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Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

This is a hypothetical situation. I have no wish to leave Scotland at my age, and considering my children are fairly settled, it would be unfair to move them. You will need to know a lot here, if you would like to help. So please bear with me.

/ Begin Hypothetical Situation

I want to emigrate to the USA. I love the country, and I want to experience a better climate than here. I have a few candidates that I would be willing to move to. I would earn about $120,000 and my wife $80,000. Following the 3 times rule, I could afford a 600k house. I looked at CA, and fell in love. I like the idea of a bedroom community, likeCAMARILLO. I found this very nice house HERE, well under budget. I like that area of CA (Orange County/ Ventura), for the proximity to LAX ( where I would hypothetically work). I would like 2 Mercedes C63 AMGs ( like I have here). CA has a Med climate most of the time, so escapes the humidity of FL. Also, a speedboat would be nice, so proximity to lakes is a must ( about 100 miles max). There are a few in CA. Tahoe, and another one I can't remember. CA also has a great outdoor scene (forests, camping, mountains, beaches e.t.c)

Bad news: SlapHappy is a bastard. He says "people are too crazy in California..they should be their own country. "Nutty Idiots. they have PETA, Sierra Club, Gay Capital of the Universe, Every drug known to mankind, and it seems everyone has done them all. So far left-wing, they should be about 500 miles off the coast." I also believe the GA (general aviation) community isn't as big as I would like.

Everything I hate in a place.

So, FL. Hot. Nice. I've been to Orlando & Miami. I would be looking to go to the Tallahasse (SP) area. Lots of airparks in the state. Great flying community. It would require the above (Lakes, cars, GA base e.t.c)

Houses are about the same price as CA, as far as I can tell. I did like Naples, FL, but it's too far south.

I thought OK, but that's too stormy. Can anyone help, if they live in a state mentioned, or just know a lot about them. Or if anyone could suggest other states which I would like, with the above "criteria". Or if anyone can convince me CA isn't as bad as SH says.

Help is appreciated.

Trophy Videos · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:00 pm

Before all you California baiters jump on me....
You should know that I've never lived there, and I may be way off here, but those were just my impressions while visiting there. I in no way meant to say that everyone in California is a screeching left-wing liberal, so please don't take offense at my comments to Craig. Also, Craig is a damn ingracious safari mentee of mine, who takes every opportunity to brand me a "bastard," and expose me to ridicule and shame on this site. He's a stone-tossing, curmudgeon of a Scot, if ever I saw one. Cool

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:10 pm

Sounds like my kind of place. Laughing

None of that would put me off.

Except it's right at the business end of the San Andreas Fault. Shocked

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:58 pm

Can I take one of your Merc's off your hands when you leave?

I enjoyed visiting California! It had such a wide variety of things to do... Probably wouldn't want to live there though and would settle for the stunning scenery of Canada!

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Apr 2007 Posts: 3123

take the Merc if you like, as long as you WU me the 60k.

Don't get me wrong, I adore Canada. Toronto was my second best holiday. I just couldn't stick the winters. I'm more of a sunseeker.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:21 pm

Craig, as it happens, I live in Ventura County, in a city right next to Camarillo. I agree about ALL the positive things you said about life here. And if you like boating, you might also consider that the ocean is 20 min. away. We have a sailboat, and go out sailing most weekends. As for the numbers you quoted, that's just about our numbers, and we have quite a nice lifestyle here (although we bought our house 11 years ago when the prices were a fraction of what they are today, so we have that advantage.) There's also an active aviation community here. There's a small airport in Camarillo, and I know several people who keep their private planes there.

I happen to be a pointy-headed liberal, so I can't help you with the political aspects. I'm a staunch fighter for gay civil rights, and believe in being environmentally aware (I'm no animal-rights fanatic, tho - I am quite happy being at the top of the food chain). But the reality is that Ventura County itself is in fact overwhelmingly Republican, so I'm in the minority here. As for drugs - it's a scourge all over the US. It's no worse here than anywhere else - in fact, it's not as bad here as some areas, such as the Midwest, where meth has taken over whole communities. This is a pretty upscale community here (it's a bedroom community for Hollywood, there's a celebrity around every corner) so we are not as badly affected as other parts of CA.

