The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[mickEblu]

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.

Glad to hear you are loving Utah! I think So Cal is still a great place in many ways. Terrible in others. Money definitely helps out here! I'm looking forward to a change of scenery and hopefully greener pastures. Been in the SFV all my life. Didn't even go away for college.

Weather is a big one for me which is why I have Utah and Idaho lower on my list. But you're not making the Utah winter sound that bad.

 

[mickEblu]

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.

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Thanks for bringing this up. Completely forgot about the Power Grids issue from last Winter. I'll be honest, I don't think Idaho or Utah really made my list. I really cant deal with the cold winters. I just kind of put them there based on things I heard and to round out the list. I get depressed when we have three cloudy days in a row which is why I could never live somewhere like Seattle. Eventhough I would love all the lush greenery.

Serious contenders based on very limited research and just what I know would be Central Florida, Dallas Texas and Arizona. To a lesser extent the other states like Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. Arizona has the proximity to California going for it but im not a fan of the climate or desert. Going to Palm Springs for a weekend getaway once a year is enough for me. As a Native Californian having beaches within driving distance and the Disney parks makes Florida attractive and familiar. Texas is more for the cost of living/ quality of life in general and just the good things I've read about Dallas. Right now I'd say Orlando/ central Florida sounds the best but I think that may just because I know the most about it and those real estate prices on those bright and modern looking homes look great.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Another winter break, another chance to catch up on the latest Disney-affiliated animated films.

Lightyear: Honestly, if you can stop thinking about the fact that there's no reason for this movie to exist that isn't at least a little disgusting, it's not that bad. The animation is gorgeous, if a bit colorless, and it does that whole thing that Disney's been obsessed with as of late-an extended prologue beginning, only for the movie to essentially restart 30 minutes later. The characters aren't particularly interesting or distinct, and I imagine that this movie is spending a lot of time ripping off a lot of sci-fi/space entertainment from over the years in ways that are more obvious to people who have seen more in that genre. So it's not actually that bad, it's just so unnecessary and grossly mercenary that the whole thing is tainted from conception. And I'm honestly not entirely sure why they didn't just have Allen voice Buzz here unless they felt (for whatever reason) he didn't have enough range as a performer to inhabit the role. Not that I felt that this Buzz had much more depth or nuance to him than the one in the actual Toy Story films, but I digress.

To speak to rumored ride replacements: while I have no reason to doubt the veracity of the rumor, and could absolutely see some clueless executive trying to make Lightyear Mountain a thing, there are several moments that reminded me of launching into hyperspace, and involved leaping through time and place. It arguably would have made more sense for Star Tours to get Lightyeared than Space, since there are several conspicuous similarities that stood out to me as I was watching the film.

Strange World: I see what Disney's trying to do here. Make an adventure movie. Say something meaningful about family relationships. Demonstrate the studio's gorgeous animation capabilities-there are moments that reminded me of Avatar. The problem is that today's Disney, much like in Raya, can't write in anything other than cliches, and the stupidity of the screenplay utterly destroys the worth of the entire enterprise (and what do you know? This film and Raya, a film with very similar problems, have the same director!). The characters largely are neither written or performed with any distinction, and so we have no reason to care about these people or this story. The celebrities trotted in certainly aren't up to the job-can we go back to hiring actual animation voice talent? Then there might be a fighting chance that the film could rise above its script. But again, too many cliches in scenario and dialogue; if I can picture the characters asking to add each other on Insta, it's too modern. And if Disney or Pixar makes another movie that has a character saying some variation on "when a mother and father love each other very much..." and trying to make it seem like it's a funny joke again, I will scream.

