truecoat
Well-Known Member
Like it was a race? We are the World was a copy of what they did in England and wouldn't have happened otherwise.
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The Miscellaneous Thought Thread
- Thread starter mickEblu
- Start date
Like it was a race? We are the World was a copy of what they did in England and wouldn't have happened otherwise.
Oh ok I’m so sorry
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
That's true. He was working as a janitor in the studio where they recorded it. Didn't he also play Santa's son? He sang the Meaning of Christmas and R2-D2 We wish you a Merry Christmas.
I'm staying in SoCal. I prefer mountain lions.
GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
Go to your room and think about what you've done!
Well folks, looks like my time in California may be coming to an end very soon. As in the next 6-9 months. My parents who are getting close to retirement age are looking to downsize… at the house we’ve been renting from them for the past 8 years. I’ve lived here my whole life and wish this wasn’t the case (at least not under these circumstances) but it’s the reality. With that said, there has been a growing list of reasons I started thinking about leaving the state anyway.
As I look around real estate prices in California it’s pretty clear that I have been priced out. My non negotiables are that I need to be in a decent/good area and it needs to be a house with at least 3 bedrooms. Which means I’m priced out in Southern California. And if I’m not going to be able to stay near my roots and family out here I guess that means I may as well move to a state where I can comfortably afford a home. Where I can buy a brand new and bigger home for the same price as renting a tiny house from the 60’s here.
After a few days of research, these are the 8 states in the running. These states were chosen because they have a good combo of cost of living, quality of life, good/ warm weather and attractions. As well as being places that appeal to me for various reasons. In no particular order although Florida and Texas are probably near the top (for now) and Utah and Idaho are on the bottom of the list due to the cold winters.
Florida
Texas
Arizona
Georgia
Tennessee
South Carolina
Utah
Idaho
@TP2000 how are you liking Utah?
I’d love to hear all opinions on the other states on my list. Especially if you live there.
As I look around real estate prices in California it’s pretty clear that I have been priced out. My non negotiables are that I need to be in a decent/good area and it needs to be a house with at least 3 bedrooms. Which means I’m priced out in Southern California. And if I’m not going to be able to stay near my roots and family out here I guess that means I may as well move to a state where I can comfortably afford a home. Where I can buy a brand new and bigger home for the same price as renting a tiny house from the 60’s here.
After a few days of research, these are the 8 states in the running. These states were chosen because they have a good combo of cost of living, quality of life, good/ warm weather and attractions. As well as being places that appeal to me for various reasons. In no particular order although Florida and Texas are probably near the top (for now) and Utah and Idaho are on the bottom of the list due to the cold winters.
Florida
Texas
Arizona
Georgia
Tennessee
South Carolina
Utah
Idaho
@TP2000 how are you liking Utah?
I’d love to hear all opinions on the other states on my list. Especially if you live there.
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TP2000
Well-Known Member
It happens to the best of us. Even when we live in California happily for decades, we suddenly look up and realize the place has changed.
There are homeless encampments alongside freeway onramps that 30 years ago never even had weeds. There are meth-addict nutjobs living in bus stops in even the nice suburbs yelling at clouds and passing cars, where there used to be little old ladies and Jr. High kids waiting for the bus to take them to the market or the movies. There's graffiti and trash and human waste in places it never used to exist. You walk down the streets in town and randomly get a strong whiff of human urine. And we pay the highest taxes in the nation for that? And if we dare complain about any of it as working taxpayers we're called bigots and hate-mongers? The weather is nice, to be sure, but it ain't worth all that.
It's time to move on. Lots of other states will welcome you and your law-abiding, lawn-mowing, tax-paying self with open arms.
I am LOVING it! It's all so clean, so orderly, so polite and friendly and happy. People smile at other people. Motorists wave for you to go ahead. Shopclerks say chirpy, polite things to you and mean it. I haven't seen a single homeless person since I moved here. There's no graffiti. Taxes are very low. Premium gasoline costs $3.79 per gallon at the local Sinclair station. If your car doesn't need Premium, Regular gas is only $3.29. My natural gas rates are half what they were in OC and my electricity rates are less than half what they were in OC. Groceries are cheaper here; eggs, beef, bread, chicken, milk, Nutella, cocktail olives. You know, the staples of life.
