Your thoughts about Concord

[mattja]

Originally Posted by Vision67

I've now lived in Concord for 6 months. We're retired. A few thoughts;

-The weather is very mild. I'll admit that I don't miss the cold and wind of Colorado.

-People here have back yard furniture. They spend a lot of time outdoors on their patios. I do like that.

-The traffic is much less than I expected. If I wait until about 9 AM, a drive down Clayton Rd is a breeze. However, I tend to avoid the weekends because that's when the "workies" must buy their supplies. Another tactic is to go early. At 7 AM, the line to get gas at Costco is very short.

-The cost of housing is insane. As a result, there are many homes here where there are 3 generations living together. It's not possible for young people to buy a house without getting big financial support from their families.

-As a result of high housing costs, everything is more expensive. For example, a sandwich is $12 instead of $8 back in Colorado. Businesses here have higher overhead costs and must pay higher wages. I've learned to use Amazon and Costco to mitigate the higher costs.

-I've discovered new allergies. I think it's tree pollen.

-My grandkids are amazing. It's a joyful time playing with them.

-Bottom line: I think the benefits exceed the costs. In the end, the only thing you have left is your family.

The general rule of Contra Costa is if you don't have allergies when you get there, you will after three years.