Is Everybody Moving to California?

U.S.A. California

Published

Just an observation but, it seems like there's a flood of posts lately from people inquiring about moving here.

Not too long ago the local news seemed to be filled with stories about people supposedly moving away because of the high cost of living, traffic etc. I guess that in reality, it doesn't always seem to be the case ... at least with RN's.

So what's up posters? What made you decide to check out and/or move to Cali?

:typing

Specializes in PMHNP.

I moved to California last year from Minnesota and so far I like it. I left because there was a lot of drama in my family, I wanted to experience different cultures, weather, and the overall pace of life over here. However, I am young and do not plan on living here for the rest of my life unless I become a millionare and buy one of the cool houses right on the beach. Since that's not happening anytime soon, I guess I'll have to save my money for a house back home when I am ready to return. My two biggest complaints are the commutes and the hot weather ( I am out in the valley, so it gets to well over 100 degrees ). People from Minnesota are a lot nicer than people out here in my opinion. However, I do not have seasonal depression during the winter since the weather is nice.

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Not me. I'm not going anywhere.

Yes, a couple of weeks ago, I did get stuck in a horrendous traffic accident that took me three hours to get home. But most of the time, traffic is no problem, at least where I live. My average commute time? 40-45 minutes ... not bad. My commute could be a lot shorter if I wanted it to be but, I drive for better pay and benefits.

And people are wrong about the crime rate. Violent crimes are actually down substantially in California, probably because of the three strikes law:

In 1992, there were 345,000 violent crimes in the state.

In 2005 ... 13 years later ... there were only 190,000 violent crimes.

That's 155,000 or 45 percent less violent crimes per year ... despite the fact that the population has increased by 6 million people in that same time period.

I won't even think about leaving unless other states increase their pay and pass ratio laws ... which isn't likely to happen anytime soon.

:typing

It's kind of off the subject but one interesting topic we went over in my econ class was crime rates. You're right that the 3 strikes law has caused a decrease in crime but not by much. The biggest reason? Abortion. Because of Roe vs. Wade abortion became legalized and because many kids get aborted, it has lead to a huge decrease in crime that was felt during the 90s. Interesting huh.

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Lived here in SoCal my whole life, except for about 5 yrs when I first went to college and moved to Hawaii after. I was drawn back to my hometown eventually, and while I love it here, housing costs are totally ridiculous. I make $30/hr (could make more but work is close and convenient) and my DH makes about half that-and considering the average mortgage payment in my area is about $3000/mo.-I don't think we'll ever be able to buy a house here. We've thought about moving out of state again, but we both really love it here (of course--it's where we grew up!!:wink2: ) so it's difficult to commit to moving. Oh well, guess we'll just keep paying out the rear for rent. :rolleyes:

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It's kind of off the subject but one interesting topic we went over in my econ class was crime rates. You're right that the 3 strikes law has caused a decrease in crime but not by much. The biggest reason? Abortion. Because of Roe vs. Wade abortion became legalized and because many kids get aborted, it has lead to a huge decrease in crime that was felt during the 90s. Interesting huh.

That doesn't make any sense. In last 13 years the population has increased by 6 million people, even with abortions.

So the population has increased by 20 percent, but violent crimes are down 45 percent in that same time period.

Crime was actually higher in the '90s than it is today ...

We now have 155,000 less violent crimes per year than we did in the '90s.

:typing

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
It's kind of off the subject but one interesting topic we went over in my econ class was crime rates. You're right that the 3 strikes law has caused a decrease in crime but not by much. The biggest reason? Abortion. Because of Roe vs. Wade abortion became legalized and because many kids get aborted, it has lead to a huge decrease in crime that was felt during the 90s. Interesting huh.

Interesting only in that it makes one wonder what your professor's agenda may have been. Claiming that the increased rate of abortions are responsible for the decreased rate of crime supposes that had those pregnancies been carried to term, many of those children would have grown up to become criminals. I'd love to see credible documentation of such a (IMHO nonsensical) proposition.

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Specializes in Psych, DD, SNF, DOU/Tele.

I didn't mean to open a can of worms. I guess I'm just bitter that my home is overrun. Everything is a hassle where it wasn't even 20 years ago.

