California has always been calling me....

CA is so beautiful! Love the climate - and the flowers you can grow - my sister has roses the size of cabbages, and so does practically everybody in her neighborhood.

People can be a bit crazy, but then I live in FL, so that's nothing to me...

Location, location, location. Friends of the family has a one bedroom flat in Brixton, where you had to go through the bathroom to get to the wee patio outdoors. They moved to Seattle, where everyone talks about the crazy real estate prices. They were asked for their opinion about the high price of homes in Seattle and responded that they didn't find the prices all that high. They bought a four bedroom house in Seattle from the money they got from selling that one bedroom flat.

I grew up in SoCal and after college moved to the east coast for a change of pace—-of course never made it back. I still consider it “home” but to live there would be too far from the kids and grands. Amazing what our little tract house is worth now! We were there four years ago and I was pleasantly surprised how good everything looked and was kept up. It was all pretty much the same as I remembered from my growing up years.

There are a lot of beautiful homes that are cheap because of their location. Location first. If you aren't where you want to be ... wherever and for whatever reason(s)... cheap housing is irrelevant.

Yes a house is a relatively minor factor related to where one wants to live. I have loved California when I’ve visited but the population density, fires and to a lesser extent earthquakes don’t make me want to live there. That doesn’t even take into consideration real estate prices and gas prices were 2x what they are in MN last time I was there. The older I get the more important it is to be near friends and family. I was more up for the adventure of starting from scratch when I was younger.

Ha! Great discussion. Truth is, I’m never leaving!😊

^^^^^ Neither am I, Spanish! The weather. The scenery. The friendly, easy-going people. The greenery - trees, bushes, flowers, especially my lovely madrone tree. The animals - deer and possums and raccoons - that make themselves at home in our yard. I love all of it.

Sable

There are a lot of beautiful homes that are cheap because of their location. Location first.

I could counter your thought with there are also lots of really beautiful locations with cheaper housing. For a lot of folks, living on the coast is just not all that it’s cracked up to be. Sure there are some pretty areas, but by and large a lot of that is gone due to over population, drought and fire. The weather used to be mild but my family complains all the time about the scorching heat and how it never seems to end. The bonus to having all four seasons is if you don’t like the one you’re in, you know it’s not forever.

We have houses like the one pictured by the OP a block down the road. They sit on 1/2 - 3/4 acre lots, are backed by wetlands and/or a lake for 400-500. The area is close to amenities, has blue ribbon schools and low crime. This isn’t unique to the area, if one wants to leave an over crowded coast, there’s places like this all over the country.

For what it’s worth if you move to Toledo you would be close to Cedar Point! I live on the other end of Ohio on Lake Erie from June until September. In my area you can buy a house for 50,000 but you live in a depressed area. September through late May live in Naples /Marco island area.

Rethink California? Never, even when we could only rent the smallest, most uninspiring house ever. From the landscape to the people and the overall energy, it's home sweet home.

We tend to love most what we know best. Texas, despite its faults, has been home to me for most of my life. I think occasionally of pulling up stakes and moving elsewhere. There certainly are other places that are dear to my heart and hold a special "call" ... but the fact remains that they aren't home. Could they become home? Sure. Probably. Then again, who knows if one would always feel slightly like a fish out of water. No way to know yet what the future holds, but it's sort of fun to think from time to time about heading out and moving on, but it's also extremely comforting to have a real place called HOME to fall back on.

My American flag has been on bed rest for a couple of years. I'd love to fly the Bear Flag in its place.

Maybe you'll have reason to fly the stars and stripes with a little elation soon, Bunny.

Ida, keep the faith.

Bunny, My son was in China almost 10 years ago for a Model UN competition. There were very few American delegates at the invitational in Beijing. Some of the Chinese students remarked to my son's group that they were under the impression American children were not conversant in international policies and they were surprised at my son's team's prowess at the competition. The children, middle schoolers at the time, said they were Californian and maybe that was the difference.