My sister lives in Florida. DON'T DO IT! Just the humidity itself is enough to keep me out of that state unless I absolutely have to go there. She hates it there. The weather here - what can I tell you, it's the best on the planet! I'm originally from the East Coast, and wouldn't move back there for any amount of money. (Well, maybe for a $22.8 million inheritance fund) Wink

I'd be happy to take this discussion to PM if you'd like.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:42 pm

Check out the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. John Denver's song "Almost Heaven"needed the "West" before the "Virginia" to sound right, but the song is still about the Shenandoah Valley.

We've been here 32 years and I still can't get enough of it.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:52 pm

Camarillo, California, is the home of a large state insane asylum.

Cool

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:28 pm

^^^Not any more. The former Camarillo State Mental Hospital closed many years ago, when Ronald Reagan's "de-institutionalization" policies put all the mental patients on the street. It stood vacant for years, until several years ago when they fixed it up and converted it to a University. It is now California State University Channel Islands - one of the most physically beautiful campuses in the state!

Here's a trivia question: back when it was a mental hospital, it was the inspiration for what famous song by a world-famous rock band? There's a $22.8 million inheritance fund for the first person to answer correctly!

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:31 pm

@ Craig. I've spent quite a bit of time in both states.

Florida wins hands down every time.

Cali I found just too way out there. Gotta admit, I didn't find the people too friendly and the place is just one huge rat race. It's like London on acid.

Florida is much more laid back and I found the people nicer. Didn't find the humidity a problem at all as it burns off quite early in the day.

And as for a speedboat? Florida wins every time. Who needs a lake when you've got the whole of the Gulf of Mexico to play around in? Get even more adventurous and you might want to try airboating, and for that, you've got the Everglades to play around in - basically a big marshy water-way the size of Wales.

Unlike you though, I would go South. Particularily the Keys. Getting a pilot job down there would be no problem - everyone flies up the line to get anywhere. Otherwise it's a couple of hundred miles to get to the nearest city.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:46 pm

Cachuma wrote:

Here's a trivia question: back when it was a mental hospital, it was the inspiration for what famous song by a world-famous rock band? There's a $22.8 million inheritance fund for the first person to answer correctly!

It wasn't Hotel California, was it?

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:52 pm

^^^DING DING DING DING! We have a winner! To receive your winnings, please fill out the Official Winnings Form, and send $1700 in delivery and demurrage fees to me via WU. Laughing

Hellish Taskmaster Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 537

I've lived in California all my life. There are some parts that are beautiful, like the Sierras and Yosemite. The fault is a problem, but there are rarely earthquakes. If everyone is a liberal, then why did we approve Prop 8? Really, California is a great place. But whatever, this is hypothetical.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:52 pm

How about considering Arizona or Colorado? Beautiful country and lots of lakes and things to do. Though Colorado is a bit crunchy-granola type liberal.

Cost of living is high in California compared to most the rest of the country. You could get a lot more house for the money in Florida.

I currently live on the east coast, but am planning to move to Arizona in the next few years. And for the record...I am one of those damn liberals.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:12 pm

I would have to agree with Virginia.. and the Shenandoah area..

If you like Mountains.. Check
Lakes to boat - Check
All 4 seasons - Check (lows are norm in the 30s Highs hit 80-90s) Today is 80!
Good population - check
600K in a house would have you living very well.. avg house is 200K-250K
Low crime

And Ps. PETA is based in Virginia Smile

Plus there is a 419 restaurant!

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:20 pm

@ Craig007

Can I suggest perhaps me and yourself take a fact finding tour of America for a few months. I can read a map and rub your shoulders and make cooing noises as I perform that function.

You can then make a decision as I give you the occasional full body massage and arrange the move in your own good time as we spend some quality time getting to know your wants and desires.

What do you think?

Do not show your wife this post, she will definately get the wrong impression of our (ahem) true motives.

Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

We have plenty of room in Minnesota, come join us.

P.S. Bring warm clothes.

