Cali natives..you can have that place.

[sandiego_to_frisco]

Originally Posted by Nelson

I've actually always found the New Yorkers to be very nice. Sure they are quick witted, but that doesn't really mean they're rude, contrary to stereotypes. But I've found people in California to not be terribly friendly at all...I've attributed that to the constant congestion that they put up with. I'd be nasty too if I had to spend a good chunk of my life on the California freeways.

I've visited NY twice and was pleasantly surprised about that. I was some stupid tourist asking locals about directions, but pretty much everyone was friendly & helpful. Stupid New Yorkers ruined that stereotype for me!!!

Nelson - check out the religion forum, the "ask a Jew" thread when you have time.

[hockeymom]

Originally Posted by sandiego_to_frisco

I've visited NY twice and was pleasantly surprised about that. I was some stupid tourist asking locals about directions, but pretty much everyone was friendly & helpful. Stupid New Yorkers ruined that stereotype for me!!!

We had the exact same experience on the several visits that we've made to NY...had a great time & enjoyed the people!

[socaltrojangal]

My ex is a New Yorker. 'nuff said

[sandiego_to_frisco]

Originally Posted by socaltrojangal

My ex is a New Yorker. 'nuff said

Was the whole Biggie vs. Tupac thing too big of an issue to overcome?

[socaltrojangal]

Originally Posted by sandiego_to_frisco

Was the whole Biggie vs. Tupac thing too big of an issue to overcome?

Well duh! Of course it was. He went a little far on one of our trips to the Petersen Auto Museum.

[UserX]

Originally Posted by Griffin

Let me first say I'm a native Texan. Let me also state that Cali is likely the most beautiful state (natural beauty) in the union.

Having recently returned from a family trip to SoCal, let me say its sad how Cali has deteriorated into what seems almost like a third world country.

1. Highways - 24x7 gridlock, trash on highways was really awful and roads in poor shape.
2. Very few speak English, McDonalds, Appblebees, theme parks, almost everywhere we went was predominantly Spanish or an Asian language.
3. I didnt see much if any new construction in housing or commercial, seems stagnant.
4. Overall, the old Cali "feel" just isnt there anymore, the shiny, clean, progressive state seems in a downward spiral.
5. I paid $5/gallon for gas and paid to park almost everywhere I went, even a movie theater.

As an American, it was truly sad to see what was a symbol of American success so apparently beaten down. I also noticed that not once did I see a Cali flag flying other than perhaps a government office - unlike Texas where we have state pride.

I've been traveling to Cali for 20+ years, many many times and this is the first time I felt the state has really fallen off the cliff.

I've lived in DFW my whole life, and moved to SoCal 8 months ago. I relocated for my job. My wife and I just bought a house 20 miles north of Hollywood in LA County.

1. Yes, the traffic is bad, no question about it. But it's no worse than certain areas of DFW. 360, 183, 820, 423, GWB eastbound to DNT, are all just as bad. And in some cases, you're paying to sit in that traffic, no tollroads here.

2. I LOVE the ethnic diversity in SoCal. So many interesting markets, restaurants and cultures.

3. There isn't a lot of new construction because we have mountains and ocean, and not hundreds of thousands of flat, undeveloped acerage. LA is MUCH larger than DFW, and is very dense. The real estate just doesn't exist.

4. I think CA is very clean, perhaps you just weren't in the right areas.

5. State average for gas is under $4.00 a gallon right now. I've never paid $5, nor I have I paid to park anywhere since living here.

So far, we love it. We have state income tax, you pay triple the property tax. You pay hundred of dollars a month to heat and cool your house, I pay $30 a month for electricity. In 8 months, I have yet to use heat or AC. Food here is much cheaper, it's locally gown. I don't pay $120 a month to the NTTA anymore. Yes housing is more, but other than that, I think the cost of living is less expensive. There is SO MUCH more to do here, and the weather is so nice, you actually want to go out and do things.

If I ever lost my job I would consider moving back to TX, because the economy is much stronger. But the outdoor and cultural diversity here blows TX away IMO.

I also find the people here are very nice, they are just more reserved and to themselves. Say hello and strike up a conversation with someone and you just might be surprised.

[Nelson]

Originally Posted by UserX

I've lived in DFW my whole life, and moved to SoCal 8 months ago. I relocated for my job. My wife and I just bought a house 20 miles north of Hollywood in LA County.

1. Yes, the traffic is bad, no question about it. But it's no worse than certain areas of DFW. 360, 183, 820, 423, GWB eastbound to DNT, are all just as bad. And in some cases, you're paying to sit in that traffic, no tollroads here.

2. I LOVE the ethnic diversity in SoCal. So many interesting markets, restaurants and cultures.

3. There isn't a lot of new construction because we have mountains and ocean, and not hundreds of thousands of flat, undeveloped acerage. LA is MUCH larger than DFW, and is very dense. The real estate just doesn't exist.

4. I think CA is very clean, perhaps you just weren't in the right areas.

5. State average for gas is under $4.00 a gallon right now. I've never paid $5, nor I have I paid to park anywhere since living here.