I was born and raised in the Bronx, NYC. Moved to the northern suburbs at 22. Visited my sister in CA in 1979(she moved to Marin County a few years earlier). I've wanted to live in CA since then. Family, jobs and general circumstance kept me in NY for 35 years. Many visits to CA over the years only confirmed my longing to be a CA girl. I'm fortunate to have purchased a home in SoCal in 2017 and can be a snow bird each winter. I'm looking forward to moving full time in a few years.

Sometimes home is where the heart is, not necessarily where the body is.

czarinalex, Marin County will make you fall in love.

I also fell in love with Marin County in 1972 when I first visited Sausalito, and then later fell in love with Fairfax when I visited there a couple of years later. While living in San Francisco, I applied for a job in Santa Cruz at the university library but was not hired - probably because I did not already live in Santa Cruz. I don't think I would have been as happy in Fairfax or Santa Cruz as I was in SF, however, although they both seemed rather idyllic. Palm Springs is about as small town as I want to be at this point.

When I lived in San Francisco in the 70s and early 80s, I would visit L.A. occasionally and liked it, but it seemed a bit backward compared to SF back then. I think it finally caught up with SF in the early 1990s, however. I have no desire to move back to SF now, and I had no desire to move back to Texas once I moved to San Francisco, although I did move back for three and half years to get my design degree at UT Austin. Because I was in my mid 30s, I went through severe culture shock moving back to Texas. It always seemed like an alien place to me, even from my childhood.

When I spent time in Vancouver in the summers while living in SF, I wanted to move there, as a felt very much at home there, I loved the people, and they were very warm and welcoming to me - unlike the people in Seattle at that time, who were openly hostile to me - not all - but just enough to make me feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. I only went to Seattle because I had friends there, and I haven't been back since 1988.

I've also always felt very much at home and welcome in Mexico City. I spent so much time there (every winter for about two months at a time) when I lived in San Francisco that many people thought I lived there. Some of my all-time best friends lived there.

Today, if I moved away from California, I think I would want to move to Italy. I found the people there very friendly and warm, and I just love the country.

We moved from Ca. to a smallish town in northern Ohio where we lived for just two years. It was beautiful...so much to love . The people, the way that weather brought neighbors together, the glorious autumn leaves, and a REAL spring! Yes, the winters were too long and too serious, and the summers too humid, and tornado threats were scary, but the real issue for me was the mosquitoes! We could never enjoy an evening on the terrace. And never, ever lose your golf ball in the weeds on a late afternoon! California is crowded and r.e. is dear, and it’s all because of the fabulous weather.. The downside to any place I can imagine might be nice is too hot, humid, or too cold and filled with bugs, so here I will stay..... and grateful every day. ( But I do miss lightning bugs, and a good old summer gully washer)

Bugs, yes, there are bugs here in PA, too. In CA, I could walk outside and sit on the patio at any time. Now, I have to spray myself if I spend 5 minutes outside.

I haven’t read all the comments. I showed this to my husband. One day we want to move out of nyc. We live in a regular old rental. Big compared to some, but not big enough. Can’t get out yet. I take care of my elderly mother. It is a real challenge.

The estimated monthly cost for that house is considerably LESS than what we pay here. 🤦‍♀️

It would have to be the right climate though. Not talking just weather.

Funny, I just spoke to my sister in SoCal yesterday. She’s in OC and gets a good breeze from the ocean. It finally cleared a lot of the smoke, so she opened the house to air it out. It was so hot she had to close it back up. She has a beautiful closed in patio and between the humidity and heat she said she’s barely been able to use it.

Sure there’s going to be a trade off. I really hate the mosquitos and bugs too. I also miss that ocean smell and breeze but where you have bugs, you also have woods with lush greenery and beautiful trees. Every where I look in my big (affordable) yard, it’s green and wooded and that makes my heart sing. Today the sky is a bright blue, there is a crisp fall chill in the air and it really is pretty.

