[desmond]

I loved the mountains in CA but like my hot ex gf from college, they are great memories…..I have been exploring land that has been in my wife’s family for nearly a century out here. Farm land, woodlands, lakefront property, pastures, ponds or tanks as they call them. It is stunning how beautiful it is. I still have two properties, one 178 acres and another nearly 500 acres that I have not been on yet. I feel like I am trespassing when I am out there, then I realize this is my property….

[desmond]

Not sure about the other 3 cities but defending Pacoima is like the Ravens defending RR.
Some neighbors in Pacoima:

Pacoima Brown Stoner Locos (PBSL), Pacoima Pacoima Cayuga Street Locos (PCSL), Pacoima Pacoima Criminals (PCS,PC), Pacoima Pacoima Crazy Boys (PCB), Pacoima Pacoima Flats (PF), Pacoima – [defunct] Pacoima Goleta Street (PGST), Pacoima – [defunct] Pacoima Humphrey Boyz (PHBs), Pacoima Pacoima Ilex Street (PIXS), Pacoima – [defunct] Pacoima Knock Knock Boys(PKKB), Pacoima Pacoima Lev Boys (PLV), Pacoima [defunct] Pacoima Paxton Street Locos (PSL / PPXT), Pacoima Pacoima Pierce Street Boys (PPB / PPSB), Pacoima Pacoima Project Boyz, aka Paca Project Boys (PJB), Pacoima Pacoima South Side Locos (PSSL), Pacoima Pacoima Terra Bellas (PTBST, PTBS, TBS), Pacoima Pacoima Van Nuys Boys (PVNBS, PVNBZ), Pacoima Pacoima Vaughn (Von) Street (PVS, PVST), Pacoima – See more at: http://www.streetgangs.com/hispanic/cityofla/sfvalley#sthash.JdtbLzHh.dpuf

[desmond]

[quote=kev374]Thanks for all the input on this. ATL is specifically a good option for me because:

– Extremely good wages (same or higher than LA/OC) and opportunities in my area, ATL is the largest tech hub in the Southeast

– Many world class tracks nearby for me to ride

– I am huge into hiking/camping so there is good hiking in the Smokey mountains (does not hold a candle to the Sierra Nevadas but it’s something and much better than anything in TX)

– SCUBA is my other interest – very close to Miami/Keys with cheap flights for weekend trips or I could even drive to FL, there is good wreck diving from Tallahassee, Bahamas is a weekend possibility too! Heaven!

– Ridiculously lower cost of living compared to LA

– 9th largest MSA in the US offering a multi-cultural experience

– Busiest airport in the world offers more connections to the rest of the world than LA

– Saving craploads and sh!tloads of money so I could not only buy a PALACE (by LA standards) I could probably afford a NICE car as well 🙂 instead of living like a pauper in LA.. making 6 figures and down and out LOL! Ok..exaggerating a bit but still trying to make a point :D[/quote]

kev374- Sounds like we are going down the same paths in life, your just a couple of decades behind -Good luck to you. If you are ever in Texas look me up and we can go for a ride

https://www.youtube.com/user/canamrider07

[desmond]

Here’s where you are missing the point sprun. Buying a house in CA is a life-altering decision. In other places it is not. CA real estate will never be affordable, at least compared to other places. Kev, you have a great game plan, smaller home, smaller price. No matter where you choose to live it is up to you to enjoy it.

[desmond]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=desmond][quote=flu]Texas actually has a decent high tech community, especially around Dallas….

And Gov. Perry keeps throwing bones at California businesses to relocate there too…. I think there were a few companies in SD that just relocated to Texas….And gotta love the no state income tax…[/quote]

SpaceX in McGregor is hiring. On another note if you ever watch “Fixer Upper” on HGTV we just bought a home in the Castle Heights district in Waco, close on it next Thursday, $185k. Waco is “up and coming”, our neighbor is like nothing we could afford in California.[/quote]

WOW … I’ve been thru Waco in the late 90’s … I almost got sideswiped into a ditch there. Back then, it seemed very low-income … with “dollar” stores, no-tell motels, no-brand gas stations and the like situated wa-a-a-ay off the hwy and street. Lots of parking, though.

Time to tour the C-Bad caverns again and make that trip to Wichita Falls so I can see what you’re talking about :)[/quote]

They can’t get this done in San Diego, Baylor’s new $266 million dollar stadium.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/31/sports/ncaafootball/baylors-stadium-makes-its-debut-against-smu.html

[desmond]

[quote=flu]Texas actually has a decent high tech community, especially around Dallas….

