“How ironic....We had friends that moved to Colorado with their two kids about 5 years ago. Their kids hated it, and our friends grew to curse the frigged bone chilling, long winters... “
My family moved there when I was 15, I lived there for two years, and went back to California, graduated high school, enlisted, and only went back for the very occasional visit. Last time there was 2004, and my mom died shortly after. Shook the dust from my heels on my way out after seeing her, and never going back. We were on the Western Slope, though, and odds are your friends moved to the Eastern slope, somewhere near Denver. Worse winters, bad smog, and far too many people from California. (I know that, as a bunch of my extended family moved on over there.)
“In the military, I've lived in frozen, brutally cold wind swept tundra, hellish heat with uninhabitable humidity....No thanks...Not for me..Never again.”
Likewise, but with the exceptions of Clovis, New Mexico, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, I didn't find the moving about all that bad. Used to tell one of my coworkers in the USAF that if they had to give the world an enema, Clovis (his hometown) was where they would stick it. After we went to Desert Storm, I had to apologize to him, as I'd found the REAL rectum of the world.
“Everywhere has it's bad points...But near perfect year round weather, and lots of things to do outdoors, just happens to be worth a small fortune to us.”
How do you deal with the lines for good fishing spots in the mountains? How do you even SEE the beaches? You've got what, 70 million people there now? When I lived out that way, Whittier was out in the sticks, and now you can't even SEE them from there! We used to go pan for gold in the San Gabriel River. Spend weeks in the Sierras fishing for trout, and hiking, and just generally having a ball.n My dad used to hunt mountain lion in the Whittier hills. As for the weather, I'm not fond of snow, but having to deal with it helps you appreciate good weather while it lasts.
OK, we have tornadoes, but you have earthquakes, and we can outrun a tornado! ;)
“I always tell people...Watch what you ask for, you just might get it.”
Yep. I really wanted to live in a small town. My wife, who is a Navy brat, didn't have a place to call home, either, so when the USAF dropped us here, we looked around. Nice people everywhere? Check. Low cost of living? Check. Decent schools? Check. Low taxes? Check. I live in the OKC metro, within easy reach of good doctors and hospitals, lots of jobs, and all the things that have become important to me, after 2+ decades of beating my body up for Uncle. My retirement check almost covers the basic living expenses, which it wouldn't, anywhere near LA. I can drive for less than 20 minutes, and be out where I can see the stars at night. Last time I drove into LA, it looked like all the stars had fallen from the sky, and landed in the valley. It is funny, isn't it? I'm as happy here as I've ever been, and happier than I ever was in or around LA.
Of course, if the wind ever stops, I am SO out of here! ;)
OS
How do you deal with the lines for good fishing spots in the mountains?
Lines of people??
We go the Sierras for fresh water...The lakes we go to ya have to hike in for many miles....Few if anyone there. Ya ought to see it...
Some of the best high alpine freshwater fishing anywhere!
Like this for instance....
How do you even SEE the beaches
Come on now....Show me a nice beach, or marina with near perfect weather, without people..... lol
BTW, we enjoy going saltwater fishing off the the numerous Islands...I can't think of many other things I rather do... Most everything we do is catch and release, except for the largest and best...Everything else goes back.
Oh we also enjoy off roading in the high and low deserts....We go way back in, everything 4-wheel drive or dirt bikes... We go for days at a time, when we can, and sometimes not seeing another human for 2 or 3 days.