For those of you who think California is too expensive... (Orange: credit card, vacation home)

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

In CA, or at least in SF, people are not outwardly friendly or talkative. They don't to talk to strangers or unnecessarily chit-chat. It might look rude to someone coming from TX but its just the way it is. The southern hospitality is often very fake!

Lol, I am a Bay Area native who moved to TX in 2003.

Bay area is definately fast live and people are working there.
How is SH fake?

People are friendly in TX.

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by Ceece

An often quite invasive too.

I've never found people to be unfriendly. I've met unfriendly people but that has nothing to do with the state we live in, they would be jerks anywhere.

I stay in CA because it's my home. There doesn't have to be another reason.

I do feel bad for low-mid level workers, the COL is crazy even with the burst housing bubble. It's not like it was 25 years ago when we bought our first home. I feel sorry for my own kids too. They have lived a great life with us but it's going to be hard going on their own if they don't make big $$. That's one reason so many kids don't move out of their parents homes until later in life.

So why have kids if people can't afford it?

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by Texas User

So why have kids if people can't afford it?

People have kids regardless. The poorest of poor have kids, often in large numbers I might add. In the big picture just living in a pricy, upscale area isn't a reason to NOT have kids. I had mine 20+ years ago and could easily afford it, maybe they can live here now on their own or maybe THEY will move elsewhere. That's their life, not mine.

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by Texas User

Bay area is definately fast live and people are working there.
How is SH fake?

People are friendly in TX.

Houston also has a fast pace of living. Having lived in Houston for 43 years I agree that people are very friendly there. People are also very friendly here. At times I think they are just as and sometimes more friendly then Texans. I have yet to be treated rude by anyone and I have been here since Jan. I am very friendly and outgoing and people respond to me with the same everywhere I go. I am very glad that I moved here and I make good money and my partner (who also makes good money) and I share a beautiful large 3 bedroom house in Redwood City. The weather is gorgeous and so many nature stunning places to explore. It is very enjoyable riding motorcycles along the coast and up in the mountains. It is not as expensive as most think especially if you make good money and are not in debt and free of kids.

[hsw]

Part of charm of PaloAlto region is it continually attracts so many interesting people from all over US and RoW, largely drawn to be near other like-minded folks pursuing economic opportunities...who may have been raised elsewhere or attended college in PA/MA/IL or started their career in NYC or are natives who wanted to come "home"...whatever

Know many smart, friendly people, originally from Dallas or Houston, who now live in PaloAlto area and would never return to TX...and in business travels have always been impressed by how many smart, friendly people there are in Dallas or Houston, who similarly wouldn't want to live in PaloAlto or Manhattan (even though they could easily afford either lil town)

And always amused about claims about "friendliness"; have often found most genuinely laid-back, yet secure, people anywhere to be amongst naturally highest achievers, who may be natives but are more often transplants from somewhere else, be it other Coast or TX or Midwest or India or just suburbia vs city

Suspect PA isn't as expensive as people often claim when adjust for economic/intellectual opportunities, weather, topography, local fresh produce, ability to frugally staycation

Nor do I believe that Houston's RiverOaks or Dallas' PrestonHollow is any cheaper than Woodside; actually would argue each is more costly per acre of land

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by Ceece

People have kids regardless. The poorest of poor have kids, often in large numbers I might add. In the big picture just living in a pricy, upscale area isn't a reason to NOT have kids. I had mine 20+ years ago and could easily afford it, maybe they can live here now on their own or maybe THEY will move elsewhere. That's their life, not mine.

Its true that the poor have a lot more kids then the middle and the upper class. It must be the pressure and the lack of education.

You do know how much 1 kid cost to raise in USA right?

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by TVC15

Houston also has a fast pace of living. Having lived in Houston for 43 years I agree that people are very friendly there. People are also very friendly here. At times I think they are just as and sometimes more friendly then Texans. I have yet to be treated rude by anyone and I have been here since Jan. I am very friendly and outgoing and people respond to me with the same everywhere I go. I am very glad that I moved here and I make good money and my partner (who also makes good money) and I share a beautiful large 3 bedroom house in Redwood City. The weather is gorgeous and so many nature stunning places to explore. It is very enjoyable riding motorcycles along the coast and up in the mountains. It is not as expensive as most think especially if you make good money and are not in debt and free of kids.

Depends on what you do for a living also. Houston is a lot more laid back then Bay Area though. People are friendly in CA after you get to know them more. I think one would have to make atleast $75K a year to live a modest life in Bay Area plus job security plays a factor.

[Texas User]

Originally Posted by hsw

Part of charm of PaloAlto region is it continually attracts so many interesting people from all over US and RoW, largely drawn to be near other like-minded folks pursuing economic opportunities...who may have been raised elsewhere or attended college in PA/MA/IL or started their career in NYC or are natives who wanted to come "home"...whatever

Know many smart, friendly people, originally from Dallas or Houston, who now live in PaloAlto area and would never return to TX...and in business travels have always been impressed by how many smart, friendly people there are in Dallas or Houston, who similarly wouldn't want to live in PaloAlto or Manhattan (even though they could easily afford either lil town)

And always amused about claims about "friendliness"; have often found most genuinely laid-back, yet secure, people anywhere to be amongst naturally highest achievers, who may be natives but are more often transplants from somewhere else, be it other Coast or TX or Midwest or India or just suburbia vs city

Suspect PA isn't as expensive as people often claim when adjust for economic/intellectual opportunities, weather, topography, local fresh produce, ability to frugally staycation

Nor do I believe that Houston's RiverOaks or Dallas' PrestonHollow is any cheaper than Woodside; actually would argue each is more costly per acre of land

Not East Palo Alto.

[DeusEx]

Originally Posted by Texas User

Not East Palo Alto.

What's with hsw's obsessive fixation on PA?

[TVC15]

Originally Posted by Texas User

Depends on what you do for a living also. Houston is a lot more laid back then Bay Area though. People are friendly in CA after you get to know them more. I think one would have to make atleast $75K a year to live a modest life in Bay Area plus job security plays a factor.

I don't really know anyone here and everyone is very friendly...maybe they like that friendly Texan in me!

I don't think Houston is more laid back then the bay area. You live in Katy. I grew up, went to school, played and lived near downtown Houston. I see nothing laid back about Houston. I guess it depends on who you are and what you do.

Yes job security...me in the medical profession and my partner in a high demand "innovative computer technology and software world" project manager position who is super smart with tons of experience.