Even good liquor is cheaper here, although I imagine Brigham Young is mad about that somewhere.
Is it San Diego with nearly year-round 72 degrees? No. But approximately 99% of the continent is not like San Diego's climate. When I left southern Utah just before Christmas, it was overcast and 50 degrees. But then, it's raining pretty hard and 56 degrees tonight here in La Jolla. Yes, it can snow in southern Utah's valleys. But it's nothing like the winters I spent in Boston and New Hampshire that were brutal and never seemed to end. There are four seasons in Utah, and summer is the longest. Spring and Fall are lovely, and Winter is chilly with occasional snow. I bought a set of snow tires for my SUV and I'm doing great so far, when it does snow enough to stick. (It's happened twice so far, and the locals say this winter is unusually cold and snowy earlier than normal.)
The people are lovely. The schools are fantastic. The cities are clean and orderly and law-abiding. Societal collapse does not seem imminent.
My advice? Look at your finances with a sharp eye. Even if it means a 20% reduction in your standard of living that you can quantify, there is more than a 20% improvement in your quality of life waiting for you outside of California. It's not 1975 any longer. The California Dream is dead, and especially parents with children need to look elsewhere to protect their families and lives and future.
And having a Disneyland AP, no matter what they do with Genie+ tiers, doesn't make up for any of the awfulness of SoCal any more.
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GiveMeTheMusic
Well-Known Member
I personally would not consider Texas until they completely solve their power grid issues (this is not a political statement - just a real problem). Too much of the state is subject to extreme weather events to have that unstable of a grid and have it be disconnected from the rest of the country for help. Lots of people like or dislike Texas for any number of reasons, but to me, their little power grid setup is far too risky. If you do end up there, and I'm serious about this, invest in a backup generator for your home and just build it into the cost of your home purchase.
Idaho has had a huge influx of CA expats and they're fuming. You will be hated by the locals, and the real estate is now way overpriced for what it is. There's also no upside to Idaho.
All the Marvel actors seem to enjoy Georgia!
One thing I'd recommend doing some research on is local and state level gun crime rates. Not a factor in Utah for example, but it is a factor in Georgia and some other places where you might not always suspect.
People have been saying this my entire life, aka a really long time, and the California Dream lives on.
Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
TP2000
Well-Known Member
There were tens of thousands of homes without power in Seattle and Portland this past weekend too. Across the far northern Northeast US the past few days, up to 1.7 Million people were without electricity for 24 hours or longer. Hundreds of thousands were without power for several days in New York State over the Christmas weekend. Sadly, as of tonight, 34 people died in New York the last 72 hours due to the cold and collapse of infrastructure and emergency responses.
People died on Christmas weekend by freezing to death in their cars on the roadways around Buffalo, New York. It was tragic. But weather happens, especially in winter.
New York winter storm death toll at 34 with more snow on the way
Erie county executive says ‘this is not the end yet’ as forecasters say 9in more snow could fall through Tuesday
www.theguardian.com
Young nurse Anndel Taylor found dead in car in Buffalo blizzard: ‘She was an icicle’
A student nurse killed in the monster snowstorm that pounded upstate New York sent terrifying videos to her family while trapped in her car before she was finally found dead around 24 hours later.…
nypost.com
And who the heck lives in earthquake country like SoCal and doesn't have an emergency generator and 10 gallons of fuel in the garage?!? I mean, I guess there's probably clueless 25 year old childless adults that live like that in SoCal. But what parent of children doesn't keep an emergency power supply, emergency food, a firearm, and first aid supplies available to them when the Big One (or even the moderate one on the Newport-Inglewood fault) hits and shuts down the SoCal power grid, gas supplies, food supplies, banks, cell service, and emergency responders for a week or more? A smart Californian moving to Texas with that equipment is ready to go!