Finally, it's not an original thought, but I would love to get back to where the studios were before Disney bought Pixar and each studio had a distinctive voice. Surely there must be a way for both studios to coexist while maintaining individual identities? The only Disney movies that kinda feel like Disney movies of old are the princess movies, and the only Pixar movies that feel like Pixar movies are the ones directed by Pete Docter. Otherwise, these movies largely feel impersonal and interchangeable. They've become little more than a more sincere, more technically skilled Dreamworks.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Thanks for bringing this up. Completely forgot about their Power Grids issue from last Winter. I'll be honest, I don't think Idaho or Utah really made my list. I really cant deal with the cold winters. I just kind of put them there based on things I heard and to round out the list. I get depressed when we have three cloudy days in a row which is why I could never live somewhere like Seattle. Eventhough I would love all the lush greenery.

Serious contenders based on very limited research and just what I know would be Central Florida, Dallas Texas and Arizona. To a lesser extent the other states like Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. Arizona has the proximity to California going for it but im not a fan of the climate or desert. Going to Palm Springs for a weekend getaway once a year is enough for me. As a Native Californian having beaches within driving distance and the Disney parks makes Florida attractive and familiar. Texas is more for the cost of living/ quality of life in general and just the good things I've read about Dallas. Right now I'd say Orlando/ central Florida sounds the best but I think that may just because I know the most about it and those real estate prices on those bright and modern looking homes look great.

Make sure you visit Dallas and central Florida in the peak of summer before you make the decision to move there. Florida may look like California on paper, but that humidity truly zaps your energy and enthusiasm for being outside (and you'll have plenty of rain to contend with also). It's pleasant to be outside in California in July, but even early June in Florida tries my tolerance. Texas is just as bad, just with less rain (and the aforementioned grid issues).

I had heard that rents in Orlando were presently insane, but perhaps the home ownership prices are more reasonable?

 

[mickEblu]

Make sure you visit Dallas and central Florida in the peak of summer before you make the decision to move there. Florida may look like California on paper, but that humidity truly zaps your energy and enthusiasm for being outside (and you'll have plenty of rain to contend with also). It's pleasant to be outside in California in July, but even early June in Florida tries my tolerance. Texas is just as bad, just with less rain (and the aforementioned grid issues).

I had heard that rents in Orlando were presently insane, but perhaps the home ownership prices are more reasonable?

Good advice thank you. Well on Zillow the prices to buy a home looks pretty great for what you get. Im also comparing to California prices though.

 

[mickEblu]

As a Florida resident - lived in Miami my whole life and now Ive been spending half the year in Orlando now. I’d say Florida isn’t the worse thing around.

If the cold is a factor I do suggest Southeast Florida with the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. Miami-Dade is the priciest out of like the whole state, but with that comes a place like no other as it remains a melting pot of Hispanic, Caribbean and American cultures seen in the vibrant art and architecture throughout the county, the unique food, and the languages spoken. The biggest negatives for Miami-Dade is the price, traffic and some areas being best avoided (Opa Locka, Midtown, Florida City, Homestead). Palm Beach offers a more calm area in this parr of the state while still being near the major cities of the area with day trips being possible thanks to proximity via cars of the Brightline train routes. Since this is a Disney forum I have to mention that the perk of Broward in my eyes is Sawgrass Mills, a mall containing one of the few remaining Disney Parks outlet stores - which is how I was able to get my Disneyland merchandise for cheap before my trip!

Southwest Florida consists of towns such as Naples and Fort Meyers - these towns are more relaxed with large populations of snowbirds and retirees, but they have been expanding in terms of demographics recently. Keep in mind a major hurricane just devastated these areas and much of it is still recovering it may mean property values are currently lower than usual but who knows what work may need to be done - my sister in law is currently living out of a trailer until her home is fixed!

Next up would be the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater areas. They claim to be South Florida but many consider them Central due to the distance between this area and the Southeast part of the state. These are cities on the rise with some pockets of questionable areas, but overall it’s a cheaper Miami-Dade with the added bonus of being home to Busch Gardens a decent roller cosster park with an African/Asian theme and plenty of seasonal entertainment and animal exhibits.

