Why I can't leave California [Archive] - Ageless Love - Your community for age gap relationship support!

Geo55

11-08-2007, 03:48 AM

I get very philosophical when I drink. And I've been enjoying a bottle of red wine this evening. So here I sit thinking of what's on my mind all of the time, my future retirement, plus I'm thinking of you all at Ageless Love.

I have a great job with a utility company that I have worked for since 1976, 31 years. I can retire with full benefits on October 1, 2010. Its getting close, so after 31 years, you can understand why retirement is always on my mind. With 3 jobs I am keeping a pace that my old body just can't keep up with. My heart is no longer with the utility company. My heart is with the car club and the magazine. Plus, I have plans for retirement, my heart is yearning to begin living that new life, fulfilling those plans.

One consideration when looking ahead to retirement is where shall I live? Which brings me to the subject of this topic. As I travel North America, I've seen some beautiful places, but never any place that has lured my heart away from California.

I do not live in the sprawling suburb known as the Greater Los Angeles area. This is one of the things that makes living in California tolerable for me. If you are only familiar with this state from what you've seen on television and movies, you have a skewed impression of this large beautiful state. I live in a small farming town, nestled in a valley carpeted with fruit trees and row crops, nestled between two ridges of green mountains, with clean air, 20 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Directly bordering my town to the north is the most primitive wilderness area in North America. Yet I can drive to downtown Los Angeles in 1 hour.

The Green State is not perfect. Living here, I am all too aware of the problems. For one thing its very expensive. But I also know the beautiful side of this state. Let me share it with you so you can understand why I can't leave California...

My favorite drive is along California's coast on Highway 1. A trip along the coast transports you into a dreamy, tranquil world.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/Highway1.jpg

I've stood amongst the oldest living things on the planet

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/bristlecone.jpg

and I've stood next to the largest living thing on the planet

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/generalshermanII.jpg

I've seen the view from atop the highest peak in the 48 contiguous states

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/Whitneysummit.jpg

When people think of Volcanos, they think of Hawaii, but California has a couple too...

Shasta is the most picturesque

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/shasta.jpg

But Lassen was the most recently active, it last errupted in 1915

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/lassen.jpg

San Francisco is a charming city, as far as cities go....

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/San-Francisco-skyline.jpg

This is downtown San Francisco

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/DowntownSanFrancisco.jpg

to be continued...

Geo55

11-08-2007, 03:56 AM

Lake Tahoe, elevation approximately 6200 feet, is the highest lake of its size in the US. It has 72 mile of shoreline, and a surface area of 191 square miles. Its the 10th deepest lake in the world. The bottom of the lake is lower in elevation than Carson Valley to the east! It is certainly one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Its surrounded by snow in the winter (I don't like snow), but I love hanging out there in the summer. The lake is so large that on any map of the world, or on any globe, it is plainly visible.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/Lake-Tahoe-2.jpg

body surfing the Wedge in Newport Beach

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/thewedge.jpg

the solitude of the pier at Ventura

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/venturapier.jpg

The hustle & bustle, sights and sounds of the pier at Santa Monica

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/santamonicaII.jpg

When the state flower blooms in the spring...

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/poppyfieldII.jpg

Once almost extinct, the California condors are a very old species. Their habitat is located in the Sespe wilderness behind my home town, chosen because the Sespe is the most primitive wilderness in north America, and therefore the birds are least likely to encounter human beings.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/condor.jpg

They were a common sight in the skies above my home town when I moved here 20 years ago, but one died when it became entangled in power lines in-town. So the forrestry people moved them farther back into the Sespe.

For a sense of scale, the wingspan you are looking at is about 10 feet

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/condorII.jpg

Upper and Lower Yosemite Falls

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/YosmiteFalls1.jpg

more to come ...

Geo55

11-08-2007, 04:05 AM

Kings Canyon is as deep as the Grand Canyon

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/kings_canyon.jpg

California's Mirror Lake

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/mirrorlake.jpg

The California coast is lined with beautiful old light houses. The second wife & I had begun making a photo study of all the California lighthouses. Maybe someday I'll pick up where we left off. This is the lighthouse at Point Reyes

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/pointreyes.jpg

Mono lake is a very saline lake, more salty than the ocean, due to evaporation. The lakes level was at one time higher than it is today, water has been diverted to supply drinking water to southern California. Fresh water percolating upward from the ground below the lake would rise to the top as it was lighter than the salt water in the lake. Thousands of years of this action formed these "tufas" rising from the bottom of the lake as a result of the minerals in the fresh water reacting with the salt in the lake water. Then when the level of the lake lowered, the tufas were exposed.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/tufasonmonolake.jpg

Not too far from Mono Lake is the town of Bodie, elevation 8400 feet. An undisturbed ghost town (abandoned mining town) from California's mining boom of the late 1800's.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/bodie.jpg

And the last photo I want to share tonight, the sand dunes at Pismo Beach

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/pismodunes.jpg

Its a beautiful state. Love you guys

scott2075

11-08-2007, 06:05 AM

Those are beautiful pics George!!!

