[quote]MaximusB wrote:
Basically the only good left here is the weather, things like jobs and schools all suck donkey ass. [/quote]
My wife and I both have great jobs and our son goes to a really good school.
Taxes are high here but not impossible. Weather is solid and I love the beaches. I’m a motorcyclist and we’ve got roads that rival anywhere else I’ve ever been (and I’ve done a LOT of riding in this country). Couple that with the ability to ride year round comfortably and it’s a great place to live. We also have great off roading, hiking, etc.
Obviously it’s crowded and expensive. But you can get out into the middle of nowhere pretty quickly.
james
[/quote]
The cost of living in California should not be taken lightly. I’m from California, raised there and stayed until 31, so I didn’t know any different. I just accepted the way things were and went about life. When I moved up here I took a pay cut. It wasn’t a career move for me, my wife wanted to go to grad school up here so I took a job that was available. My pay went from 46k to 39k but I noticed almost immediately the difference in cost of living.
It was the second or third year here I saved 16,000 dollars from taxable income and my pay hadn’t gone up that much. I was probably still making less than 46. In addition to that, I had my 401k maxed out, so counting retirement savings it was over 20,000. The next year I was able to save 11k, again not counting retirement savings.
I remember in So. Cal struggling to save a thousand dollars then of course my car would break down and I’d be starting all over again. I don’t have to put up with that kind of bull crap now. I can afford a car that doesn’t break down. I could pay cash for any car I want with the exception of the ridiculously expensive cars that have Diablo and shit like that in their names.
If we were still in California I think finances would still be a day to day struggle. My wife would have to work (she doesn’t) and we wouldn’t have been able to afford to have 3 kids. I do miss the weather about four months out of the year but that’s only because my kids haven’t gotten into skiing and snow shoeing. If they were in to the winter activities I wouldn’t miss California wether at all 'cause I love it when I can get out and play in that shit.
[quote]dirtman wrote:
South Western Coast of the US … Some place with a nice beach and good surfable waves. NOT in a big city.[/quote]
San Diego is where you might want to look, weather is beautiful all year around, and the vibe is laid back and chill. [/quote]
Are the taxes bad?[/quote]
Yes, on the state level, if you make $47k/year or more as an individual you are in the highest tax bracket. Property taxes are about 1% of the property value, sales tax is a bitch, if you are considering living here you are going to pay out of your ass in cost of living and taxation.
Basically the only good left here is the weather, things like jobs and schools all suck donkey ass. [/quote]
I don’t get it, Maximus. Pretty much every time the state of California ever comes up you have nothing nice to say about it at all. Quite the opposite in most cases. Why the hell do you even still live here? The way I hear you lambast the state every time it gets mentioned I say to myself, “Why the fuck doesn’t he just move to another state if he hates it that much? There’s 49 others to choose from.”
[quote]Aggv wrote:
I took a rental chevy impala south through little tujunga canyon and it was one of the best driving experiences of my life. Once i figured out to just leave the auto tranny in 2nd gear it was amazing. I smoked the brakes, but the rental company doesnt exactly check those things…
got BLOWN AWAY by a smoke bike somewhere along the route as well. pretty cool. [/quote]
Little T is a great road and a sportbike favorite.
[quote]on edge wrote:
The cost of living in California should not be taken lightly. [/quote]
And you’re right about that. I’ve lived in a handful of states and always end up coming back to California because of jobs. But this place fits our lifestyle the best. We rent but to be honest I hate home ownership so I’m OK with that. We definitely watch what we spend even though we both make good money and if we lived somewhere cheaper we’d be able to afford more “stuff”.
I guess the bottom line is that it works well for me now. I doubt I’ll retire here (I’m thinking someplace like Costa Rica because there’s simply no other place in the U.S. that I want to live) but you never know.
[quote]dirtman wrote:
South Western Coast of the US … Some place with a nice beach and good surfable waves. NOT in a big city.[/quote]
San Diego is where you might want to look, weather is beautiful all year around, and the vibe is laid back and chill. [/quote]
Are the taxes bad?[/quote]
Yes, on the state level, if you make $47k/year or more as an individual you are in the highest tax bracket. Property taxes are about 1% of the property value, sales tax is a bitch, if you are considering living here you are going to pay out of your ass in cost of living and taxation.
Basically the only good left here is the weather, things like jobs and schools all suck donkey ass. [/quote]
I don’t get it, Maximus. Pretty much every time the state of California ever comes up you have nothing nice to say about it at all. Quite the opposite in most cases. Why the hell do you even still live here? The way I hear you lambast the state every time it gets mentioned I say to myself, “Why the fuck doesn’t he just move to another state if he hates it that much? There’s 49 others to choose from.”[/quote]
I have reasons that keep me here, which are not so easy to undo.
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason.
[quote]Fplanner wrote:
Kauai, HI and it’s not close. Second would be Auckland, New Zealand.
[/quote]
I honestly thought Maui was perfect, from what I hear, Kauai is a bit slow and quiet for my taste.
I rented a condo for a week in Lahaina, and thought, “shit, this place is just unreal.” [/quote]
My wife and I are going to have to vacation in HI very soon. I am not a beach guy, but my wife loves the water. I prefer mountains and cold weather. I will have to surprise her with a trip to HI.