The Orlando metropolitan area is great … if theme parks are a big part of your life with day trips to Disney World, Universal, SeaWorld and Legoland all being possible and highly common. Downtown Orlando itself has been growing in the last few years into an area full of unique dining, retail and living space, but you can never escape the shadow of the parks. Smaller areas nearby such as Clermont, Kissimmee, Davenport, Ocala, Winter Haven/Park, Metro West make up a good chunk of the residential areas of the metropolitan area and I recommend living there for lower price homes, being near a major city with Orlando, the theme parks, and being in the middle of the state allowing for ease of access to any city in case of a vacation being wanted.

Beyond that I don’t know much of the other cities in the state but the Keys are rather quiet, far removed from everything else, hard to get to and out of, and not safe during hurricanes due to the fact their islands connected by bridges. The panhandle and north Florida are true Southern states with cheaper cost of livings, but they do get cold and I personally wouldn’t want to live anywhere north of the Orlando metropolitan area in the state

If you choose Florida just remember we have hurricanes but no earthquakes or water shortages, and all Florida residents get deals at the Orlando/Tampa theme parks!

Thanks for the descriptions on all the different areas. Tampa and St. Petersburg came up in my research. As well as Valrico, Oviedo, Sarasota and Jacksonville.


The wife and I loved Miami. She's Cuban and has family there. I don't think we are getting any deals there though are we? Hahah. Right now Central Florida/ Orlando sounds pretty good on paper. As a native So Californian and Disneyland annual pass holder it sounds comforting to think beaches and Disney parks/ theme parks would be in driving distance. It's funny I say the beach because we don't go all that often. For whatever reason, it just feels comforting to know you get in the car and hit the coast. Disney parks are more obvious as they are my families main source of entertainment.

 

[mickEblu]

What would you be losing, with the exception of proximity to family? Maybe making a list of pros and cons may help.

Hopefully you can schedule some time to explore that part of Florida while you’re on your trip.

First and foremost is Family. We are a big close knit family and that won't be replaceable anywhere. Next would be the weather. The weather out here is hard to beat. After that it would be food/ attractions. All the great and diverse food/ restaurants. Beaches/ Coast. Disneyland of course. If I'm still considering Florida in late April I'm going to try to make it up there.

Some of these are trade offs though. For example, where you lose in the diversity and options with food you gain some delicious soul food in Georgia and Tennessee etc.

 

[mickEblu]

I would say do the following for just a reality check for each place - list your priorities in order :

- Family support (in person) and/or whether you can drive or fly to see them
- Climate
- Culture - whatever level of diversity from people to languages , to food , entertainment, etc
- Cost of living vs income
- Access to jobs
- Access to good education
- What your wife wants

Assign a 1-10 rating for each item and a multiplier for the highest priorities - a little hint that what your wife wants should probably the highest priority LOLOL

Lol. She's pretty easy going actually but I'll keep that in mind. The biggest problem is that Family/ Family support is by the far the most important but it's also going to be non existent/ irreplaceable at any of these locations which makes it a tough decision. That's the first decision I have to make. If all the other stuff on the list is worth losing that.

 

[BrianLo]

I'll be honest, I don't think Idaho or Utah really made my list.

I was reading along and increasingly was reaching the end to tell you this. I like Idaho and Utah, I don't think you would. Especially Idaho. Granted I guess Boise runs slightly better temperatures, but you are looking at winters. Cold winters.

I've made the pilgrimage drive down for about the last 7 years now for skiing and a couple of times to Salt Lake as well from Alberta. Idaho is scarcely populated, beautiful. But you are there for hiking and skiing, small town simple life. Or long road trips for camping in the middle of nowhere.

Not city life, culture, museums or theme parks. Doesn't sound like you fit into the former category so just throw Idaho safely off your list!

 

[mickEblu]

One thing to keep in mind if you do the move for real is proximity to other states and things to do, particularly if you're not super outdoorsy.