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:17 am

Craig007 wrote:

Bad news: SlapHappy is a bastard. He says "people are too crazy in California..they should be their own country. "Nutty Idiots. they have PETA, Sierra Club, Gay Capital of the Universe, Every drug known to mankind, and it seems everyone has done them all. So far left-wing, they should be about 500 miles off the coast." I also believe the GA (general aviation) community isn't as big as I would like.

I wasn't born or raised in California so I was also wary of those things when moving. As it turned out, my first impression was "hey, it's not as bad as they say after all". As it also turned out, I hadn't lived anywhere other than the greater Sacramento area. So when I first visited San Francisco, I got to see that none of what they say is an exaggeration! Most of California is so liberal that it makes Al Gore look like a fascist. It was by far my shortest visit to any city ever.

So I guess, what I'm trying to say is, there are relatively moderate places in California (take note of the word "relatively"), but you do have to get used to your vote never counting for shit. Worth it, though.

EDIT: Oh yeah, almost forgot.

Hellish Taskmaster Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 537

^ It's San Francisco. What do you expect?

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:30 pm

Quote:

Bring warm clothes.

Doh, that's what my driveway in Minnesota looked like when I came back from a month in the Philippines last year. Welcome home!

MN is a great place to raise a family, if you're tough like me and PF. Reasonable cost of living, sensible people, healthiest state in the Union. We have also 13000 lakes for your boat, and I hear a great aviation community.

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:51 pm

Craig, hurry up and make up your mind already. Laughing

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:34 am

Hi Craig. Wait a year and $600k should buy you ten acres. The commute from Camarillo to LAX is pretty harsh both ways. Lots of people in So Cal are not working so it is getting better but who would buy an AMG to drive it in stop and go traffic? Going up from the OC is not much better. Even though the locations are relatively close to each other on a globe, the climates are different. Camarillo is much cooler, cleaner and a lot slower. There is a another airport about 1 mile west (Oxnard) that gets socked in with fog a lot more that Camarillo, but Camarillo gets a lot more weather than John Wayne Airport in the OC. If I were to relocate to anywhere in the states, I would go to either Hilo, HI or Maui. Maui has direct flights to the mainland now.
If I were going to start all over again out of the States and had to be near an airport, I would go to Naha. Read my review here-
Sleeping in airports. It really is the nicest airport in the world.

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:17 am

When I went to California I landed in LA and found myself drawn to spend all evening driving round South Central. It was like I was stuck inside a force field.

After many torrid hours I managed to escape, and when I got to the hotel and told the guy who took the car keys "I need drugs", that was when I realised there were going to be major communication problems. Laughing

It's strange, but I like strange places.

Hellish Taskmaster Joined: 31 Dec 2008 Posts: 537

Connie L. Gus wrote:

Hi Craig. Wait a year and $600k should buy you ten acres. The commute from Camarillo to LAX is pretty harsh both ways. Lots of people in So Cal are not working so it is getting better but who would buy an AMG to drive it in stop and go traffic? Going up from the OC is not much better. Even though the locations are relatively close to each other on a globe, the climates are different. Camarillo is much cooler, cleaner and a lot slower. There is a another airport about 1 mile west (Oxnard) that gets socked in with fog a lot more that Camarillo, but Camarillo gets a lot more weather than John Wayne Airport in the OC. If I were to relocate to anywhere in the states, I would go to either Hilo, HI or Maui. Maui has direct flights to the mainland now.
If I were going to start all over again out of the States and had to be near an airport, I would go to Naha. Read my review here-
Sleeping in airports. It really is the nicest airport in the world.

Yes, LA and Marin traffic is a problem, but once you get out of the metropolitan areas, it's fine. But if you want to be Californian, you should get a Prius Laughing

Just wondering: Is it a widespread rumor that everyone in Cali has a Prius?

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:03 am

If you bought a Prius or Civic hybrid two years ago you could apply for some stickers that would allow you to drive in the carpool lane anytime you felt like it. A used Prius with the sticker (worth about $5,000 more) would be the only way Craig007 could get to LAX in a reasonable amount of time from the suburbs and not run out of gas in the stop and go traffic with his V12 motor.