Nww I'm really homesick for CO!!!!!:(

Bodhi Tree

11-08-2007, 06:17 AM

Fantastic pictures George !! thank you so much for sharing.

My whole family lives in California. I went to college there and visit almost each year.

So many places that I haven't see yet, and your pictures gave me great ideas of places that I'd love to see. Pete and I are planning on renting a car and driving around California. Your pictures are making me impatient now :p

bubbleee

11-08-2007, 07:52 AM

Hi Geo, I used to live in California in the early 80's. I lived in Walnut Creek (east of San Francisco) and would open my front door to see the snow on the top of Mount Diablo.

http://home.pacbell.net/thammon/img/Diablo-Hawk.jpg

I absolutely loved living in California. But my ex-husband had to relocate for his work and we moved back to the East Coast.

I've been back at least a half dozen times since I left. It's beautiful!

zoliepup

11-08-2007, 09:44 AM

Aww George, what I great photopictorial of home. I moved away after living there for 33 years a couple of years ago. Two more years in Seattle and I'm going back home!!

I've lived in Orange County, Yuba City, Tahoe (Truckee), San Francisico (near the corner of Haight and Ashbury), Marin, East Bay (including East Oakland, yikes!), and Davis. I'm sure I'm leaving a few places out, as well. I've backpacked from Yosemite to Whitney, climbed Shasta, stayed in the wilderness for nearly a month at a time. You don't truly realize how much you love California until you leave, and while Washington is beautiful, its just not the same!

Lily42

11-08-2007, 10:12 AM

AWWWW.......Now I want to visit, great photos geo... ;) Love water and mountains and nature..

dbexx

11-08-2007, 10:20 AM

Wonderful photos, thank you so much for sharing.

I had no idea California was so beautiful - you've made me really want to visit now :)

goodchild

11-08-2007, 10:21 AM

Absolutely beautiful place George! I can see why you wouldn't want to move!:yes:

BellaLove

11-08-2007, 12:31 PM

Yep!! Well done! I love calling California home. :D Although someday I may venture over to Brazil for some time to see if it suits me better. It is quite expensive here in CA.

Geo55

11-09-2007, 01:21 AM

...I've lived in ... San Francisico (near the corner of Haight and Ashbury)...

Z/P here's something just for you. It should bring back memories.

The neighborhood in the vicinity of the intersection of Haight and Ashbury
is known as the Haight. In the early 1960's American youth flocking to
San Francisco to become a part of the "psychedelic" scene that was growing there,
made the Haight the focal point of their lives. The rent was cheap! The Haight
is an old neighborhood with tightly packed Victorian cottages sitting side by side.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/haightashburycornerview.jpg

This was the home of the Grateful Dead band members

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/gratefuldeadhouse.jpg

This was the home of the Jefferson Airplane band members (on Fulton Street)

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/jeffersonairplanehouse.jpg

You'll still find some young people living there, or hanging out. There are some
hippies who never grew up too. Merchants have capitalized on the neighborhood's
past and have made it somewhat of a tourist attraction. The neighborhood
has a sense of community.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/haightstreetvictorian.jpg

The Victorian cottages today are in various states of repair, some are marvelously restored.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/haightashburyvictorianIV.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/haightashburyvictorians.jpg

Smoe owners have chosen to paint their cottages in brightly colored paint, harkening
the days of flower power and psychedelia.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/haightashburyvictoriansII.jpg

Some cottages are works in progress

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h51/gp_fillmore/haightashburyvictorianIII.jpg

take care, George

larasteele

11-09-2007, 01:53 AM

Thank you so much for sharing your lovely photos! You almost make me want to run away to Cali!

Angel

11-09-2007, 01:54 AM

George you are teasing me!

My fiance's entire family is from Santa Ana, CA. I've wanted to move there so badly but it's too difficult for us. To move there we would have to adjust from paying 700 a month in rent to paying 1400 a month in rent. Our pay scales would not increase and we would make the same there that we make here. It's just not feasible.

