Comments on: Moving To California - Is It Worth It? http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/ Going From Good To Great Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:36:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: California - Totally Worth it | Double Journey http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-6464 California - Totally Worth it | Double Journey Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:45:06 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-6464 [...] been a little bit over three months since I moved back to California.  Was it worth it?  Well there are a couple of things to consider.  Let’s talk about the negatives [...] […] been a little bit over three months since I moved back to California.  Was it worth it?  Well there are a couple of things to consider.  Let’s talk about the negatives […]

]]> By: Life Without TV | Double Journey http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-4799 Life Without TV | Double Journey Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:41:19 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-4799 [...] that I think about it, I actually don’t spend much more money living in California vs. Washington. My rent is $1700 per month. That is about $300 more than a similar place in Washington. Add to the [...] […] that I think about it, I actually don’t spend much more money living in California vs. Washington. My rent is $1700 per month. That is about $300 more than a similar place in Washington. Add to the […]

]]> By: terrence http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-3963 terrence Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:17:15 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-3963 Thanks for the comment OC Joe. I do agree, it is definitely harder here to get by on less money. Even with my higher than average salary, I don't live luxuriously, but part of that is admittedly by choice. Buying a house is definitely out of the question for most people, but part of that it just inflated housing cost. I think it will go down over the next few years. Look for my post on that subject soon. All that said, cost of living is expensive in a lot of places outside California. Almost anywhere on either coast is going to be expensive. If you can live in the midwest, and it doesn't drive you crazy, you can definitely live better for less money. i've actually wondered why more people don't do this. Thanks for the comment OC Joe.

I do agree, it is definitely harder here to get by on less money. Even with my higher than average salary, I don’t live luxuriously, but part of that is admittedly by choice.

Buying a house is definitely out of the question for most people, but part of that it just inflated housing cost. I think it will go down over the next few years. Look for my post on that subject soon.

All that said, cost of living is expensive in a lot of places outside California. Almost anywhere on either coast is going to be expensive. If you can live in the midwest, and it doesn’t drive you crazy, you can definitely live better for less money. i’ve actually wondered why more people don’t do this.

]]> By: OC Joe http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-3943 OC Joe Thu, 28 Feb 2008 04:18:57 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-3943 Very nice writeup and comparison...almost had me convinced to leave Cali. :) I wish you focused more on the one crucial fact: "If you make six-figures like I do" ...hmm chances are most people don't. This is a bare min. of income in order to rent and not feel as if 70% of your income goes for these "sunny privileges" of having a place to sleep. Buying a house in Cali is really not an option unless you were born with a bank account or willing sign away next 50 years of your life. Sure, living in outskirts is an option but be ready to hop into your car around 5 am to make it to your 8:00 job. Not to mention the fact that getting there is almost like playing Russian Rule with the rest of the sleepy drivers on the freeways. You should make it home around 8 pm to see your children asleep who probably are more connected to their babysitter than you. Fake girls are really easy on the eyes and summers are just lovely...you stare at their "investments" while they gage yours located in your back pocket or chrome reflected of your car and accessories. Bottom line...bring the coins and you will have a time of your life. Come here with intent of earning coins...be prepared to do a lot window shopping and have no quality of life. Sure there is a lot to do and see in this 'candy land'...beaches, mountains,rivers,deserts...all in 50-100 miles radius (read 5-6 hours of a road trip)...oh and 5 million other people trying to do the same weekend thing. At the end of the day it is a rat-race...the only difference is you are rat wearing a short sleeves. I am here because they make good burgers and smoothies just like Liz said...well, I said "almost had me convinced". Very nice writeup and comparison…almost had me convinced to leave Cali. :)
I wish you focused more on the one crucial fact:
“If you make six-figures like I do” …hmm chances are most people don’t.
This is a bare min. of income in order to rent and not feel as if 70% of your income goes for these “sunny privileges” of having a place to sleep.
Buying a house in Cali is really not an option unless you were born with a bank account or willing sign away next 50 years of your life. Sure, living in outskirts is an option but be ready to hop into your car around 5 am to make it to your 8:00 job. Not to mention the fact that getting there is almost like playing Russian Rule with the rest of the sleepy drivers on the freeways. You should make it home around 8 pm to see your children asleep who probably are more connected to their babysitter than you.
Fake girls are really easy on the eyes and summers are just lovely…you stare at their “investments” while they gage yours located in your back pocket or chrome reflected of your car and accessories.
Bottom line…bring the coins and you will have a time of your life. Come here with intent of earning coins…be prepared to do a lot window shopping and have no quality of life.
Sure there is a lot to do and see in this ‘candy land’…beaches, mountains,rivers,deserts…all in 50-100 miles radius (read 5-6 hours of a road trip)…oh and 5 million other people trying to do the same weekend thing.
At the end of the day it is a rat-race…the only difference is you are rat wearing a short sleeves.
I am here because they make good burgers and smoothies just like Liz said…well, I said “almost had me convinced”.