A negative for particularly Idaho and Utah, but also to an extent Texas and Florida, is that you are relatively isolated from anything else. Texas and Florida probably have enough to keep you occupied for awhile, but depending on the interests of you and your family, that may not be true of some other states you're considering. Sure, there are a lot of cool things to do in Utah, but if you want to leave or check out somewhere else? If you get to the point where you've seen everything in SLC you want to see and you've done the national parks? It'd mean that you're either hopping on a plane or driving through hours of nothing to get there. Eventually you might find that your options of going elsewhere are limited, time consuming, and/or expensive

Whereas if you're in, say, Tennessee, you have lots of other states and cities with lots of things to do within a few hours drive. But if you get tired of Boise, you're hours from anything else (unless you are content to immerse yourself in nature) if you ever want to go somewhere new.

Yeah to be honest, Utah and Idaho are not happening. Nothing against either of those places they re just not as appealing (on paper) as some of the other places on my list and I cant do the cold. Now I wouldn't shocked at all to discover that the quality of life would be better in either of these states than the places that are higher on my list. Florida is pretty close to other places that interest me like Savannah Georgia and Charleston South Carolina. There's also tons to do in Florida. You can conveniently get to the Caribbean or hop on a cruise. Here in LA, Mexico is pretty much our only option when it comes to cruising. Not to mention you're only a 5-6 hour flight from Western Europe instead of 11-12. Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina are also attractive options in that regard. But when I look at map I think, man, could you pick a further place from home? Geographically, culturally etc. With that said there is a reason these places appeal to me. Depending on how far along the process we are in April I may just do a little tour of 2-3 of these places. Arizona on the other hand only seems to have the proximity to California going for it. There is really nothing else about it that appeals to me other than the cost of living.

 

[mickEblu]

I was reading along and increasingly was reaching the end to tell you this. I like Idaho and Utah, I don't think you would. Especially Idaho. Granted I guess Boise runs slightly better temperatures, but you are looking at winters. Cold winters.

I've made the pilgrimage drive down for about the last 7 years now for skiing and a couple of times to Salt Lake as well from Alberta. Idaho is scarcely populated, beautiful. But you are there for hiking and skiing, small town simple life. Or long road trips for camping in the middle of nowhere.

Not city life, culture, museums or theme parks. Doesn't sound like you fit into the former category so just throw Idaho safely off your list!

Thank you for this. Yes, consider it officially off my list. lol.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I would say do the following for just a reality check for each place - list your priorities in order :

- Family support (in person) and/or whether you can drive or fly to see them
- Climate
- Culture - whatever level of diversity from people to languages , to food , entertainment, etc
- Cost of living vs income
- Access to jobs
- Access to good education
- What your wife wants

Assign a 1-10 rating for each item and a multiplier for the highest priorities - a little hint that what your wife wants should probably the highest priority LOLOL

As this is a Disneyland forum- perhaps 'proximity to Disneyland' should be on the list?

 

[mickEblu]

As this is a Disneyland forum- perhaps 'proximity to Disneyland' should be on the list?

Hahah. This is one reason why Central Florida is so high on may list right now. It's not Disneyland but its the next best thing stateside.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Thanks for bringing this up. Completely forgot about their Power Grids issue from last Winter. I'll be honest, I don't think Idaho or Utah really made my list. I really cant deal with the cold winters. I just kind of put them there based on things I heard and to round out the list. I get depressed when we have three cloudy days in a row which is why I could never live somewhere like Seattle. Eventhough I would love all the lush greenery.

Serious contenders based on very limited research and just what I know would be Central Florida, Dallas Texas and Arizona. To a lesser extent the other states like Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina. Arizona has the proximity to California going for it but im not a fan of the climate or desert. Going to Palm Springs for a weekend getaway once a year is enough for me. As a Native Californian having beaches within driving distance and the Disney parks makes Florida attractive and familiar. Texas is more for the cost of living/ quality of life in general and just the good things I've read about Dallas. Right now I'd say Orlando/ central Florida sounds the best but I think that may just because I know the most about it and those real estate prices on those bright and modern looking homes look great.

Is Nevada on the list?

I have heard great things about Arizona- some cousins have strongly encouraged me to leave the Beehive state and move there, but I've been resistant.