Living in Texas is no different than living in New England. You prepare for winter, assuming you aren't stupid.
That attraction closed 14 years ago, due to lack of interest.
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Californian Elitist
Well-Known Member
Yep. And they’re gonna keep saying it.
I say let folks believe what they want. Yes, the “California Dream” has EXPIRED. NO MORE. FINITO.
mlayton144
Well-Known Member
Interesting topic that should yield alot of opinions- please note to yourself that the following states “summer” which can last 6 months means HOT HOT in a way you have probably never experienced in southern California
Florida
Texas (especially southeast)
Georgia
Tennessee
South Carolina
Hot meaning you go outside and start sweating within 10 minutes and lots of rain .
I would add north Carolina to your potential list (Raleigh/Durham area and some others ) - a bit milder climate than the Deep South, good universities, more reasonable cost of living vs the states to the north
One more thing to note - almost your entire list are deep red states , not a bad thing in isolation and I only say this because you are a SoCal resident - could be a culture shock in comparison vs what you might be used to
Florida
Texas (especially southeast)
Georgia
Tennessee
South Carolina
Hot meaning you go outside and start sweating within 10 minutes and lots of rain .
I would add north Carolina to your potential list (Raleigh/Durham area and some others ) - a bit milder climate than the Deep South, good universities, more reasonable cost of living vs the states to the north
One more thing to note - almost your entire list are deep red states , not a bad thing in isolation and I only say this because you are a SoCal resident - could be a culture shock in comparison vs what you might be used to
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
There's going to be some heat and humidity that you are not used to dealing with, particularly with Texas and Florida (can't vouch for all of the others). Both are similarly miserable in the summer, and in Florida you can count on the daily thunderstorms to sweep in.
The Texas power situation that @GiveMeTheMusic alluded to is very real, and even this last summer when it wasn't a matter of the grid flat out breaking, it still made things difficult for the state's residents, and there's some very real issues and/or exploitation by some combination of the state and corporations going on in terms of energy. I stayed at an AirBNB with a very nice woman in San Antonio, clearly living very comfortably in a nice, tastefully decorated house, outwardly wanting for nothing. But even she was fuming about how her electricity and utility bills had essentially doubled in that last month, and she only used her AC when she had guests staying with her. Otherwise she just kept her heavy curtains closed and hoped for the best. It was NOT exceptional heat by San Antonio standards either. IMO until Texas figures its stuff out, you're asking for trouble in a way that you won't be with any of the other states on your list.
I can't speak for Idaho as a whole (never been), but I have seen a few people talk about how Boise specifically is a very, very expensive city to live in for what you get.
Tennessee is a beautiful state to drive through and has interesting cities. Nashville is a great place to be, Memphis is a dump that nonetheless has great attractions IMO, and Pigeon Forge & Gaitlinburg are the mother of all tourist traps that must be seen to be believed (but hooray for the Smoky Mountains and Dollywood, one of the best regional theme parks out there). You're also reasonably centrally located within the South.
The Texas power situation that @GiveMeTheMusic alluded to is very real, and even this last summer when it wasn't a matter of the grid flat out breaking, it still made things difficult for the state's residents, and there's some very real issues and/or exploitation by some combination of the state and corporations going on in terms of energy. I stayed at an AirBNB with a very nice woman in San Antonio, clearly living very comfortably in a nice, tastefully decorated house, outwardly wanting for nothing. But even she was fuming about how her electricity and utility bills had essentially doubled in that last month, and she only used her AC when she had guests staying with her. Otherwise she just kept her heavy curtains closed and hoped for the best. It was NOT exceptional heat by San Antonio standards either. IMO until Texas figures its stuff out, you're asking for trouble in a way that you won't be with any of the other states on your list.
I can't speak for Idaho as a whole (never been), but I have seen a few people talk about how Boise specifically is a very, very expensive city to live in for what you get.
