Do you have lots of family in LA-LA Land or could you sale out and retire somewhere else much cheaper like the great state of AZ?
You could probably sell you CA home and buy a home in the city and one the mountains here and still have money left over.
Well, you are full of good questions today
I only have 1 sister still living in IL. My wife has her family here.
Yes, the cost of living here is high. I have many clients who have or will retire in other states. Maybe my thinking will change later BUT these are my thoughts now - I will have worked for 22 years to pay off my house in Huntington Beach. I have killed myself with 1-2 hour traffic for those years & it will be 30-35 years by time I retire. Between kids games & work, I really haven't spent much time, relaxing & enjoying HB.
HB is a great place with perfect (for me) weather. Weather is 24/7/365. So if something that you like every second of every day is good, why change? I grew up in IL & I HATE the cold - that's why I chose to go to school out here.
When I retire, I won't be driving as much, so the traffic won't be much of an issue. The way I figure it, why kill yourself to live in HB & pay for a house & when you can retire & enjoy it, then move away from what you have worked for.?
Again, my thinking, along with health & other factors may change, but right now that is the way I am looking at it. Who knows???