What I notably miss from SoCal is that there’s so much more to do there, but even when we were still there years ago, the constant traffic and crowds made it hard to enjoy anything it has to offer. I can’t imagine how crowded it must be now.

Luckki, if your sis has been here a long time she will tell you that this heat spell is unusual. September often brings dry “ Santa Ana “ winds that spread fires. Think I prefer the relatively mild, by comparison, Humid heat. It’s cooled down enough by six for us to enjoy supper on the patio almost every night. I don’t know where you are, but it sounds beautiful. We often visit family in the n.east ...back in our travel days, sob, where the houses have property vs. yards! And trees...so many trees! I do love and prefer the look of it, so I know what you’re saying. I guess it comes down to weather and bugs... dId I mention ticks? Sounds so finicky. 😔 A happy soul is one who can ‘bloom where they are planted’!

Oh, my sister is in the house we were all raised in. Our parents bought it in 1963 so I know those Santa Ana’s all too well, chapped lips and all! I have good memories of sitting in the patio after dinner with my Mom talking about nothing and enjoying the breeze. She’s said that it’s gradually been getting hotter and more humid feeling for a while though due to climate change. I never really enjoyed that weather though. I’ve always had a low tolerance for heat and my home is normally colder than average.

I’m about about an hour north of Detroit, where the suburbs end and the more rural areas start. The landscape is beautiful, especially in the fall. The first time I experienced the fall leaves I was blown away. I always assumed the colors of that fake stuff in Michaels was exaggerated but guess what! It’s not! Ha ha. It’s like driving in a rainbow all the time. We have a windy period too. Usually it’s at the end of October just in time to blow all the leaves to the ground.

A happy soul is one who can ‘bloom where they are planted’!

Love that! I agree!!!

I've never experienced autumn colors, but then I've also never experienced a severe winter; i.e., one with temperatures below freezing for more than a couple of days, except for a short trip to NYC in early December. That was the coldest weather I've ever experienced that I can remember. I vowed never to go back there in the winter.

I can handle heat but not with high humidity like I had in Houston.

Lars, if you ever have the opportunity you should give a fall trip a try sometime. It’s really stunning. Yes, I have to admit the low temps can be pretty shocking, especially when there’s a wind chill but I tend to focus on how pretty it is. I also love that my garage can serve as a 2nd refridgerator during the holidays and my bottled water is always cold too! ha ha!

I lived in Lake Charles for about 10 years, I agree about the humidity there, it’s completely unforgiving.

I posted as follows:

There are a lot of beautiful homes that are cheap because of their location. Location first. If you aren't where you want to be ... wherever and for whatever reason(s)... cheap housing is irrelevant.

Lukki replied:

For a lot of folks, living on the coast is just not all that it’s cracked up to be. Sure there are some pretty areas, but by and large a lot of that is gone due to over population, drought and fire.

Lukki, I think you misread my intent entirely. My post contains not a word about coasts. My meaning in simply this. Decide where you want to live first (for whatever your own reasons are) , then look at the available houses.

PS Since you mentioned the coasts, I think it is a vast overstatement to say "a lot of that is gone due to over population, drought and fire."

Yep, not to take sides 😁, but MTN‘s above statement is correct . I’m not a native, but have lived here for 40 years and also see that as simply not factual....maybe more traffic?

“maybe more traffic?“

Ha ha! Maybe?

No worries Martinca, this is a conversatioin not an arguement, there’s no sides. As someone who lived in and traveled throughout California for a large part of my life, I can say that those three things ruined that California experience in one way or another for me and I can assure you, I’m not alone.