[quote]Edgy wrote:
some of you meatheads get an option to live anywhere in teh world, and you choose Texas?
somethings I dont fucking understand.[/quote]
No state income tax and our state is not going broke.
You love to come visit you big Viking I got you drunk and feed you last time.[/quote]
they make up for that in property taxes tho~
you are correct, however - Texas is like Disneyland - fun to visit, but you sure as hell wouldnt wanna live there…[/quote] I can say the same for Cali, even though I have yet to visit…
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason. [/quote]
Have you ever seen this happen in any other state or country? Governments are like organisms that need to eat and grow. Taxation in California, in its various forms, will continue to increase until things come to a head and there is some kind revolution or drastic event. California and the US are a hundred years from that happening.
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason. [/quote]
Have you ever seen this happen in any other state or country? Governments are like organisms that need to eat and grow. Taxation in California, in its various forms, will continue to increase until things come to a head and there is some kind revolution or drastic event. California and the US are a hundred years from that happening.[/quote]
The Big One could take care of that. I am talking about the Big Earthquake that everyone in California is waiting for. The State will just float away, and Arizona and Nevada might start having the type of weather you guys have.
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason. [/quote]
Have you ever seen this happen in any other state or country? Governments are like organisms that need to eat and grow. Taxation in California, in its various forms, will continue to increase until things come to a head and there is some kind revolution or drastic event. California and the US are a hundred years from that happening.[/quote]
A hundred years, huh?[/quote]
That strikes me as being overly optimistic too, by the sheer rate of progression, but, alrght…
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason. [/quote]
Have you ever seen this happen in any other state or country? Governments are like organisms that need to eat and grow. Taxation in California, in its various forms, will continue to increase until things come to a head and there is some kind revolution or drastic event. California and the US are a hundred years from that happening.[/quote]
A hundred years, huh?[/quote]
Push, I’m not sure if you’re insinuating it will be much sooner or much later. How long do you think and what do tho think it will take?
[quote]Fplanner wrote:
Kauai, HI and it’s not close. Second would be Auckland, New Zealand.
[/quote]
I honestly thought Maui was perfect, from what I hear, Kauai is a bit slow and quiet for my taste.
I rented a condo for a week in Lahaina, and thought, “shit, this place is just unreal.” [/quote]
My wife and I are going to have to vacation in HI very soon. I am not a beach guy, but my wife loves the water. I prefer mountains and cold weather. I will have to surprise her with a trip to HI.[/quote]
I liked Maui and the other islands until I went to Kauai. Its not just a beach island. I like outdoor activities like hiking, surfing, etc. Kauai has amazing canyons, mountains, beaches but it is short on night life. There’s just not that much commercial activity of any sort.
I like Barcelona too for a different pace. There are several cool places in Europe to spend extended periods of time but wouldn’t live there.
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason. [/quote]
Have you ever seen this happen in any other state or country? Governments are like organisms that need to eat and grow. Taxation in California, in its various forms, will continue to increase until things come to a head and there is some kind revolution or drastic event. California and the US are a hundred years from that happening.[/quote]
A hundred years, huh?[/quote]
Push, I’m not sure if you’re insinuating it will be much sooner or much later. How long do you think and what do tho think it will take?[/quote]
Explain how in the blue blazes our present unsustainable course could possibly last 100 years.
It will take thick rotors and brake pads.
[/quote]
Such is a life lived perilously close to the edge of the Continental Shelf.
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason. [/quote]
Have you ever seen this happen in any other state or country? Governments are like organisms that need to eat and grow. Taxation in California, in its various forms, will continue to increase until things come to a head and there is some kind revolution or drastic event. California and the US are a hundred years from that happening.[/quote]
A hundred years, huh?[/quote]
Push, I’m not sure if you’re insinuating it will be much sooner or much later. How long do you think and what do tho think it will take?[/quote]
Explain how in the blue blazes our present unsustainable course could possibly last 100 years.
It will take thick rotors and brake pads.
[/quote]
Such is a life lived perilously close to the edge of the Continental Shelf.[/quote]
Yea it will be a good earth quake and its all fixed
I would like to think that the people here will wake up eventually, and see the policies (mostly financial) here are destroying this state. I don’t care so much about the societal policies so much as the fiscal ones. I don’t care about issues like gay marriage or abortion, I do however don’t care for the cost of living and massive taxation. Both of these can be addressed pretty easily, but for some reason, there is some kind of flattery associated with paying through your nose for no good reason. [/quote]
Have you ever seen this happen in any other state or country? Governments are like organisms that need to eat and grow. Taxation in California, in its various forms, will continue to increase until things come to a head and there is some kind revolution or drastic event. California and the US are a hundred years from that happening.[/quote]
A hundred years, huh?[/quote]
Push, I’m not sure if you’re insinuating it will be much sooner or much later. How long do you think and what do tho think it will take?[/quote]
Explain how in the blue blazes our present unsustainable course could possibly last 100 years.
It will take thick rotors and brake pads.
[/quote]
Such is a life lived perilously close to the edge of the Continental Shelf.[/quote]
Yea it will be a good earth quake and its all fixed[/quote]
I live in the Sacramento Valley now. Hopefully when it’s all said and done I’ll have oceanfront property, or at least a nice ocean view.
I can say the same for Cali, even though I have yet to visit…