I can't put our family into that type of financial situation no matter how I long to be there.

Fix the housing prices there for me please? :o

Harrison

11-10-2007, 12:37 PM

zoliepup

11-10-2007, 01:16 PM

Angel

11-10-2007, 02:03 PM

George,
I forgot to tell you that in the pictures you put up of the Haight, you've actually captured a picture of my ex-boyfriend's place (the street with all the places with rounded fronts) and a friends place (those beautiful ones up above Buena Vista Park). Thanks for that trip down memory lane... I am now kind of home sick!

And did you notice in all the pictures... Blue skies!!! I've never appreciated blue skies as much as I do now!!!

The skies are outstanding aren't they?

You know, a funny thought I often have. All these families moved out West to strike it rich and my silly backwards family MOVED EAST!

They came from Oklahoma and moved to Indiana/Tennessee/Kentucky and then eventually to Ohio and Pennsylvania.

WTH is up with that? I so got ripped off on that deal.

They could've moved to California back when it was cheap to live there, after all Oklahoma IS closer to CA than PA. Then I'd already be established there. But, could they think that far ahead for me? NO! LOL.

I want to smack the heck out of whoever it was in my family tree that thought, "Let's move East while everyone else moves West."

My Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandpa has some SERIOUS explaining to do when I get to heaven. And because of that decision somehow it transferred into a genetic defect that my family tree suffers in our 'critical thinking' skills ever since. :p

zoliepup

11-10-2007, 02:45 PM

Harrison

11-10-2007, 08:30 PM

When I just finished college, I was living in the Haight, when the house next door to mine went on sale. 3 story Victorian, overlooking Buena Vista Park. $230,000 dollars!!! I could have bought it on my teeny weenie post college salary, but did I? NO... Now, the house just sold for 7 million!!!

Kicking self over and over and over again. It might be one of the stupidest mistakes I've ever made! (Well, that and an ex-boyfriend or two:tongue2:)

:D That sounds about "normal" for that part of the USA. :rolleyes:
What kills me is that those houses look so unremarkable and/or nondescript relative to the asking price.

Mishigas73

11-10-2007, 09:42 PM

Ah George....looking at those pictures brings me back. Though, I *do* have to say, not nearly enough to even remotely make me regret my move from southern California.

Maybe it's the fact that I only spent 4 years there, and never truly *liked* it in the first place. It was a convenient stopping point on my way from NY to "up north"...(though, honestly, at the time I moved there, I thought "up north" would be the Bay Area, not north of Seattle, Washington...LOL).

As a matter of fact, I feel more sorry for my parents, who made the move from NY to Lake Tahoe, several months after I did. They left their home of 32 years to be "out west" with their children. Well, let's say, their grandchildren. My brother's wife was pregnant at the time, and they wanted to be close to their grandson. It's turned out to be a complete and utter HORROR for them, leaving them wishing (as recently as this morning) that they could move back to NY tomorrow.

NY is what they KNOW. That's where they spent their whole lives, and that's where their roots are. Whereas someone who didn't have their experiences would look at NY and say, "erm, I could NEVER live here" (myself, being one of them), they both, and especially my mom, just love it there.

If YOU love it where you live, what else matters? I can tell you that my parents would still be in NY, were it not for my brother having his heart set on "living in the Bay Area"....blah, blah, blah (another story, for another time). Personally speaking, if I could live anywhere, it would be back in Vermont, hands down.

That's what makes horse racing, though.

There are very many absolutely gorgeous and wonderful places in California. Personally, I've seen them and don't want to live in them...but, that's just me. If you've found someplace you love, why not stay? I don't see any reason to "retire to someplace else" if there's not a calling for it.

There's no need to defend your choice to stay in California. I know, full well, it's not "for me", but I would never turn my nose at someone who thought different. :)

Mishigas73

11-10-2007, 09:48 PM

When I just finished college, I was living in the Haight, when the house next door to mine went on sale. 3 story Victorian, overlooking Buena Vista Park. $230,000 dollars!!! I could have bought it on my teeny weenie post college salary, but did I? NO... Now, the house just sold for 7 million!!!

