Not everyone wants to live next to the ocean (San Diego: rental, mortgage)

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by aslowdodge

Since I moved to Georgia the more I live here and the more I come back to,visit California, the more I realize that for me it’s not worth coming back. The one thing that would sway me is to live near the beach on SoCal. After watching the tv show “ grace and Frankie “ and seeing that beach house, I thought I’d really like to move back to California.
Then seeing the cost was a reality slap in the face.
The beach and the weather are the two biggest factors of living in California outside of career and family.
The weather here isn’t as oppressive as people believe. But here in Atlanta we don’t have the beach. We have lots of rivers and lakes, but no beach.

How about the more affordable beach areas nearer Atlanta, aslowdodge? You are ~ 4-5 hours from places like Hilton Head and Tybee Islands. Then there's Jacksonville and all of FL for more affordable beaches. Of course you have to deal with other things like hurricanes and the like.

Derek

[nobodysbusiness]

OP: What brought this up?

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

How about the more affordable beach areas nearer Atlanta, aslowdodge? You are ~ 4-5 hours from places like Hilton Head and Tybee Islands. Then there's Jacksonville and all of FL for more affordable beaches. Of course you have to deal with other things like hurricanes and the like.

Derek

Honestly I still have in my mind the SoCal beach lifestyle. Maybe it no longer exists or is too crowded nowadays.
The east coast beaches are neat areas, but none get me excited like SoCal. I just have this vision of me cruising down hwy 1 in an expensive convertible with the top down and pulling into my driveway of my beach house.
Outside of that I’m really happy living where I am at.
I owned a few beach houses on Galveston island. I don’t know if the elements are the same on all beaches, but the maintenance on those houses was a lot. Maybe it’s the humidity. I decided I would never buy a beach house again and just rent one when I wanted.
Anyways I think the SoCal idea was the only one I would make an exception for, well if I could afford it. I just bought a newer Lexus so I will be making road trip to the coasts both Atlantic and gulf in a few months as spring arrives. I’m dying to visit savannah.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by aslowdodge

Honestly I still have in my mind the SoCal beach lifestyle. Maybe it no longer exists or is too crowded nowadays.
The east coast beaches are neat areas, but none get me excited like SoCal. I just have this vision of me cruising down hwy 1 in an expensive convertible with the top down and pulling into my driveway of my beach house.
Outside of that I’m really happy living where I am at.
I owned a few beach houses on Galveston island. I don’t know if the elements are the same on all beaches, but the maintenance on those houses was a lot. Maybe it’s the humidity. I decided I would never buy a beach house again and just rent one when I wanted.
Anyways I think the SoCal idea was the only one I would make an exception for, well if I could afford it. I just bought a newer Lexus so I will be making road trip to the coasts both Atlantic and gulf in a few months as spring arrives. I’m dying to visit savannah.

One of the things people forget about CA beaches is that they are cold, the water is cold. The Atlantic and Gulf are much warmer and make being in the water much more enjoyable. And for those who will claim Oh no it is like a bath tub. No it isn't, it is still far cooler than the air. CA ifs wayyyy cooler and in fact, with rare exception like this year in some places, it is cold in the middle of Summer.


I know I grew up at Newport Beach and have been in the water in SoCal and the Mid Coastal areas as well.


Now I live 8 miles from the beach and have been there every month and while in Dec/Jan the water was a bit cooler, I had no problem with it. Still far warmer than CA.

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by expatCA

One of the things people forget about CA beaches is that they are cold, the water is cold. The Atlantic and Gulf are much warmer and make being in the water much more enjoyable. And for those who will claim Oh no it is like a bath tub. No it isn't, it is still far cooler than the air. CA ifs wayyyy cooler and in fact, with rare exception like this year in some places, it is cold in the middle of Summer.


I know I grew up at Newport Beach and have been in the water in SoCal and the Mid Coastal areas as well.


Now I live 8 miles from the beach and have been there every month and while in Dec/Jan the water was a bit cooler, I had no problem with it. Still far warmer than CA.

The funny thing is I don’t even care to go into the water. I just like the ambiance of stereotypical SoCal,beach life if you have money.

[NewbieHere]

Originally Posted by expatCA

One of the things people forget about CA beaches is that they are cold, the water is cold. The Atlantic and Gulf are much warmer and make being in the water much more enjoyable. And for those who will claim Oh no it is like a bath tub. No it isn't, it is still far cooler than the air. CA ifs wayyyy cooler and in fact, with rare exception like this year in some places, it is cold in the middle of Summer.


I know I grew up at Newport Beach and have been in the water in SoCal and the Mid Coastal areas as well.


Now I live 8 miles from the beach and have been there every month and while in Dec/Jan the water was a bit cooler, I had no problem with it. Still far warmer than CA.

You must never tried swimming the Atlantic near Boston, I did, much colder than SoCal. But SoCal is not as warm as Hawaii.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by aslowdodge

The funny thing is I don’t even care to go into the water. I just like the ambiance of stereotypical SoCal,beach life if you have money.

Yes, in my opinion the most beautiful beaches are in CA for sure. When ever I and my wife visit we go to several beaches in SoCal, we just avoid the water. However I still enjoy getting in the water, so warm is good.

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by NewbieHere

You must never tried swimming the Atlantic near Boston, I did, much colder than SoCal. But SoCal is not as warm as Hawaii.

That far north is a different issue. Kinda like trying to swim in WA during January.


From GA South and the Gulf it is warn the vast majority of the year. Further North and it begins to get colder and then freezing.

[Sydney123]

I was born and lived in Las Vegas until I was 18. Now I live within walking distance from the beach... going on about 7 years now. When I first moved here I froze my rear off. Now I am used to the cooler weather, and I surf 3-4 times a week, all year, rain or shine, and I swim laps every morning and evening. I can leave my window open and late at night I can hear the waves crashing on the shore.
I usually run around in shorts and a tank top unless it’s super cold out.
Now when I go home to visit my parents... I find the heat oppressive. Growing up it never really bothered me. Beach living isn’t bad once you get acclimatized, but I can see where someone who just visits the beach now and then would be affected by the cooler air and water temps.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Amen to that, brotha!

Even though we're moving soon for the same reasons of affordable housing while preparing to send kids to college and save for retirement, we'll never forget the wonders of living on the Monterey Peninsula next to the Big Sur coast. If $$ were no object, we'd stay for sure. Here's how I just celebrated my birthday in the best way possible. Mountains, rivers and ocean all in one place... right in our backyard.


Derek

Those pics almost make me want to cry!