Dear California, I'm Dumping You (Anaheim: apartment, big house, buy)

[trixie09]

I knew she'd come back. I could have saved her the trouble. She thought that newspapers were thriving in Washington State? Tell that to my family who works in the biz, and have seen so many of the papers fire 50% or more of the staff, and work with a skeleton crew.

Weather? Oops. She found out the ugly little secret that hits the California exiles at the 4-year mark when they move to the PNW: The weather. Now, there are some folks that move up there and can manage the (literally) 9 months of gray skies, but it depends on where you're from and how much money you have, connections, etc. But the weather in Washington State (on the West Side) is abysmal. While too many Californians (myself included!) thought "oh, I LOVE rain! This will be great!" as we packed up for this seemingly Shangri La place of better housing prices, all that green, and no income tax.

If the weather doesn't eat you alive, then the prices on food and utilities, will. The rents and the housing prices, are frankly not much different to California anymore. You can't rent anything safe from under $1,200.00 in Seattle. And the houses are selling for 500k an up.

The weather.. ah.. well.. try to imagine not seeing any sun for 4 weeks at a time. Try to imagine getting 37-40 inches of rain, but it's spread out from October 10th to July 5th, as a dark drizzle. The joke is that only up here can you go to work in the pitch dark, and come home in the pitch dark, and only work 8 to 5pm. Did I mention it's dark?? The summers can be lovely. That is when they take all the Chamber of Commerce pics. But, it's also muggy in a weird way. Doesn't cool down at night.

The people I know that moved to washington from Cali, and then returned or are trying to return, all cite the people. You really miss the people of California. For all the grouchy people here that complain about Californians, they are predominantly NICE. But more than polite/nice, they are open and warm. The Seattle Freeze is real. The people are polite, but you can't seem to really break the shell with them. I never have trouble making friends, even when I've moved to areas of California where I didn't know a soul, I met lifelong friends quickly. I was in the PNW for years, and have no friends to show for it. It's not that they're not good people, it's just that they aren't welcoming into their circles, or perhaps it's that you don't see neighbors for months and months on end.

The food prices are so high here, and the farmer's markets are short-lived. And in the town I've just left, the farmer's markets had no farmers. It was just some plants, and carved toys. I'm like "where are the vegetables???" You get sooo spoiled in California by the fresh foods, and outdoor activities.

I'm writing this to save some other people from making the same mistake I, and the writer, made. Unless you really truly KNOW the place you're moving to (perhaps grew up there, or have a big family unit there,) you should just rent for a few years (it takes 2-4 years for the 'new place' fairy dust to wear off,) before cutting ties. And don't make a big deal about moving. It's embarrassing when you come back.

OH. and the biggest point I want to make is this. California a huge place! So many different experiences, and neighborhoods, and climates. You could find some pretty amazing places in this State, and still leave whatever it is you're trying to escape. The State does not have a huge tax burden, frankly. Try moving to Texas or Oregon, or New Jersey. Every State gets their money from you somehow, unless you choose to live in a place that has very few services, and a lifestyle that shows for it.

[oldtrader]

Those that had the courage to buy California while people were bailing have made out pretty well.

Only some of them have, when there is so much poverty in California that over half the Federal Poverty Funds are spent in California, and more than 1/5 people are living in poverty in the state. I don't call that making out pretty well for those people. In addition there are a lot of people, living just above poverty which is not making out pretty well.

[jw2]

Originally Posted by oldtrader

Only some of them have, when there is so much poverty in California that over half the Federal Poverty Funds are spent in California, and more than 1/5 people are living in poverty in the state. I don't call that making out pretty well for those people. In addition there are a lot of people, living just above poverty which is not making out pretty well.

You are a very sad man.

[countofmc]

She made the mistake of moving to the Pacific NW. Most of it is basically 75% of California COL at 50% QOL.

Should have moved to Texas or other parts of the South. 40% of COL at 50%QOL.

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by countofmc

She made the mistake of moving to the Pacific NW. Most of it is basically 75% of California COL at 50% QOL.

Should have moved to Texas or other parts of the South. 40% of COL at 50%QOL.

She says she lived in Lake Chelan, which is on the east side of the Cascades and far sunnier and drier than Seattle. Quite beautiful too!
Sort of like equating California=San Francisco/LA
Washington=Seattle

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by countofmc

Should have moved to Texas or other parts of the South. 40% of COL at 50%QOL.

And who'd settle for that?

[countofmc]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

And who'd settle for that?

People who value getting more for their money?

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by countofmc

People who value getting more for their money?

...at 50% quality of life? I don't know anyone who would.

[jw2]

Originally Posted by countofmc

People who value getting more for their money?

That is not getting more for their money.

[dexter14]

Who moves out of southern CA and comes back? Just about everyone I know says its the best thing they ever did, dont miss a thing and want me to join them. I mean, unless you are in love with ridiculous traffic all hours of the day, insanely high prices for housing, gas, groceries, car registration and insurance, taxes, an area being overrun by illegals and 10,000 criminals being released on to the street from 33 prisons...who would want to leave?!