*gasp*

I know the Haight well...my brother lived there while doing his residency. But, 230 grand??? Apparently, my memories of the Haight in the mid-90's are a *wee bit* different than yours. :D

I hear you on the "regret" thing though. When my grandparents first reitred to Florida in the 70's, property could literally be purchased for a song. Ugh. The money that could have been made then...

zoliepup

11-10-2007, 10:15 PM

This was actually 1993, pre-tech boom... so it THAT was considered outrageous at the time!

Mishigas73

11-10-2007, 10:17 PM

This was actually 1993, pre-tech boom... so it THAT was considered outrageous at the time!

Gotcha! ;)

miu

11-10-2007, 10:33 PM

Beautiful pictures! However, I am like Mishigas73, and my heart is in New England. My dream is to someday have a place along the Maine seacoast.

My great grandparents had a ranch in Big Sur many many decades ago. Their place is now the Julia Pheiffer Burns State Park. Then my grandparents lived in Pebble Beach, right on Stillwater Cove. It was the only house with beachfront property. When they passed away, the golf course bought their place and moved the 17th hole over. My parents moved out to CA about 16 years ago and bought a small ranch in Winters. Now my sisters and parents live in Berkeley. I will never move to CA, and I heard that 93 octane just hit $5 a gallon the other day.

Jo-Admin

11-10-2007, 11:00 PM

Im with Angel, fix the housing prices. We could all move there and start our own Ageless neighborhood. Wouldn't that be awesome?

The pics are just breath-taking. Thanks for sharing them. ((hugs))

adeladeb

11-10-2007, 11:17 PM

Thanks George for sharing! I want to go to Cali now! :p

naturewoman0123

11-11-2007, 12:06 AM

Thanks for sharing those beautiful pictures! I live in CA myself, all my life..and can't seem to ever leave either..true, I want to move up to N. CA though..my daughter goes to Berkeley, and son San Luis Obispo. I love San Francisco, although I'm a smaller city person..I'd still like to live within close enough distance, to go there...

I travel a lot myself, and I haven't seen to many places that I like better than CA...sure, I love Oregon/WA, but I don't like rain...I love Colorado, that is the only place (next to CA) that is similiar...I live off 395, so I go to Yosemite/Mammoth/June Lake are ALL THE TIME...and S. Lake Tahoe...it's the best!!!!

I agree, ppl that has never been to CA, think of L.A. and that's TO ME is not CA...don't go there for Disneyland and such..go to N. CA...see San Fran., Yosemite...and of course, take that drive along highway 1...it's is FANTASTIC!!! that's why I never want to leave CA, I love the ocean! It's the only place I know..that one can go water skiing/or snow skiing, or go dirt bike riding in the desert....because, we have it all!!

naturewoman

violetblue

11-11-2007, 03:18 PM

gorgeous pics. i live 15 minutes from san francisco. it does look beautiful in pictures. but the expense, the traffic,the gangs,the crime... other places are beginning to look more attractive...

christina923

11-11-2007, 07:37 PM

your pictures took my breath away! wonderful to see them...

LADave

11-11-2007, 11:25 PM

Thanks for the photo tour, George! Barely a day goes by when I don't consciously think "I'm living in CALIFORNIA!" and feel blessed in that respect. My life's certainly not perfect, but I'd much rather be working to solve my problems here than any other place!

I went out of state during the late '90s for law school, got utterly homesick, and moved back a year early. I did my third and final year of law school at Pepperdine University in Malibu. The law building is high on a hill overlooking the Pacific. When you walk in the front door and look out the picture windows on the far end, all you see is big blue ocean!

No way am I leaving Cali, ever! :)

Strwbrries

11-12-2007, 12:26 AM

Beautiful pictures, Geo! Truly Outstanding!!! :D

But, as others have mentioned, those of us not blessed with a trust fund - or the skills to earn the equivalent thereof - will have to sit out the party. I find California to be beautiful and wonderful to visit and oppressive to live and work in.

Our present property - if situated in any decent neighborhood in the S.F. Bay Area - would easily top $1m.... which is completely and utterly ridiculous IMHO. :eek:

yeah housing prices in the city for a decent neighborhood are crazy but hey the market is dropping..lol. My mother bought her house originally a short ten years ago for just over 200k, care to guess how much it would sell for now..its insane and we're suppose to buy a house in 2 years,,,crrrazyyyy.lol

Angel

11-12-2007, 01:17 AM

yeah housing prices in the city for a decent neighborhood are crazy but hey the market is dropping..lol. My mother bought her house originally a short ten years ago for just over 200k, care to guess how much it would sell for now..its insane and we're suppose to buy a house in 2 years,,,crrrazyyyy.lol

Years back my fiance's grandparents bought their house for about 50K. Their house today would sell for about 750K. The house next door to them, a 2 bedroom with a bad roof and in dire need of repairs sold for over 300K.

