It's all about proximity
Sometimes I think about moving from Southern California. There isn't much in the way of weather here. In fact, I was at the beach this week in my bikini and all and, what, it's November. The cost of living here is astronomical. I occasionally toy with the idea to move to here or there. Sometimes I'll look up property in the area and see how horrible the real estate market is here. The houses all look the same, the yards are, well, not yards at all, there is little in the way of personality and you have no real options aside from the color of carpet. In Michigan we could buy what is considered a mansion here for $300K. In Oregon, it would only cost like $250. In Maine, yes, dear, R, I even looked up what it would cost to live in Maine -- in Maine, oh, $175 roughly. I'm sure there are places where 175 is a fortune. It always gets me going ... why the hell do we choose to live here? This place is outrageous. It's a lifestyle choice and we're making the wrong one.
But you know... then a day like today comes along. It's 70 degrees outside, Thanksgiving week, some of the trees are losing their leaves (think like 5% of the trees). We went for a hike, we went and had lunch at the beach, we played outside. We wore shorts. That's what it's all about. I truly don't know what we'd do without the sun, with snow (did I mention none of us owns a real winter jacket), with rain. The Husband most certainly couldn't live without the surf - it's his passion.
It's a choice and a lot of people are choosing it.
Comments
CA has so much going for it! CA has so much against it! ;)
I love it where I am; fortunately I'm not terribly sensitive to or bothered by the heat.
We are leaving anyway! ;)
I went househunting a few weeks ago in our new locale and I liked the lack of cookie-cutter houses, mature neighborhoods with lots of character. It comes with a lot of humidity. :)
I hope you enjoy another great weather day soon!
Posted by: Joanne | November 24, 2002 7:58 PM
We're about to move out of Sydney to the Central Coast after living here for 12 years. I will miss it, but am finding that now I *want* to move. We're moving so that we can be within walking distance of a really amazing beach, in an area where we can afford to buy a house, where the energy of the place is far more in tune with what we need.
I did what you did for a long time, looked at houses online in different areas and different countries. I found that really useful, for when I started looking over a year ago it helped me realise I wasn't ready to move. It may be that you are getting ready to move, though how long that process will take for you, I don't know. Just don't move because you think you should, do it if and when you and Kevin want to.
Posted by: Lucyna | November 24, 2002 11:05 PM
I remember thinking the same. But the cost of living here is for the weather we all take for granted so often. After traveling to my "nirvana", I realized I am happiest in Socal, near my loved ones. I couldn't possibly live without the ocean, the the desert-like warmth of the summers, my family and my best friend.
Posted by: imp | November 25, 2002 8:50 AM
Oh but Oregon is great!! {Then again you probably hear that from your sister all the time! LOL}
Kevin could still surf at the coast (it's only an hour from our house), we rarely get snow in the metroplex area, yet can drive for an hour and be at Mt. Hood. You can ski year around.......When it's 90+ outside you can either head up to Hood and ski or head to the coast and play in the surf!
This has been an especially dry winter so far. We headed out the coast last weekend and had a wonderful time.
Posted by: Wendy | November 25, 2002 9:47 AM
test
Posted by: Julie | November 25, 2002 1:31 PM
Except for the fact that I am in Sac-Hell, I could have written that! I hate the cost of living here, but I *love* California. The weather. Oh the weather! Did I mention the weather? It is SO GORGEOUS outside right now, it's about 65 degrees, slight breeze, sun shining, just beautiful! I'm in a tank top. :-P
The way I see it, every place has it's pros and cons. So far the pros outweigh the cons re: CA living, we'll see what the future holds. (Oh maaaaaaan I miss SoCal!)
Posted by: Debra | November 25, 2002 2:21 PM
Imp, I'm all choked up ;-0
I love living here and I doubt I'd actually survive anywhere else... even in No. Cal. :) and Oregon, way too rainy... I'd shrivel ;) and, nope, Wendy, I doubt my sister wants me any closer to my niece than absolutely necessary... I'm the "wierd" one, ya know.
Posted by: Julie | November 25, 2002 4:14 PM
test 2
Posted by: Julie | November 25, 2002 9:30 PM
SNOW! We got about 1/2 a foot of snow today and it took me about 45 minutes to get just Ben and Liza dressed and out the door-- for a 1/2 jaunt in the white stuff. (sigh)
Martha's Vineyard is always calling me, I'd love to be closer to the sea (though some would say that an hour drive *is* close)....but we do have land here- surrounded by about 50 acres, I can only see one house from my own and that is only in the winter when the leaves are down- so that is a plus that you can't have closer to the coast without paying about 1 mil for a home. But the cold and snow in the winter are a drag. I often wonder why we live in a place where I dislike the weather 7 months out of the year--- ahhhh....to live in a warmer climate! I am jealous of all of the beach-going happening today as I gaze out over my winter “wonderland”.
So- why don’t I move? Hmmmm…..because familiarity is easy, because it’s complicated to move- especially farther than a couple of towns, maybe because I have never been motivated enough. Something to think about…………
Posted by: rachael | November 27, 2002 8:38 AM