Posted on 11/15/2018 8:37:13 AM PST by A Navy Vet
Since California now has a super majority in the Assembly/Senate and can and will legislate any tax or thing their little Socialist hearts desire, we are now committed to leaving. We will be part of the exodus from the Socialist Republic of California. It's going to be a historical migration within our Nation, if not already.
Since we are both Conservatives, we won't be bringing any of the Liberal/Socialist ideals with us and would make good neighbors.
Ah OK...I get it ;)
Do you live in MS?
All love where they live. Montana and Wyoming are BRUTAL in the winter from what two friends tell me.
Mississippi is BRUTAL in the Summer (Heat, Humidity) from what the third tells me.
Personally I'm heading to Arizona. Rehabbing my townhome, getting ready to rent it out and get the hell out of California East (or ILLINOIS as the rest of the country calls it) and escaping this shit hole!
I'm in the same boat as you. I'm planning to retire in a few years and am bailing out of California. The state government is completely out of control.
Also like you I'm looking to move into the Western US. I'm leaning toward Colorado, mainly because it's centrally located in the US and, in parts of it, relatively mild winter weather.
Pennsylvania? Been there, done that. High taxes, though you might see a big break compared to Cal.
Another Navy vet here, mate.
Don’t know which State is best, but I have a suggestion.
Consider moving to a college town. My wife and I love Athens, GA. It’s home to the Georgia Dawgs and having a university in town adds a little culture to what would otherwise be a plain rural town.
Athens is considered a good place to retire. Cost of living is two-thirds what it was for us in Penn. Moved three years back.
Good luck.
I like your climate strategy. I looked at the map. Makes sense.
The only exception to your theory is that San Antonio / Austin areas seems to get a good share of rain / humidity -- and I believe they are west of your imaginery line (if I calculated it correctly.
Cheers, Clutch.
Hey Navy Vet,
Check out this handy comparison of weather data. Very easy way to get an idea how much heat, rain, etc. you’ll experience in different major cities of the US
https://outflux.net/weather/noaa/index.php
“like your climate strategy. I looked at the map. Makes sense.”
It is definitely a ballpark SWAG, but it’s close.
After living on both coasts and overseas...I sort of ended up stuck in Virginia. It is all good, but who knows? I keep exit strategies in mind.
I looked a little bit and if I had the options I would move to Idaho.
If I had the ability I think I would spend summers and fall in Idaho and winter in flagstaff or sedona.
“Another way of looking at your theory is examining forest lands in the US.”
Along with Hurricane tracks coming up through and originating in the GOM... and historical Tornado paths. Humidity indices are key. But it it somewhat of a SWAG.
I always thought the Cimarron Grasslands would be a nice place, if the water was good and plentiful.
I love Tucson and have been here Since 2005. Cooler than Phoenix due to a higher altitude. Surrounded by 4mtn ranges. Beautiful. Love the summers as no snow birds. A big small town with excellent medical care. Cheap. When I was in SE Virginia I lived in air conditioning in the summer. Here too but dry heat really is more comfortable. My body has acclimated and now I am colder than I used to be. You adjust. Early morning and evenings are comfortable. Friendly people. Good food. Lots of restaurants. Id never leave here.
Look at every other statewide race though. Tarrant County (Fort Worth) voted republican. I think there may still be some hangover from Teds 2016 convention speech. I know a number of people that will never forgive him for that one speech (which was petty and childish).
You say you want to relocate in the West for family reasons: Does that mean you wish to be within some reasonable driving distance of OC or CA? Say, a 1 day (12 hour) drive? If yes, I have no experience or real input.
If you’d be flying to see relatives, then how many hops you have to make, driving time to airports, etc., all come into play.
Somewhat west, NE Texas seems pretty nice, the people nice, most of it is conservative of course, and there are several good size lakes if you are thinking about being on or near water. I don’t know about the humidity, though or troubling type insects. (A few times, I’ve been in Texarkana, and they have the biggest grasshoppers I’ve ever seen!)
A good friend of mine is looking to exit from IL to the Arkansas Ozarks. I think they want to be on or near one of the big lakes. He recently mentioned the area near Bentonville & Beaver Lake: It seems to be doing well economically speaking, he thought, and you have many services handy, plus the lake nearby. I’d think the Missouri Ozarks lakes might be a “possible” for them too, though Branson might be a bit too “touristy”? Humidity in the summer would be a factor (but being able to take a dip anytime if on the water helps.) Depending on the locality, here too, bugs could be a nuisance — checking into how successful specific localities are with mosquito abatement might be wise. Politically, I think Arkansas is mostly red these days, and MO just dumped Claire McCaskill fairly emphatically, so there is that.
