I think the snapping point was, after 'Ebonics', the provision of Sex Change Operations as a paid Health Benefit for public employees drove me over the edge.
We had a nice place on Belvedere and left 12 years ago;
never looked back...best move on our part....
Yeah...our weather up here (I'm just under you in Ohio) isn't the greatest, but, honestly, from late May thru late Sept. it isn't too bad.
This year has sucked, however-I don't think it's been 50 degrees once this March yet...sigh...
I snapped when in my last few days there I got a $111 jaywalking ticket.
I see 2010 to 2020 period as being an major slowdown on the west coast. Its mostly true in California...but alot of companies are finding Oregon and Washington to be major problem areas as well. I worked with a guy who bought a fantastic house in the late 80s within 40 minutes of the Golden Gate bridge...and he always talked about the view that he had driving into work. But after about seven years of doing that...he started to realize the crime curve, the stupidity of local politicans, and the tax rate....were not improving. He eventually found work in Virginia...sold the house for $100k over what he paid...and walked away to be happy. He still talks to people who stayed...and almost none of them are happy. They all whine...and the tax rate is starting to cut into retirement income. Property taxes are the iceberg to this vessel...and you can't avoid a bad outcome if you stay.