]]> By: terrence http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-289 terrence Mon, 17 Dec 2007 06:54:55 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-289 You can snowboard in California. Might not be quite as good as Colorado, but the snow isn't bad. You can snowboard in California. Might not be quite as good as Colorado, but the snow isn’t bad.

]]> By: Liz http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-282 Liz Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:34:36 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-282 Just thought of something else I really love about CA (albeit food related): In-N-Out (burgers) and Juice-It-Up (smoothies). If anyone ever visits CA, definitely add those two spots in your trip planning. Just thought of something else I really love about CA (albeit food related): In-N-Out (burgers) and Juice-It-Up (smoothies). If anyone ever visits CA, definitely add those two spots in your trip planning.

]]> By: more links — On Financial Success http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-281 more links — On Financial Success Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:23:22 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-281 [...] @ Double Journey compares living in California to Washington state. Overall, he’s happy with his decision even though it seems like Washington won more [...] […] @ Double Journey compares living in California to Washington state. Overall, he’s happy with his decision even though it seems like Washington won more […]

]]> By: Aaron Stroud http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-280 Aaron Stroud Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:04:37 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-280 Terrence, I've noticed a significant slow down in house and raw land sales in Kitsap county so the demand for housing is definitely slowing to a more reasonable pace. Regarding taxes, I'm glad I subscribed. I suspect your insights will be interesting. Have you run across <a href="http://www.econtalk.org/" rel="nofollow">EconTalk</a> before? It is a regular "Economics podcasts for daily life" hosted by Russ Roberts. Roberts, a professor, is particularly interested in making economics accessible to the public and has published to novels to that end. Terrence, I’ve noticed a significant slow down in house and raw land sales in Kitsap county so the demand for housing is definitely slowing to a more reasonable pace.

Regarding taxes, I’m glad I subscribed. I suspect your insights will be interesting. Have you run across EconTalk before? It is a regular “Economics podcasts for daily life” hosted by Russ Roberts. Roberts, a professor, is particularly interested in making economics accessible to the public and has published to novels to that end.

]]> By: terrence http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-279 terrence Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:19:56 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-279 Hi Aaron, Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I know what you mean about it seeming like a lot of people are moving to the NW. It is probably true, especially the last few years because of CA's ridiculous house prices. But given Seattle's now equally ridiculous housing prices, and I expect that trend to slow own. About the cigarette tax. If you know me, you know I hate almost all forms of taxes. I realize they are a necessary evil to live in our society, but think it is silly for government to try and pick sides by making special taxes. It was a point, for the sake of the post, I did not want to make. Also, being an economist by training, I know that the incidence of the tax is not the same as who is paying for it. So even though I "don't smoke" I am probably affected by it more than what appears on the surface. Again, not a point I wanted to make in this particular blog post. Hi Aaron, Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment. I know what you mean about it seeming like a lot of people are moving to the NW. It is probably true, especially the last few years because of CA’s ridiculous house prices. But given Seattle’s now equally ridiculous housing prices, and I expect that trend to slow own.

About the cigarette tax. If you know me, you know I hate almost all forms of taxes. I realize they are a necessary evil to live in our society, but think it is silly for government to try and pick sides by making special taxes. It was a point, for the sake of the post, I did not want to make.

Also, being an economist by training, I know that the incidence of the tax is not the same as who is paying for it. So even though I “don’t smoke” I am probably affected by it more than what appears on the surface. Again, not a point I wanted to make in this particular blog post.

]]> By: Trevor http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-278 Trevor Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:16:55 +0000 http://www.doublejourney.com/2007/12/15/moving-to-california-is-it-worth-it/#comment-278 Having lived in both places myself, the comparison is spot-on. The terrible traffic in LA leads me to another conclusion: considering that LA is so spread out, jobs are also more spread out. Bad traffic is something you don't get used to, and can have a lasting negative effect on your happiness (source: The Happiness Hypothesis by Haidt). This means purchasing a house is probably a bad idea in the LA area, unless you think you're going to work for the same place for more than 5 years, or get lucky enough to find multiple appealing jobs close to your house. I'd ask everyone, how long have you been in *your* current job? Having lived in both places myself, the comparison is spot-on. The terrible traffic in LA leads me to another conclusion: considering that LA is so spread out, jobs are also more spread out. Bad traffic is something you don’t get used to, and can have a lasting negative effect on your happiness (source: The Happiness Hypothesis by Haidt). This means purchasing a house is probably a bad idea in the LA area, unless you think you’re going to work for the same place for more than 5 years, or get lucky enough to find multiple appealing jobs close to your house. I’d ask everyone, how long have you been in *your* current job?

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