Any SoCal transplants or returners? (Boston, Salem: salary, living, shops)

[KemBro71]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

i'm close to 25 and lived in 6 states now and find that people from ca are just the worst

lol.

You're barely an adult, and have lived in 6 states EXCEPT Calif. and are basing your rant on expats you met elsewhere? Expats who couldn't hack living in SoCal?

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by stuckbetween

Then you have not lived the mosquito-free life! My #1 favorite perk of SoCal. Hiking? Outside at dusk in balmy weather? Not a care in the world.

I guess I’m going to be that annoying person talking about SoCal....for mosquitos. I mean who can argue that one.

This summer, I seriously wished I didn't exist most days. The humidity was so oppressive, I couldn't do much most days. Even with a/c, the air was so oppressive, I couldn't do simple stuff like sweep or mop or climb stairs without being completely covered in sweat.

One evening just sitting on a porch for a few hours, I had 48 mosquito bites *just from my knees down. And yes, I used lot of mosquito repellant, the DEET stuff that supposedly actually works, too.

I fear the incoming winter, and the snow shoveling, scraping ice and snow off your car just to get out, snowstorms, black ice/ snow driving, power outages (there's already been a few here-- I'd totally forgot about outages before coming back as I hadn't experienced even one in LA), chapped skin, bundling up & having to carry coat/scarf/gloves everywhere. I could go on...

Also someone mentioned not moving based on memories- 100% true. Yes the being close to family stuff might be significant to some folks with kids, but I think the costs outweigh the benefits. You already visit often, just as well.

San Diego FTW.
My uncle has lived in Del Mar for 35 years (also a Mass native, his wife's from Palo Alto). Carlsbad is also nice and great for families. Huntington Beach along the LA/OC border, San Marino and Rancho Palos Verdes all have excellent schools (as do a lot of towns around Northern CA, some better than any MA public schools), great for families.

[stuckbetween]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

One evening just sitting on a porch for a few hours, I had 48 mosquito bites *just from my knees down. And yes, I used lot of mosquito repellant, the DEET stuff that supposedly actually works, too.

That is horrifying! Where are you located?

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by KemBro71

lol.

You're barely an adult, and have lived in 6 states EXCEPT Calif. and are basing your rant on expats you met elsewhere? Expats who couldn't hack living in SoCal?

No offense, but if someone did very well in SoCal and decided they wanted to move back to the East Coast (NYC, DC, Boston) areas that are a lot harder to "hack" than La or SD... Why does that make their experiences any less valid?

I have the opportunity to move to California and I have decided not to go with it for said reasons.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by KemBro71

lol.

You're barely an adult, and have lived in 6 states EXCEPT Calif. and are basing your rant on expats you met elsewhere? Expats who couldn't hack living in SoCal?

No kidding lmfao

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

No offense, but if someone did very well in SoCal and decided they wanted to move back to the East Coast (NYC, DC, Boston) areas that are a lot harder to "hack" than La or SD... Why does that make their experiences any less valid?

I have the opportunity to move to California and I have decided not to go with it for said reasons.

I don't think anyone is saying your experiences are not valid. You have no experience with living/working
in southern California, so that would be outside your experience. Lack of experience in the place and in general - I think- is what was being alluded to.

LA is very hard to 'hack at'. More so than most cities, possibly even more difficult than New York City, depending on one's situation. WAY harder than Greater Boston. Boston proper is no picnic, either, but definitely not as hard as LA or SD.

Where in CA did you have an opportunity? CA is a big place. And why did you not take advantage?

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by stuckbetween

That is horrifying! Where are you located?

In a small village about 35 miles west of Boston called 'Northborough'. It's the boonies.
(for scale, Beverly Hills to Disneyland is ~35 miles).

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

This summer, I seriously wished I didn't exist most days. The humidity was so oppressive, I couldn't do much most days. Even with a/c, the air was so oppressive, I couldn't do simple stuff like sweep or mop or climb stairs without being completely covered in sweat.

One evening just sitting on a porch for a few hours, I had 48 mosquito bites *just from my knees down. And yes, I used lot of mosquito repellant, the DEET stuff that supposedly actually works, too.

I fear the incoming winter, and the snow shoveling, scraping ice and snow off your car just to get out, snowstorms, black ice/ snow driving, power outages (there's already been a few here-- I'd totally forgot about outages before coming back as I hadn't experienced even one in LA), chapped skin, bundling up & having to carry coat/scarf/gloves everywhere. I could go on...

Very little of this passes the sniff test, I hope you are partially joking here.

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

In a small village about 35 miles west of Boston called 'Northborough'. It's the boonies.
(for scale, Beverly Hills to Disneyland is ~35 miles).

Now your credibility has gone down even further.

[KemBro71]

Originally Posted by 5pyg1a55

I don't think anyone is saying your experiences are not valid. You have no experience with living/working
in southern California, so that would be outside your experience. Lack of experience in the place and in general - I think- is what was being alluded to.

Yes.

[5pyg1a55]

Originally Posted by stuckbetween

That is horrifying! Where are you located?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MetroWest