Tennessee is a beautiful state to drive through and has interesting cities. Nashville is a great place to be, Memphis is a dump that nonetheless has great attractions IMO, and Pigeon Forge & Gaitlinburg are the mother of all tourist traps that must be seen to be believed (but hooray for the Smoky Mountains and Dollywood, one of the best regional theme parks out there). You're also reasonably centrally located within the South.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
California is among the very highest electricity prices in the Lower 48, generally double what most other states charge. Someone moving from Wyoming to Texas may balk at the increased Texas rates, but anyone moving from California to Texas is going to be amazed at how low the electricity rates are in Texas. Less than half that of California in '22.
2022 Texas Rates = 12.8 Cents per Kwh
2022 California Rates = 26.7 Cents per Kwh
Texas and California Energy Side By Side
Explore the Texas and California electricity and natural gas markets, compare energy rates for the residential and commercial sectors.
quickelectricity.com
Now, that's not to say a Californian moving from coastal San Diego where AC use isn't required every day to a place like Houston or Dallas where AC is used daily from May through October won't see a higher electricity bill. But if a Californian is moving from the hot inland suburbs and cities like Riverside or the San Fernando Valley or Bakersfield where AC is used just as much as in Texas they'll see a dramatically lower monthly electricity bill in Texas.
I have extended family in Boise, some great restaurants there! The people who complain about the high cost of Boise are usually comparing it to places like Spokane or Billings. Or, God forbid, Pocatello.
I had two different friends move to Tennessee in the past few years. They are simply raving about living in Nashville! Dollywood has been on my bucket list for far too long, so I promised them I'd come visit to see what all the fuss is about over Tennessee lately. The tourist trap of Pigeon Forge also makes me morbidly curious from the YouTube stuff I've seen. I will report back here once I've seen it for myself!
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Amen! I've lived in several East Coast states, from South Carolina up to New Hampshire, and the humidity in summer is unbearable out there. The further south you go it just means that summer lasts longer. But a hot, humid day in Boston is just as miserable as a hot, humid day in Charleston or Richmond. But Boston has more honking cars than Charleston, which makes it even more annoying in the heat of July.
I also lived outside Houston for a bit, and it was just miserable (friendly people though!). Montana was great, but winter is severe and the mosquitos in summer were the size of parakeets.
I had an old friend from the Service who was from the Carolinas, and the tail end of his career sent him up to Seattle for several years. The darkness and endless light rain actually caused him psychological problems; he had to go on medication and install sun lamp fixtures in his house for daily light therapy sessions. If you aren't from Seattle or of Scandinavian stock, the long and dark and endlessly drippy winters there can really mess up your brain and your moods!
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
Utah isn't bad. It has Lagoon amusement park. We go there once a year to see relatives. Once my youngest graduates in 2024, we will probably follow him to Provo. The prices keep going up though. Fortunately my house has gone up dramatically so renting it would mean free mortgage pretty much anywhere else. Watching those redecorating shows, I could buy an entire city block in the south for my house. North Carolina seems pretty nice.
If you go to Idaho, make sure to change your car plates really fast or suffer unexplained damage.
If you go to Idaho, make sure to change your car plates really fast or suffer unexplained damage.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
There's the Pro Tip!
The same goes for any Californian who moves to Oregon or Washington or Utah. You must change your license plates ASAP and practice your introductions so that it's clear you've lived in several places and aren't a native Californian arriving to colonize their local culture.
State hate crime? Calif. transplants react to graffiti incident
After experiencing an audacious bout of California hatred in the form of spray painted...
Phroobar
Well-Known Member
My son found the registration difference was huge. He was paying close to $500 in California for his truck. In Idaho, he paid $50. That money sure isn't going to the roads.
TP2000
Well-Known Member
Oh don't even get me started on that!
I have two newer vehicles. I was paying over $1,300 per year to register them in California. In Utah? They're less than a third of that.
And the trip to the local DMV took me 30 minutes, and the clerk was an absolute doll with me. She knew too, as she said "I bet you were paying a lot more in California, huh? Does this feel better?". DMV humor.