Did you leave CA only to realize there is no place like home and came back? (health insurance, property taxes)

[yowps3]

I live in Sydney, Australia but I've been to Cali several times and I really loved it there.. Everything was nice and had a novelty feeling to it.. Just the entire atsomohere was nice, the well maintained garden, the massive roads and high-ways, the ever expanding sprawl and the outdoor life..

And the weather was excellence, the sun was beautifully bright but it doesn't fry your skin like the deadly sun in Australia.. And the climates & topology of California is so unique and exotic..

[nmguy]

I left northern California 10 years ago for a town of 4,000 in central New Mexico. Here's a pic taken from my front courtyard. Serenity, beauty, affordability are all available here.

[carrob]

Wow nmguy. Looks like Paradise out there

[nmguy]

Originally Posted by carrob

Wow nmguy. Looks like Paradise out there

It's a special place which, surprisingly, not to many folks are aware of.

[slo1318]

I like New Mexico ok, but I think you have to be a particular person to live there. Its got a very specific culture and landscape. Since Ive been in Texas Ive had the chance to visit multiple times and I dont think I could live there.
nmguy your place looks very nice though....

[nmguy]

Originally Posted by slo1318

I like New Mexico ok, but I think you have to be a particular person to live there. Its got a very specific culture and landscape.

slo1318, you're right: It takes a special mindset for someone to live in New Mexico. The pace of life is much slower here, the quality of health care doesn't compare to the health care in the Bay Area, and there's a dearth of Asian foods here.

OTH, if the landscape, sky, Indian and Hispanic cultures, and the art scene have a strong presence. If you've seen any paintings by Georgia O'Keefe or photos by Ansel Adams of the NM landscape, you'll have an idea of what I'm saying.

I lived in CA for 50 years and miss parts of it, especially friends and my beloved 49ers. But I could never afford to have anything close to the lifestyle there that I'm enjoying here.

[Leonard64]

Originally Posted by nmguy

slo1318, you're right: It takes a special mindset for someone to live in New Mexico. The pace of life is much slower here, the quality of health care doesn't compare to the health care in the Bay Area, and there's a dearth of Asian foods here.

OTH, if the landscape, sky, Indian and Hispanic cultures, and the art scene have a strong presence. If you've seen any paintings by Georgia O'Keefe or photos by Ansel Adams of the NM landscape, you'll have an idea of what I'm saying.

I lived in CA for 50 years and miss parts of it, especially friends and my beloved 49ers. But I could never afford to have anything close to the lifestyle there that I'm enjoying here.

Here is an example of why people move even though the weather may not be quite as nice.

I picked a house from a neighborhood I lived in and is nice, in Fullerton, CA

$334,900.00, 3 bdrm, 1 bath, 2 car garage and under 1200 sq ft.

3308 Carol Dr, Fullerton, CA 92833 MLS# 22165168 - Zillow

Next NM in a similar area of Albuquerque.

$197,000.00, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, about 1700 sq ft.

7004 Portulaca Dr NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120 MLS# 735192 - Zillow

Yes it snows but some people like to ski

Now in TN near Maryville (near Knoxville).

$189,900, 3bdrm, 2 bath, 2 car garage and 1/2 acre of land.

3508 Brandon Lee Dr, Maryville, TN 37804 MLS# 797921 - Zillow

Check the photos and the scenery visible. Yes a little snow in the winter, last year less than 1 inch, and humidity in the summer.

These are pretty much comparable areas for all needs, schooling, medical, shopping, etc.

Weather is not everything.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by yowps3

And the weather was excellence, the sun was beautifully bright but it doesn't fry your skin like the deadly sun in Australia.

You apparently weren't in the "sun frying your skin" parts... such as where I live.

[nullgeo]

Right: "weather is not everything" ... but trying to enjoy all the myriad other things in sh*tty weather is, well, trying ...

That reality out of the way:
all this chatter about how one can have a "better" lifestyle for less elsewhere seems centered on real property. Now I certainly understand how home real estate is a big deal ... but it seems secondary to family, friends, and activities to me. I can afford to live anywhere I want, in general terms ... not necessarily any specific neighborhood in any state or country -- there are plenty of areas I can't afford ... but I can live in most locations of California, including S.F., I can live in Hawaii, I could move to the Florida Keys, etc. ... all of which have better weather -- by far! -- than where I maintain home base in western Washington, Puget Sound. I stay here because this is rooted for me in family and friendships and many activities.

Now I split my time in WA, CA, and Hawaii ... but for many years, I just stuck it out in the crappy weather up north ... wasn't because I could afford more land here, though.

[Leonard64]

Originally Posted by nullgeo

Right: "weather is not everything" ... but trying to enjoy all the myriad other things in sh*tty weather is, well, trying ...

That reality out of the way:
all this chatter about how one can have a "better" lifestyle for less elsewhere seems centered on real property. Now I certainly understand how home real estate is a big deal ... but it seems secondary to family, friends, and activities to me. I can afford to live anywhere I want, in general terms ... not necessarily any specific neighborhood in any state or country -- there are plenty of areas I can't afford ... but I can live in most locations of California, including S.F., I can live in Hawaii, I could move to the Florida Keys, etc. ... all of which have better weather -- by far! -- than where I maintain home base in western Washington, Puget Sound. I stay here because this is rooted for me in family and friendships and many activities.

Now I split my time in WA, CA, and Hawaii ... but for many years, I just stuck it out in the crappy weather up north ... wasn't because I could afford more land here, though.

Yep family is important, and mine are scattered from OR to NC so no matter where I live I will not be close to most of them.

While property is just one consideration, available space is important on a day to day level and the surroundings can be as well. True many in OC can go to Disneyland easily, but how often does anyone go VS having friends and family over for a cook out. Then the property can play a major part.

Cost of living also limits what one can do. When you can save $50,000 or more and get a nicer home, etc, pay lower property taxes, lower just about everything, the lower monthly expenditure frees up money for other past times, not to mention having funds to help others.

Living in the middle of Kansas may limit someone but living where I do just means a longer drive to the beach when I want to go, nut a shorter drive to the mountains, historical areas, nature preserves and much more. There is far more to do where I am now than there is in CA and it is closer and less stressful to drive to and less expensive to boot. CA is great, but it is not so great that everywhere else is far worse.

What people need and want varies tremendously and for many CA just doesn't make the grade, and for others it does.