So far, we love it. We have state income tax, you pay triple the property tax. You pay hundred of dollars a month to heat and cool your house, I pay $30 a month for electricity. In 8 months, I have yet to use heat or AC. Food here is much cheaper, it's locally gown. I don't pay $120 a month to the NTTA anymore. Yes housing is more, but other than that, I think the cost of living is less expensive. There is SO MUCH more to do here, and the weather is so nice, you actually want to go out and do things.

If I ever lost my job I would consider moving back to TX, because the economy is much stronger. But the outdoor and cultural diversity here blows TX away IMO.

I also find the people here are very nice, they are just more reserved and to themselves. Say hello and strike up a conversation with someone and you just might be surprised.

There are some toll roads in California. When we were there last year we went to visit cousins in Laguna Niguel, in southern Orange County. They told us to take the toll road instead of sitting in the mess that's the San Diego Freeway. It was the most expensive toll road I've ever been on...I believe it was around $10 for a not terribly long distance. In the Bay Area there are loads of expensive toll bridges, unless you are going up the peninsula to San Francisco it is hard to avoid paying an expensive toll for a bridge in one direction or the other.

My father in law spent the last 20 years of his life in California, part of it in Venice Beach, most in San Jose. We visited him at least once a year, so we spent plenty of time in California.

Real estate taxes are only smaller if you consider the percentage they tax you. Take a comparable house to a house in Frisco, in as nice a suburban area, and compare what the actual dollars you will pay in real estate taxes on the two. Most houses in communities comparable to Frisco in California actually cost 5 or 6 times what they cost here to buy. THe actual dollar amounts of the taxes are based on those values...so even though our percentage is higher, our taxes are much lower. I went through this kind of thing when I moved from the Chicago area. I bought a house here that is 50% bigger than the house I owned in the Chicago suburbs...cost me 50% of what my Chicagoland house sold for. The percentage that Frisco taxes real estate at is much higher than we were taxed in Cook County, but the actual dollar amount (and frankly that is the only thing I care about) is a couple thousand less a year.

Maybe if you live in the city of San Francisco, or perhaps Santa Monica right by the ocean , you don't need air conditioning...but most of the Los Angeles/Southland area gets hot, real hot...and you sure do need it. My father in law needed it a good portion of the year in San Jose...temps in the 90s and over 100 were not unusual. It doesn't get midwestern cold in the winter in most of California, but it certainly gets cold enough to have to heat your house. Lows at night in the 40s are not unusual...and I sure wouldn't want to be in an unheated home at that temp.

We always found food at groceries in California to be quite reasonable...and wonderful quality...but restaurant prices were not cheap. Yes there is ethnic diversity in California, but there is here too. Compared to the lilly white suburbs of Chicagoland, this is like living in an United Nations.

California wins the natural beauty contest But just think, you could be in Amarillo!!

[QuickSilver]

Originally Posted by UserX

I've lived in DFW my whole life, and moved to SoCal 8 months ago. I relocated for my job. My wife and I just bought a house 20 miles north of Hollywood in LA County.

1. Yes, the traffic is bad, no question about it. But it's no worse than certain areas of DFW. 360, 183, 820, 423, GWB eastbound to DNT, are all just as bad. And in some cases, you're paying to sit in that traffic, no tollroads here.

2. I LOVE the ethnic diversity in SoCal. So many interesting markets, restaurants and cultures.

3. There isn't a lot of new construction because we have mountains and ocean, and not hundreds of thousands of flat, undeveloped acerage. LA is MUCH larger than DFW, and is very dense. The real estate just doesn't exist.

4. I think CA is very clean, perhaps you just weren't in the right areas.

5. State average for gas is under $4.00 a gallon right now. I've never paid $5, nor I have I paid to park anywhere since living here.

So far, we love it. We have state income tax, you pay triple the property tax. You pay hundred of dollars a month to heat and cool your house, I pay $30 a month for electricity. In 8 months, I have yet to use heat or AC. Food here is much cheaper, it's locally gown. I don't pay $120 a month to the NTTA anymore. Yes housing is more, but other than that, I think the cost of living is less expensive. There is SO MUCH more to do here, and the weather is so nice, you actually want to go out and do things.

If I ever lost my job I would consider moving back to TX, because the economy is much stronger. But the outdoor and cultural diversity here blows TX away IMO.

I also find the people here are very nice, they are just more reserved and to themselves. Say hello and strike up a conversation with someone and you just might be surprised.

Excellent points. Well stated.

I have never driven a mile on any toll road in California. Unlike in Texas, it's realtively easy to avoid toll roads.

I couldn't tell you if the HVAC in my condo worked as I have never used it and I am at least 35 miles from the water. Perhasp has to do with the quality of the construction.

I paid $6k in property taxes every year in Texas. In Cali I would have to own a $600k house to have to pay that.

I don't know where they sell gasoline for $5 per gallon.

Best of all, as you've seen, the cost of living is lower here than in Texas, for me and I get quality products to boot and nicer more friendly people.

Oh, even if I lost my job I still will never ever return to Texas ever.

[Locochicka]

Just got back from San Diego....COL is way high....lovely place but couldn't live there permanently.
Oops....in case you are going there, 42 bucks for zoo entry