 

[mickEblu]

Is Nevada on the list?

I have heard great things about Arizona- some cousins have strongly encouraged me to leave the Beehive state and move there, but I've been resistant.

No I didn't like what I read about Nevada. Cant quite remember the details though. Also Nevada just feels like such a boring move. Nothing about it sounds exciting to me. Been to Vegas a million times. I feel like if im going to leave California it needs to be bolder and more exciting. Otherwise I may as well just stay. As far as Disneyland id imagine id still be getting out there at least twice a year when I visit family.

 

[SuddenStorm]

No I didn't like what I read about Nevada. Cant quite remember the details though. Also Nevada just feels like such a boring move. Nothing about it sounds exciting to me. Been to Vegas a million times. I feel like if im going to leave California it needs to be bolder and more exciting. Otherwise I may as well just stay. As far as Disneyland id imagine id still be getting out there at least twice a year when I visit family.

I considered moving to Vegas but honestly the rest of the state looks like an absolute bore. No income tax though I think... so that's a plus.

The only downside to 2x/year Disneyland trips is it's a much bigger deal if stuff is broken, cancelled, or down for refurbishment. I was there on the 24 and the fireworks were cancelled two minutes in- I was like 'welp, guess I'll try again next year!' Fantasmic was cancelled for both shows also- but I considered that to be a Christmas miracle.

 

[BrianLo]

There's also tons to do in Florida. You can conveniently get to the Caribbean or hop on a cruise.

My other two cents, honestly I think you'd do well in Florida. I didn't know cruises were another interest for you. It's also somewhere reasonable that you could convince family / cousins etc. to visit. Everyone thinks when they move people will visit them, but they don't UNLESS they were half motivated to visit that location anyways.

I have more people visit me in Calgary because there are touristy things to do (Banff, Lake Louise, National Parks). Did anyone visit for 4 years when I lived in Eastern Ontario and most of my friends Western Ontario, nope. Despite the former being a 4 hour flight and the latter a 4 hour drive.

I know this is a WDW forum, but you are an AP, so clearly theme parks are something you somewhat value. Even if you have a Disney fall out phase, Universal is a pretty good replacement. Which is a much, much, much more fleshed out product than Universal Hollywood.

In addition to being easy to get people to, you can get out of MCO with frequency and ease. I'm most jealous of Florida because of the ability to drive to cruise ships and some of those last minute deals can be a weird lifestyle perk.

 

[tcool123]

I get depressed when we have three cloudy days in a row which is why I could never live somewhere like Seattle. Eventhough I would love all the lush greenery.

Do keep in mind that while Florida is known as the sunshine state there are times where the days can be just as gloomy as Seattle, and if cloudy weather/rain is negative then that’s a negative for the Florida area albeit it doesnt typically rain all day but rather in bursts throughout the day.

Duly Noted. I like Tropical weather...when im on vacation. Maybe not when I'm working or in a suit. Haha. My wife's co worker recently moved to North Carolina and loves it.

The humidity does get to you here as Florida- especially the South proves that it is indeed a tropical clinate with most days in 80s with humidity making it feel hotter (or colder it goes both ways!)

Florida may look like California on paper, but that humidity truly zaps your energy and enthusiasm for being outside (and you'll have plenty of rain to contend with also).

Funnily enough I felt the opposite in California during the Summer with the relentless sun and lack of cloud coverage really getting to me. That said the humidity can really put a dent on you, and if it wasn’t for the AC I think we’d all go crazy down here lol.

Hahah I noticed that they're all Red states. I don't think I did that on a conscious level

If you’re hoping to stay in a Democrat area then definitely stick to the major cities in much of the South as they’re typically the only blue in a sea of red - the Orlando area is a great example of this! Its rather progressive in comparison to the state as a whole.

Thanks for the descriptions on all the different areas. Tampa and St. Petersburg came up in my research. As well as Valrico, Oviedo, Sarasota and Jacksonville.


