially do, but the reality is that even then not all of it is truly available. Then for most, such amenities are not something they can use every day. Day to day life is not as good as it was and is getting worse.
This is then first trip I have taken to SoCal in years that was a turn off. Maybe enxt time it will be better but I doubt it.
No problem. I luckily haven't run into the no se ums. I only found out about them googling mosquitos. The katydids by accident too. I thought they were cicadas for 3 years until I came across an MP3 of a katydid. Bugs are hard to identify if you can't see them.
My mom is from a San Francisco Bay Area suburb. She came to America as a little kid, her parents (my grandparents) rented an apartment, rented a house afterwards, then finally moved to their house. Their house is 40 years old as of 2018.
My mom left California at age 29 after getting her Master's Degree, because she met my father through my dad's aunt. My dad's aunt is a family friend of my mom's parents. My mom moved to New Jersey, because she really wanted to marry my dad. My dad said he would take NJ's horrible snow over a California earthquake. My dad grew up in NJ and he already owned a house at the time my mom was married.
My mom said she likes California way better and her heart is still out there, especially in the SF Bay area. I told her to move back out if my dad dies before her. She said she is already settled in NJ and has everything she needs in NJ. The West Coast and the West is her favorite region. She definitely likes the West, because of the perfect weather, there is more going on, people are nicer (She claims that East Coasters are rude and suspicious of others), scenery is prettier, churros are sold in boxes at Costco, and sweet and sour pork at Chinese restaurants are better.
My mom and I visit California to visit her parents and we visit San Francisco and visit relatives who live nearby my grandparents.
When I finish college, I am doing the opposite of what my mom did. I want to move out of NJ and move somewhere West. Definitely not California, because I hated it. I am not going to look for marriage until I settle down where I want.
Georgia ... South Carolina ... bg big big bugs ... it’s a joke man
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