San Diego wages are not higher to offset for the increased cost of living. The U-T ran an article about this a few years ago, calling it the “Sunshine Factor”. Most people here earn less, but pay more for the priviledge of the weather. They gave examples of wages for plumbers, engineers, and I was surprised that you really do earn more in other states. I can’t remember the details.

Before we moved here from Phoenix, I did a superficial study of wages in San Diego, comparing government jobs in both cities. Surprisingly, they were about the same, although at that time the cost of housing was double in San Diego. But wages had not increased to keep pace with that. At that time, and until a few months ago, I though everyone around me was rich, to be able to buy those expensive homes plus new cars plus vacations plus remodels plus send their kids to too many activities. Now I realize they were all getting low interest loans.

Has anyone noticed in the last few months, so many Hiring signs at retailers? Almost every store I go to, whether grocery, furniture, cell phone, is hiring. This couldn’t be due to any economic recovery, but is probably related to the exodus of people leaving San Diego, leaving their jobs behind. Jobs are harder to fill, as we can’t get people to move her to fill them.