Mtn, I apologize if I missed the intent of your statement, as for my statement I don’t think I’ve overstated at all. I was raised there, I’ve driven the state’s coast from top to bottom many times. I wasted countless hours sitting in traffic, standing in lines and the never ending struggle to find parking just to walk the beach. I’ve driven through mountains where large swaths of forest are blackened because of fires. Even beautiful Big Sur has not gone untouched. I’m sadly old enough to remember what the California experience used to feel like as a comparison and in my opinion, a lot of “that” is gone. My sisters love it there and that’s ok sometimes, I just wish they’d stop complaining about it.

Definitely hear what you are saying. I am a 5th generation Californian. Currently inland Orange County, I have such mixed feelings about where I live. Overall I think the lifestyle has declined quite a bit and it appears it will continue to do so. The traffic, crowds and inconsiderate people really get to me. The powers that be keep trying to cram more people in without solving the problems of not enough water and too much traffic. A few of my close friends have moved out of the area and seem to love their new locations. That said my family and my best friend are close by. On top of that, the only other locations that really appeal to me are almost as expensive as where I live, although they are less crowded. Even though I am frustrated with some things, overall I am still very happy and I understand I do live in a fabulous place compared to most. Think it always looks greener elsewhere, so I plan to keep my primary home in this area.

Jill - you and I could be neighbors! I'm northeast of Disneyland. :)

Jill, that is how my Mom felt. She liked the idea of leaving but family and friends took priority.

We can see the fireworks from my sister’s house (formally my Mom’s) in Huntington Beach. The internet sure does make this a small world, yes?

Yes, 1929 we are neighbors not far from each other. Probably within a mile or so. I am the one who also lives close to the house near Hillcrest that was discussed in a post a couple of months ago. :)

Lucki, Yes, your mom and I are of the same mind. Family and friends are the most important part of my life. Otherwise I would at least explore a possible move.

Huntington Beach is a great place. Love the weather by the coast.

That’s right! I forgot. And we’re still waiting for the plague to end. I’m right by the school on the way up the hill. Who knows, if you walk in the hills we’ve probably walked past each other a gazillion times! Except I’ve been lazy the last couple weeks....

Spent a few years in the early '70s in CA..can't say I understand the hoopla. To each his own!! The housing market is the least of the negatives IMHO.

While I love the San Diego weather and beaches always intrigue me, I'm turned off by wild fires, mud slides, earthquakes and water shortages. When we were in San Diego the last time, the winds were so strong they blew a semi over. No thanks. Great place to visit though.

I actually love where I live for the 4 season...so sad Lars that you've never seen New England foliage...it can be quite spectacular. While I'm not a fan of snow when we have to drive in it, I do love being "snowed in" having an excuse to hunker down in the house by a cozy fire and laze. We get hot in the summers, but not unbearably...we get cold in the winters but not unbearably...we get droughts, but we have lots of surface water that hangs around...we get brush fires not wildfires and not often...we've had hurricanes and other storms, but generally survivable...we get earthquakes but so minor and rare that I've only felt one in my lifetime, and we've had tornadoes, but few and far between. No, I'll take our middle of the road climate, thank you.

I'm a bit late to the conversation, but here are a few observations:

I've lived in Vermont for 9 months -- the fall colors are spectacular. I grew up in the Seattle area -- that taught me how to endure endless months of rain and grey. I also spent a few years in Switzerland (the worst winter days there were nothing compared to Vermont or days I've spent in Chicago).

California is very diverse, in terms of geography and locations. So broad strokes really don't apply. Socal to Norcal, coast to desert to mountains to great plains. Large cities to remote mountain towns. All types of people, attitudes and personalities. You can get fires, earthquakes, drought and floods, depending on where you are, or experience very little impact of those.

We've thought of leaving but can't find a place in the US with the combination of climate, transportation access, activities, food and easy-to-reach geographic variety, let alone access to family. (We remain intrigued about part year locations -- like summers on the Nevada side of Tahoe. And San Diego.). The closest we've found to matching our criteria has been in Europe, along the Med, and so we bought a place there. We've found also that the locations that are the most desirable to most people (due to various attributes, with noted influence of economic drivers) also tend to get elevated in price.