The wife and I loved Miami. She's Cuban and has family there. I don't think we are getting any deals there though are we? Hahah. Right now Central Florida/ Orlando sounds pretty good on paper. As a native So Californian and Disneyland annual pass holder it sounds comforting to think beaches and Disney parks/ theme parks would be in driving distance. It's funny I say the beach because we don't go all that often. For whatever reason, it just feels comforting to know you get in the car and hit the coast. Disney parks are more obvious as they are my families main source of entertainment.

If a desire to be near other family members is there I suggest looking into Broward it has the benefits of being near the large city of Miami, three hours from Disney, near the beach and may offer lower prices than Miami-Dade proper.

However even in Orlando/Central Florida you would be relatively close to your wife’s family but far enough away were it wouldn’t be too often if thats what you wish too

Orlando is full of diverse restaurants with some great Peruvian, Indian, Puerto Rican and Vietnamese coming to mind. Given its the tourism capital a lot more cuisines are on offer that may be more foreign to your family as well, but they’re like perfect entry level ways of getting familiar for that cuisine.

I will say after taking a dip in the Pacific waters I don’t blame you! If I wanted to freeze I’d just take a cold shower lol , Florida’s water tend to be warm year round making beach going a relaxing day.

Once y’all hit the Florida resident status for Disney wherever your are in the state you do get those cheaper annual pass options, tickets and special booking deals. Not saying WDW is the same as DL, but it satisfies the need lol. Plus you have the excellent Universal Resort home to some of the best attractions in the state with Spider-Man, Hagrids, Velocicoaster and classic such as the og Jurassic Park and ET rides. Seaworld is also a fantastic value and product as they often do discounted offers for Floridians and partake in Black Friday deals for even cheaper deals.

Reading through the thread I saw you brought up how easy it is to travel to other countries and its true Florida is ina great location to travel across the Caribbean, Latin America and even parts of Europa and other areas of the US. However that flight home to California can be brutal with the time zone shifts, cost, and duration.

 

[TP2000]

No I didn't like what I read about Nevada. Cant quite remember the details though. Also Nevada just feels like such a boring move.

Go with your instincts on that one. Nevada is boring, except for a once every year or two visit to Las Vegas. I'm not much of a gambler, I mainly go for the restaurants and a show or two and camaraderie with old friends who fly in to meet me there.

I considered moving to Vegas but honestly the rest of the state looks like an absolute bore.

Yup. It's official. Nevada is boring if you aren't a tourist with a comped room and an open bar tab. To live there must be like living inside Disneyland; cute for the first few weeks, then it gets really tiring and annoying and just way too crowded. Get outside Vegas and it's... boring.

That said, one of my all-time favorite TV shows was Reno 911. I would laugh my butt off over that show. Pure hysterics. I even considered visiting Reno just to relive my favorite scenes, then I found out they filmed almost all of it in the meth-addict desert town of Sun Valley, California and I came to my senses. But it's still a wonderful show!

I miss Lieutenant Dangle and Trudy Weigel and Terry and the whole Reno gang.

 

[Practical Pig]

After following the recent conversation in this thread, I want to offer this:

This is where the happiest Americans live, according to study

Many of America’s “happiest” places were found to be in California, and almost all of the top 10 cities had high marriage rates, according to the study from SmartAsset.

www.fox9.com

Six of the ten "happiest"cities in the U.S. are in California according these metrics cited under three categories: personal finances, well-being, and quality of life.

@mickEblu , from the article I note that:

Roseville, California: Living costs in Roseville, located about 20 miles outside of Sacramento, were found to be the fifth-lowest across the study and made up about a third of the median household income annually. Just over 38% of the city’s population were found to earn $100,000 or more (13th-highest), and less than 6% were found to live below the poverty level (fourth-lowest), according to the findings. Placer County, in which Roseville is located, also had the 15th-lowest number of personal bankruptcy filings in the study.

I don't know if the Sac area is in your comfort zone, but FYI.

I'm considering moving there myself, to be closer to competent health care. Humboldt County sucks in that category, and I have family nearby in Davis/Woodland.