A general retirement question - Starting over? (2 Viewers)

[Gally]

There's just so much traffic here. So much concrete. No open spaces, no vegetation. It's sad to me.

This is for your area. I live an hour north of Santa Barbara and there are plenty of open spaces and virtually no traffic. It's a great place to live and raise a family with plenty of things to do that are relatively close by.

 

[nirad3]

I live in So Cal and really have no desire to move. Only way I would is to be closer to grandkids if my kids flock to one area when buying their first homes. But even then I may just get a condo or something there and keep our home here.

I have so so many friends here including 40 or so connected through our Ryder Cup golf outings and fantasy football. We’re talking 30 years of history. We take family vacations together. True friendships. I also belong to a great golf club 8 minutes from my house. Sure So Cal is expensive and taxes are a joke, but house is just about paid off and property taxes dirt cheap. Already have excellent weather. There just isn’t a reason to move.

I’m also one of those extroverted introvert types. I appear outgoing but don’t love the idea of making a whole bunch of new friendships.

I am also in SoCal but completely the opposite. The only thing keeping me here is family (kids, aged 13 and 11; and my Mom). Once my kids are out of the house in college I can't get out of here fast enough.

Born and raised here, but spent enough time out of the area (6 years in Austin, 2 in the Twin Cities) to know that it's better elsewhere. I actually want seasons, don't mind the heat/rain.

There's just so much traffic here. So much concrete. No open spaces, no vegetation. It's sad to me.

Heck, even my Mom's contemplating moving out of state. I bet if she's still alive n' kickin in 5-6 years and I decide to move, she will too... even though my sister and her son will still be in SoCal.

As for the OP question, I am a very social person and would find opportunities to make local friends no matter where I go. Plus, I'm contemplating moving back to Austin, where I still have a good group of friends local to the Austin/San Antonio areas. Plus I plan on buying an RV and driving to see friends in Atlanta, Denver, etc., every few months. I'd be fine friends/social-wise.

Man for you to consider Twin Cities better with those winters you must really despise CA. And I spent plenty of time with an office in Eden Prairie. What part of CA do you live in? I’m in Thousand Oaks. My backyard looks over the Santa Monica mountains and can hike straight to Malibu. Plenty of open space and beaches are within 12 minutes. Malibu, Ventura etc. But I hear you on traffic. Brutal if you have to commute. Fortunately I don’t.

We were living in Austin during the economic downturn and I couldn't find work there, so a fraternity brother of mine offered me a job in the Cities. It was brutal.

But yeah, I'm in Huntington Beach and while the constant mild temperatures are nice, it's just kinda boring to me. I like thunderstorms, heat.... I dunno why, just do.

I don't commute to work but two days a week, and it's an easy 20-ish minute drive, but going anywhere else is a pain.

 

[nirad3]

There's just so much traffic here. So much concrete. No open spaces, no vegetation. It's sad to me.

This is for your area. I live an hour north of Santa Barbara and there are plenty of open spaces and virtually no traffic. It's a great place to live and raise a family with plenty of things to do that are relatively close by.

I went to UCSB... so yeah I know there are places in Cali that are not as congested as the greater LA area. I can't wait to get out. :(

 

[bigbottom]

I live in So Cal and really have no desire to move. Only way I would is to be closer to grandkids if my kids flock to one area when buying their first homes. But even then I may just get a condo or something there and keep our home here.

I have so so many friends here including 40 or so connected through our Ryder Cup golf outings and fantasy football. We’re talking 30 years of history. We take family vacations together. True friendships. I also belong to a great golf club 8 minutes from my house. Sure So Cal is expensive and taxes are a joke, but house is just about paid off and property taxes dirt cheap. Already have excellent weather. There just isn’t a reason to move.

I’m also one of those extroverted introvert types. I appear outgoing but don’t love the idea of making a whole bunch of new friendships.

I am also in SoCal but completely the opposite. The only thing keeping me here is family (kids, aged 13 and 11; and my Mom). Once my kids are out of the house in college I can't get out of here fast enough.

Born and raised here, but spent enough time out of the area (6 years in Austin, 2 in the Twin Cities) to know that it's better elsewhere. I actually want seasons, don't mind the heat/rain.

There's just so much traffic here. So much concrete. No open spaces, no vegetation. It's sad to me.

Heck, even my Mom's contemplating moving out of state. I bet if she's still alive n' kickin in 5-6 years and I decide to move, she will too... even though my sister and her son will still be in SoCal.

As for the OP question, I am a very social person and would find opportunities to make local friends no matter where I go. Plus, I'm contemplating moving back to Austin, where I still have a good group of friends local to the Austin/San Antonio areas. Plus I plan on buying an RV and driving to see friends in Atlanta, Denver, etc., every few months. I'd be fine friends/social-wise.

Man for you to consider Twin Cities better with those winters you must really despise CA. And I spent plenty of time with an office in Eden Prairie. What part of CA do you live in? I’m in Thousand Oaks. My backyard looks over the Santa Monica mountains and can hike straight to Malibu. Plenty of open space and beaches are within 12 minutes. Malibu, Ventura etc. But I hear you on traffic. Brutal if you have to commute. Fortunately I don’t.

We were living in Austin during the economic downturn and I couldn't find work there, so a fraternity brother of mine offered me a job in the Cities. It was brutal.

But yeah, I'm in Huntington Beach and while the constant mild temperatures are nice, it's just kinda boring to me. I like thunderstorms, heat.... I dunno why, just do.

I don't commute to work but two days a week, and it's an easy 20-ish minute drive, but going anywhere else is a pain.

Just visited my kid at his new place in Playa Del Rey. Traffic wasn’t great but the weather was beautiful and his front door is literally 200 feet from the beach. I’m super jealous.