One thing I have not seen mentioned is how the state you are looking at is doing in terms of pension debt per capita. If that number is very high, then although current taxation may be low, it cannot stay that way forever. KY, for example, though too far east from you, might seem attractive socially and politically, until one realizes that although tax rates are low (for example, real estate taxes are considerably lower than in IL), KY taxes yearly practically everything in sight: Cars and boats get an annual property tax, for example, in addition to license fees, KY has “local” income taxes on top of state income tax, etc. Depending on one’s situation, they all are probably not TOO bad, but, the pension problem is untenable. This also may be true of specific localities anywhere. I saw a list of the 100 most underfunded local gov’t pension plans in IL a while back — it was just INSANE. The question may then become whether those chickens come home to roost before you go roost with the angels (I assume!), and, how big will the “hit” to you be? That could be a difficult question to answer...
The corner of the Isl. we live in is in the rain shadow and only gets 20 inches of rain (on average). Medical centers within a 45 minute drive and large clinics within 15 minutes. At the 200 ft. level overlooking the water, we do get wind, but overall, very mild weather. No State income tax and low local taxes. No auto pollution testing, clean air and no mosquito's (in our particular area). Well worth taking a look at.
If you’re not a lib, why the hell would you ever be in CA to begin with? Just askin’
Anyway it’s much too broad a question since you volunteered almost no information in your original post.
“We are conservatives” with a house that will sell for 900k (which could be 750 sq. feet depending on where you are in CA) is not much to go by.
To answer question: Look at Utah or OK. You will get lots for your money. otherwise Reno, NV but state will be blue and same for AZ,CO,New Mexico -see why below
“If youre not a lib, why the hell would you ever be in CA to begin with? Just askin”
the weather? but it might surprise you to know that there are still more conservatives in the state of CA than any other state (by virtue of it being by far the most populous state) and yes we are swamped by Dem voters but the tv coverage of white liberals is not what drives the state politics.
what is really going on is the demographic or ethnic block voting for Dems- that is the real story, and challenge for GOP. Without the block voting of African Americans (93% + for Dems+ and Hispanic Americans-approaching 70%,) CA would still be the state that elected Reagan governor and nationally the Dems would have a little over 100 seats and about 10-12 Senate seats.
Just look at the states won by Trump,he won 32 states but only 4 have a population of Hispanic voters over 13%. Clinton by contrast won 28 states and only 5 had a Hispanic population of under 13%.
In CA, the Hispanic Population is now about 40% (and yes fueled by illegal immigrants and higher birth rate )and African American 12%.
This demographic shift and resulting voting trend is what is going on in early stages in Nevada, Az, Fl and now Texas. Colorado is now over 20% Hispanic and now a dem state, Nevada over 29% and voting solidly blue. I believe this is why the dems are for illegal immigration-it gets them votes and power.
We need to address, its like trying to win a basketball game where the other team gets to start with a 20 point lead so we cannot pretend we can win without Hispanics or fall for the “its just white liberals” myth or the entire country will be CA
Yes I agree with your characterization of demographic trends.
I spend a lot of time in CA because of work, and I am fond of using the “but they do have nice weather” caveat after I describe in long detail my opinion of how dysfunctional CA is.
My favorite source of analysis is the historian and Hoover Institute scholar Victor Davis Hanson. He’s a native Californian and still has a ranch there, so his critiques are not just a reflection of bias against CA (and most people elsewhere love to make fun of CA).
The outlook for CA is really bleak given the unfunded pension obligations and given who’s in charge. The taxes will only go up if history is any guide.
The elites in CA are on the coast, and most of the normal (and poorer) people live inland in the more rural areas, as I’m sure you know.
There won’t be a big change anytime soon in CA — the leftist education system has a lock, and so does the leftist media. The Dems want immigrants to hate America’s founding principles and to hate capitalism, and they’re succeeding. The less educated and new immigrants are more susceptible to brainwashing because they are attracted to narratives from people that promise them the most handouts (Dems) and it takes experience and determination to overcome the indoctrination. Eventually they do but it takes a long time. And we have to help them realize they are being treated as pawns, against their own self-interest.
Anyway I still don’t know much about your particular situation but if you’re retirement age consider getting a big RV and just seeing America. You could buy a small house in the country or suburbs in a no-income-tax state, and then use the RV to stay for a week or two or a month, getting discounts for longer stays, just about anywhere. We have met many, many couples doing this on the road in ours.
And be forewarned — as I know from knowing many ex-Californians — they will go after you for taxes every year, no matter where you are. So make sure you can prove you live elsewhere with documentation.
Family has lived there since the 60’s. I have a second home there. Know all about it. All you say is true ...weather wise. My problem is the politics.
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