They live in a mediorce neighborhood but because they're so close to LA / Disney / John Wayne Airport their prices are unreasonable for us to ever consider relocating there.

His mother owns a duplex and could rent us the front portion. But we'd have to adjust from paying 700 a month rent to 1400 a month.

And I'm taking flack because there it's common practice to rent out bedrooms to make ends meet. Usually 2-3 families reside in a 2 bedroom.

His grandparents and his mother are currently renting out rooms and my fiance was raised with boarders all his life, but I can't live like that. I'm not used to that and would feel very uncomfortable and guilty for asking my children to give up their personal space to make ends meet. So we are stuck here. :(

Strwbrries

11-12-2007, 11:40 AM

Years back my fiance's grandparents bought their house for about 50K. Their house today would sell for about 750K. The house next door to them, a 2 bedroom with a bad roof and in dire need of repairs sold for over 300K.

They live in a mediorce neighborhood but because they're so close to LA / Disney / John Wayne Airport their prices are unreasonable for us to ever consider relocating there.

His mother owns a duplex and could rent us the front portion. But we'd have to adjust from paying 700 a month rent to 1400 a month.

And I'm taking flack because there it's common practice to rent out bedrooms to make ends meet. Usually 2-3 families reside in a 2 bedroom.

His grandparents and his mother are currently renting out rooms and my fiance was raised with boarders all his life, but I can't live like that. I'm not used to that and would feel very uncomfortable and guilty for asking my children to give up their personal space to make ends meet. So we are stuck here. :(

I wouldnt rent our rooms either, so I dont blame you for not wanting to do it. Im in northern California and Im renting a 4 bedroom house for 1525 and thats considered inexpensive for the area that I live in, I actually lucked out into this house in this neighborhood because homes in this neighborhood rent anywhere from 1600 to 2500 a month, depending on what the amenities are.

There are cheaper rents in other towns, maybe move to California but look for neighborhoods were rent isnt all crazy, the farther inland you go the less expensive the rent but you would probably have to drive anywhere from 8 to 10 hours back to LA depending on where you locate. It is worth it though, its beautiful down here and the people are great. My advice to you would be to do it now if you can because with so many buyers losing their homes the renters market is about to go up.

Im originally from San Jose, aka Silicon Valley and I left there right when the housing boom was about to start, Im glad I moved to Tracy because it allowed me to give my children better options. With what you can afford in rent, I would say look into Sacramento, Im sure that there are towns in Southern California within that price range too but they would be as I said a goodly drive away from the city. Which shouldnt be so bad, lol unless you really really really love your in laws. :D

Strwbrries

11-12-2007, 12:16 PM

Well I for one will never leave my lovely state. I love it here and with all the available microclimates in this state, I can pretty much have it all. One of my favorite towns is Monterey, Ca. I love it there and try to get over to that town at least once during the summer.

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/Strwbrries/untitled.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/Strwbrries/130445.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/Strwbrries/big_sur_coast_1.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/Strwbrries/vfiles23216.jpg

Most of all living over here in the central Valley, I miss my hills from the Silicon Valley...ahh it just seems to open over here...I love looking out during the winter and feeling the heat of the sun and looking up at the hills and seeing the snow lol...which always melted by noon. Sigh...but Clint's family is here and I dont mind the 1 hour drive back to my valley.

Snowy San Jose Hill

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a386/Strwbrries/usca34939.jpg

naturewoman0123

11-12-2007, 03:21 PM

Been here all my life! I travel a lot though, but always can't wait to come back to go old CA...but, I have to admit, sometimes I do think about moving somewhere, where it's a little slower pace...and less crowded..I live in S. CA, but am trying to move up North myself..my kids are in Berkeley, and other one in San Luis Obispo...they, will most likely stay in the N. CA areas..

I have been all over the place (in the West)...and a few places furer...I want to put some pictures up, but don't know how to do that yet...the pictures that were sent of N. CA, is so beautiful! thank-you guys!!!

It at least, shows now just how beautiful our state is, instead of hearing all bad things! I think we can split the state up N. CA and S. CA...no comparison of the beauty..although, there is some pretty places area S. Diego..but, too crowded...my favorite places up north are....

1.) LOVE the drive on Hwy. 1 up the coast!!!! the BEST!! should be voted the most scenic..