Annie, early times in coastal so. Ca., I bemoaned the lack of Seasonal “weather”. Summer brought four months of warm days without rain to clear the air and clean the streets. Fall was too late, too short and too warm, and winters were not cold enough, with no chance of a White Christmas....though snow was available a two hour drive away. After two years in n. Ohio ( which I truly enjoyed), experiencing TOO much weather was an eye opener. The first snowfalls were magical. The following three months of slush, dreary days and icy driving, well, not so much. Witnessing a neighbor needing to be taken to an ambulance via tobbagon really gave me pause. And I do not miss struggling Into a car wearing a big winter coat, and hauling it around in warm shops! Seasonal tornado warnings, with several close calls, along with annual flood warnings, and one spring that never happened ....it all drove me back to taking my chances with an earthquake. And after 40 years and numerous quakes , we’ve not so much as a chipped saucer. Now watch me get in the middle of a big one...noooo! The big wind you recall , I’ve never experienced.

Not to invalidate your memories, only relating my contrary experience. But could I love a life with too much “weather”? Absolutely! There is so much to appreciate , often including a slower paced lifestyle that I’m sure I would learn to appreciate. Our world is filled with so much beauty; I only draw the line at desert life. Apologies to those of you love it.

Spanish - We are very close then, I am near the Catholic girl’s high school, and of course the other two schools right there. A traffic nightmare mid afternoon pre-pandemic:)

For me I am not sure that moving somewhere else would really help. Being in California my entire life, I think really what I want would be my area of California in the mid 70’s minus the horrible smog of that time. While of course nothing was perfect, we had many of the amenities of today without the crazy number of people. Still had a lot of crops and open land in that now is taken up by houses. In that time I would have had to drive further for some things but the traffic was not as bad. For those of you familiar with the area, I would miss the now completed 55 Freeway extension down to Newport Beach Even as a kid I thought I lived in the best place.

Do want to mention nasty mosquitos arrived in my neighborhood three years ago, I am having a horrible time with them. The rest of my family seems immune.

So, I shared this in another post, but thought I’d share here too...my DD lives just down the road from me. It was a beautiful day Saturday and even the egrets were out for a walk in her neighborhood.

@Jill - that's the down side of my walk loop! I used to walk up it, but the other hill is plenty right now. We have those same mosquitos and while they bite me, it doesn't itch for long. DH has the same experience as you do.

Right now I'm walking around 8am, so if you see a somewhat stressed & totally sweaty dark haired gal huffing it down your street around 8:45am - try waiving and see what happens. Today I was having a nice chat with the big dog named Harvey as he was sitting at his fence listening to my baby talk. I think he likes me.

Lukki...that’s so pretty. Heres our Egret who comes to visit occasionally.

Lots of egrets in my neighborhood. For an elegant bird, they can be goofy.

I'm rethinking the US

^ always have a plan B!

I'm married to a Canadian 😊

I do like the desert, and I find it a nice change of scenery to go to Palm Springs from Los Angeles. The Pacific Ocean is always too cold for me to swim in without a wetsuit, and so I like having a pool in Cathedral City that is warm half the year - and I can heat it to 87° during the cooler months. I might have been happy with just a larger house in L.A. with a large pool, but then I do like the change of pace when going to the desert.

Since I cannot afford a place on the Italian Riviera, I will have to content myself with visiting Italy when I can. It's going to be a couple of years before I will be able to return, however. I wish my sister would buy property there, but then she does not speak Italian, and so that would be unlikely. Her husband was offered a job in Rome, and I was mad at him for not taking it, but it would have meant that my sister would have to relocate her law practice, learn Italian, and then have to get re-certified in Italy, which might not have been easy. She is not the housewife type, and so that would not be an option for her.

I've been watching Escape to the Country on DABL...the brit show about people moving to more rural areas in the UK...

I'm so enamoured with the countryside...every view is to die for. I'm ready to head to Dartmoor!