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We are playing around with the idea of moving in a few years if expenses keep skyrocketing in the NW. I love it here andthankfully got into a home before being outpriced, but gas prices are always some of the highest in the nation, utilities,food, insurance and certain taxes are getting ridiculous. California isn't on our list of places to look at though. (For us the bad outweighs the good). We are researching certain areas of Dallas/Ft. worth and suburbs like Plano,Texas, and the Raleigh/Chapel hill area of NC. Early planning stages yet, but cost of living is far cheaper there than here (assuming you are a home owner). Pay rates look good and there is work and growth and taxes are less in some cases. We'll see. Lots of lists and info and visits would have to be made...

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Specializes in PACU.

I agree that CA is too crowded, expensive, and hard to start a life here. I am a nurse about a year out, and make decent money...and I live with my parent!!! Yep. To rent my own apartment is $1200/mo. not including utilities and I couldn't even fathom trying to put a down payment on a house. People here actually have 20 year interest only loans, 50 year morgages etc. You have to do that b/c houses are $600,000+ (in so. Cal, but North Cal. is getting bad too). It's depressing for me b/c I am a single girl looking to start a life. I have a great job that I love, and I live with me parents b/c we all pay the morgage so my close to retiring parents don't suffocate in bills, and I don't suffocate in rent every month. Cali may have a nice climate, but you can never enjoy b/c your at work most of the time to pay you $3000/mo. interest only morgage.

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Specializes in NICU, High-Risk L&D, IBCLC.
I agree that CA is too crowded, expensive, and hard to start a life here. I am a nurse about a year out, and make decent money...and I live with my parent!!! Yep. To rent my own apartment is $1200/mo. not including utilities and I couldn't even fathom trying to put a down payment on a house. People here actually have 20 year interest only loans, 50 year morgages etc. You have to do that b/c houses are $600,000+ (in so. Cal, but North Cal. is getting bad too). It's depressing for me b/c I am a single girl looking to start a life. I have a great job that I love, and I live with me parents b/c we all pay the morgage so my close to retiring parents don't suffocate in bills, and I don't suffocate in rent every month. Cali may have a nice climate, but you can never enjoy b/c your at work most of the time to pay you $3000/mo. interest only morgage.

Isn't that the truth! I've told my SO to just forget about owing a home out there. I have friends who have purchased a condo for about $500,000 in SoCal, and while they love it, they are not only swimming in mortgage payments but also forking over around $5000 a year in taxes alone!

It's so sad. I come from an area where home ownership is a reality, not a dream. Nurses may make less here in St. Louis, but at least you can afford to live! Several of my classmates have already purchased homes (or already had homes before starting nursing school), and we are not even graduating until December. Wonder if that will ever happen in California?

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It's so sad. I come from an area where home ownership is a reality, not a dream. Nurses may make less here in St. Louis, but at least you can afford to live! Several of my classmates have already purchased homes (or already had homes before starting nursing school), and we are not even graduating until December. Wonder if that will ever happen in California?

Well ... I guess this has turned into yet another California bashing thread, which really wasn't my intent. :rolleyes:

For the thousandth time ... California is a big state and not everybody pays $500,000 for a box here. I bought my house three years ago long before graduating from nursing school, and my mortgage payment is $1,140 a month, with standard 30 year fixed amortization. And my homeowner's insurance and property taxes are included in that payment.

Nurses in St. Louis make $24 an hour, on average. Average nursing wages in my area are $31 an hour and you can make up to $38 an hour base salary in some jobs with full benefits.

The dream is alive and well ... because some of us Californians got smart and, instead of paying a fortune for housing, we moved out to the cheaper but fast growing areas where there's good RN wages that are getting better all the time. RN wages in my area are up 30 percent since I've moved here.

:typing

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Specializes in Public Health, DEI.
Isn't that the truth! I've told my SO to just forget about owing a home out there. I have friends who have purchased a condo for about $500,000 in SoCal, and while they love it, they are not only swimming in mortgage payments but also forking over around $5000 a year in taxes alone!

It's so sad. I come from an area where home ownership is a reality, not a dream. Nurses may make less here in St. Louis, but at least you can afford to live! Several of my classmates have already purchased homes (or already had homes before starting nursing school), and we are not even graduating until December. Wonder if that will ever happen in California?

Yeah... but you have to live in St. Louis. I get to live near San Diego. It is a very reasonable tradeoff (and btw, my mortgage is nowhere near $5000- not anywhere near half of that, even). If you're comfortable bashing San Diego, I suppose turn abouts fair play. In a million years I wouldn't live in St. Louis. It's great that everybody doesn't want to live in the same place.

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I never dream of moving to California, that state is too much like Sodom and Gomoah for me. Also with earthquake possibilities, not me.

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