And Gov. Perry keeps throwing bones at California businesses to relocate there too…. I think there were a few companies in SD that just relocated to Texas….And gotta love the no state income tax…[/quote]

SpaceX in McGregor is hiring. On another note if you ever watch “Fixer Upper” on HGTV we just bought a home in the Castle Heights district in Waco, close on it next Thursday, $185k. Waco is “up and coming”, our neighbor is like nothing we could afford in California.

[desmond]

[quote=bearishgurl][quote=desmond]I guess you did not have a few thousand acres of land, a lake house, oil and gas wells, rental homes, another new gas well on the way and a great family in Texas. Too bad, Svelte. It is raining today but no parade. No need to show your anger, watch this you might calm down.

[/quote]

desmond, I saw your “bucolic” video the other day and I think it’s great that you were able to finally restore that barn to park your “toys” in. I could move to a same/similar situation as you did … with family support in every direction to help me with whatever I needed. Having resided in Cali more than 50 years (Norcal AND Socal), I agree that the Golden State has seen better days but would still consider some of Norcal’s semi-rural and rural counties to “retire” in. The PROBLEM is finding a lower-cost SFR ($350K or less) in many of these counties which meets my needs and requirements (which aren’t that stringent) due to a constant severe shortage of listings. It seems that even young families are checking out of the rat race that is SF Bay and settling into areas such as Lake County, CA to raise their children among sheep, goats, vineyards and other crops. Obviously, those who have done so likely had well-established parents in those counties (or neighboring counties) and have “bought” their properties from relatives or were deeded them.

I’m going to make a decision on what to do within the year. My last kid who is a freshman in college is required live on campus for one year and as soon as I can situate them into a more permanent living arrangement, I’ll feel much freer to leave the area and maybe even the state.

In truly envy you (yes, in spite of the oppressive heat, loud crickets and chiggers). Living amongst family no doubt makes it all worthwhile.[/quote]

My whole point on moving out of California is that it is just easier to live in other areas. My son bought a great home in Georgetown for $175k, he was 25. You can’t do that in CA. Now most on this board are tech people so CA is best for them, but for others especially younger adults staying in CA is not worth it. btw, I grew up in Escondido, raised my kids in Valencia and it is not any hotter in TX. I was somewhat worried about the humidity but now I don’t even notice it. But then again I am no soft techie……………….but I don’t have their brains either………

[desmond]

I guess you did not have a few thousand acres of land, a lake house, oil and gas wells, rental homes, another new gas well on the way and a great family in Texas. Too bad, Svelte. It is raining today but no parade. No need to show your anger, watch this you might calm down.

[desmond]

Some lame reasoning not to move so far:
“Have a nice day”
“Friends want to move back, but can’t”- (actually this is good reason to move-it proves it is too expensive in the first place)

I encourage anybody to improve their life and if moving does that than move. After you live in a place you become so used to everything that you can’t see (or don’t want to see) what is going on. California is just not worth it, at least if you are young and willing to put the effort in to better yourself. I loved California, but after moving I have really seen what it is like to live elsewhere and just how much better your life can be.

[desmond]

[quote=The-Shoveler]I want to encourage everyone to move out of Socal, You may not ever be able to move back but please go.[/quote]

What a jerk. Your are a good reason to move.

[desmond]

[quote=The-Shoveler]When I was younger, surfing meant a lot to me,
Now walking on the beach at least once a week means a lot to me.

I don’t know what you would do in Dallas besides work.

I would not move but that is just me.

That is another great thing about SD,

The temperature is almost always just perfect for taking long walks on the beach,[/quote]

Don’t worry guys, there are plenty of things to do in Texas.

[desmond]

If you went to “San Diego Stadium” and saw

Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Nate Colbert, and Tony Gwynn play for the Padres. Oh yea, and “number 11 Enzoooe Heerrrrrrrrnannndezzz”

[desmond]

I used Milgard and did the work myself, but that was in 2005. If your somewhat handy you can do it. If your thinking of doing it yourself just order 1 window and see how it goes. I see that Anderson Windows now have replacements

http://www.andersenwindows.com/why400series

[desmond]

We were involved with “Travel Baseball” and through the years our Santa Clarita Valley team developed a rivalry with a San Fernando Valley team. Anyway I got to know the SFV teams shortstops dad, Jack Hollywood. You might know him, a few years later Bruce Willis played him in the movie Alpha Dog.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_James_Hollywood

[desmond]

[quote=FlyerInHi]Tree are useless if they are eucalyptus trees. They will cost you a lot of money over time.[/quote]

Have you ever noticed Eucalyptus trees planted in rows around San Diego County? They were once planted, beginning around 1906, to be used for railroad ties. They later learned that the wood split to easily and could not be used as ties.

http://www.utsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080831/news_lz1mc31wewere.html

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