2.) LOVE the drive from S. Barbara up to Monterey...it starts getting more and more empty...especially, from Moro Bay and up...Big Sur, Carmel, around the Hearst Castle area..

3.) LOVE around the San Fran. area too! and the Redwoods above that..the views are BREATHING TAKING!!

4.) for the MOUNTAINS: The Sierra's of course...Lake Tahoe, Yosemite areas are just wonderful! take a drive up 395 is so BEAUTIFUL!! I live off 395..so, I take trips up there all the time..June Lake/Mammoth Lakes...

naturewoman

naturewoman0123

11-12-2007, 03:29 PM

I hear ya! My daughter attends Berkeley, and went I went there for a tour and get her settled in...WOW!! it is SO BEAUTIFUL!! The college was built in the middle/late 1800's, and there's so much history there! I realize there's a lot of things that aren't good in CA, but that's only because of it probably being the most beautiful state in the Country..(I feel)..I mean, when you take in consideration the weather, beauty, opportunities, etc. etc...after all, that's probably why all the people came here in the first place..

Yet, at my age, I want to live here still..just want to live somewhere more rural...and yet, still be close enough to go to the Ocean/Mountains...right now, I live in the High Desert...close to the Mountains..but, furer from the beach..(1 1/2 hrs or two) from the Ocean...but, that still is ok...I would love to live somewhere up towards Clear Lake in N. CA...somewhere, out of the hussle and bussle..but, close enough to see all those pretty sites!! and might have to drive for work, but would be worth it..I have a good economy car!!! yeah!! 34 miles per gallon! and looking to get an 'insight'...to get even better~ but, I thought both ways..leaving CA and what other places offer..OR just put up with the cost of living here, because TO ME it's still worth it..but, of course, my house is around $700/mo..on 2 1/2 acres..rural area of S. CA..so, I don't anything to complain about..bought, long, long time ago...and a bigger house on top of that..IF I sold my house, I could buy up North..just would be someplace rural....and no property perhaps..but, IF I looked hard enough..I could find something...because, of the equity in this house now..

naturewoman

Strwbrries

11-12-2007, 04:03 PM

naturewoman0123

11-12-2007, 04:05 PM

Yeah, I really feel sorry for our children..because, I don't think they're ever going to be able to buy in CA...I forgot what they said, how much a couple needs to make, to buy a house..I mean, I live in the High Desert, (which was the cheapest, and yet able to stay in S. CA for job reasons)...and I can't even see how any YOUNG ppl can buy a house here either?

The average house price here is what? $350k or something..now, here in the High Desert, I believe you can get one in the $200k...but, still how can a younger couple even do that??? My son and his wife to be, is most likely going to move to the Walnut Creek up North..he will be making pretty good money, as a Civil Engineer..and she's going to school still to be a Teacher..but, she's works f/t right now..and still, they couldn't buy a house...

naturewoman

Strwbrries

11-12-2007, 04:29 PM

BellaLove

11-13-2007, 12:52 PM

Now I have my own opinions about owning property in CA. About 5 years ago I bought a townhome in Solvang, CA for just under 1/2 a million and just a year ago I had to sell because of the financial burden it was creating for me. It sold for less than I bought it for. Not only was I sold a horrible loan that practically doubled within the last 2 years, but just all the expenses that go along with owning your own property became too much to handle.
I don't think I will EVER buy property again...well maybe in Buzios, Brazil. :yes:

Anyhoo...I'm back to renting and I couldn't be happier!! Although it is tough finding places that will accept pets. The cost of living is so expensive and sometimes you wonder if it's really worth it. I feel like I work 24/7 and when I'm not working I'm either sleeping because of exhaustion or house cleaning. Over all yes it is amazing what CA has to offer. But it's not cool to be here and be broke off your a**.

So I live in Solvang which is the Danish capital of America...it's in the Santa Ynez Valley, a tucked away gem of an area, right on the border of southern CA and central CA. Many celebs hide out in this area since it's so private and spread out with ranches everywhere. Michael Jackson, Bo Derek, Kim Basinger, John Corbett (Aidan from Sex and the City), Ellen and so many other's have called this area home. I work in Santa Barbara so it's only a quick 20 minute drive down south to get to work. I lived in Santa Barbara from the ages of 12 to 22. And before that I lived in L.A. with my family. One of my favorite drives is up the 1 going north. Oh my gosh it's so beautiful! Big Sur, Carmel, it's amazing how diverse our state is!