In these parts of California, earning less than $100,000 makes you ‘low income’

After Obama was inaugurated in Jan 2009, all of my contracts evaporated. I had been working my contracts from my home office in Idaho. I found work back in San Diego, but it was necessary to drive down and do the work in person behind spin dial doors. That engagement lasted from June 2009 until September 2014. I rented a 10 x 14 bedroom in a private home for $750/month. I still had the full costs to maintain my family in our home in Idaho.

While I was working in San Diego, my projects were trying to hire or retain staff. Many could not afford to move to San Diego for the salary offered. Many that were on the staff left for jobs inside the company, but in northern VA where salary and housing costs were more in line.

I returned from San Diego and have worked from my home office since Sept 2014. The COVID time frame caused lots of "work from home". My employer did a great job of boosting network performance. Clearing out expensive office space and hiring staff to work from home was a clear win for both employees and company. Internal job openings today include a column for telecommuting with values from 0% to 100%. The building where I started work for the company in Dec 1991 has been demolished. A new, high security building better suited for the "spin dial" contracts now houses staff who can afford to live in San Diego and who have the skill sets and clearance to work on the contracts.

I've worked my last day for my current employer on May 9, 2025. It was a great place for 33 1/2 years. Final day of official employment will be June 8, 2025. I'll be sending the hardware back to the San Diego office. I haven't been at the physical office since Sept 2017 and it no longer exists.

The ability to hire junior staff persists. Most of the juniors on my most recent contract live in the mid-west states. Those who seek positions with clearances are looking in the VA, MD, DC area.

Since escaping CA 6 years ago to AZ, my property has doubled! No exaggeration, no joke. I did not expect this and didn’t plan it this way, it just happened. The corrupt local tax collectors must love it.

I purchased a property in Mira Mesa in 1983. I had just sold my condominium for $48.5k and "purchased" the 4 br 2 ba house for $109k. I put $20k down and assumed a loan at 16% interest for $1335/month. We lived in the house until Dec 2000 when I moved my family to the current house in Chubbuck, ID. The new house is 3900 sq ft on 1/3 acre for $179k in 2000. The Mira Mesa house sold for $243k. After all expenses, we netted $80k to put down on the house in Chubbuck. Zillow estimates my old house in Mira Mesa at $1,185,600. It is 1685 sq ft (it was 1334 sq ft when I sold it). The subsequent owners did the exact add-on that I intended to do before moving to Idaho. The price of the Mira Mesa house went from $109k (1983) to $1,185,600 (2025).

My old house from Mira Mesa was a 1981 build. A long list of reasons pushed me to look for a more suitable place to live. My house in Chubbuck is a 1984 vintage. I have replaced the roof/rain gutters last year. Furnace/AC replaced in 2014. Water heater replaced around 2005. Overall, in good shape as I retire. Local traffic is significantly greater than when we arrived in Dec 2000, but nowhere near as insane as San Diego traffic.

My cancer battle from last year shortens my post retirement timeline. I have plenty stashed away for the time remaining on the green side of the lawn and my wife is well set.

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