08-14-2017, 03:01 AM
Grew up lived in LA and San Diego in the 60s/70s/80s, then Bay area of CA in 90s/thru 2012. I loved So Cal in the 70s and 80s; the beaches were totally awesome; the roads in the mtns uncrowded; plus the cost of living wasn't bad as I was able to purchase a small home in San Diego proper for 67K when I was 24.
Northern Cal was OK, but then cost of living went crazy in all of coastal CA in the 90s. In addition, it became super crowded and the politics in CA were oppressive to individual rights (pew pew pew).
I left CA in 2012, and ended up with a University job in SE Idaho. It isn't crowded, kinda isolated, roads are good for riding (except in winter). Close to Tetons, Yellowstone, and Frank Church Wilderness. No tornadoes, humidity hurricanes, and earthquakes are quite rare. Just have to worry about Yellowstone erupting, but that would be a extinction event anyway, and I would be vaporized due to proximity. Overall it is a conservative area, and the people are generally friendly; neighbors look out for one another. The cost of living is pretty good and a there is decent hospital in town (important as you get older). And for people people that enjoy pew pew pew stuff you don't need a permit to CC and you can hunt just about anything with a permit (deer, elk, grizzly, bighorn, moose, wolf, Bigfoot etc..) Snake river is real close and allot of boating in the area. Mtn biking is also big where I live. Might retire here might retire in ????
SE Idaho is good for me right now, I am very happy I left California!
Northern Cal was OK, but then cost of living went crazy in all of coastal CA in the 90s. In addition, it became super crowded and the politics in CA were oppressive to individual rights (pew pew pew).
I left CA in 2012, and ended up with a University job in SE Idaho. It isn't crowded, kinda isolated, roads are good for riding (except in winter). Close to Tetons, Yellowstone, and Frank Church Wilderness. No tornadoes, humidity hurricanes, and earthquakes are quite rare. Just have to worry about Yellowstone erupting, but that would be a extinction event anyway, and I would be vaporized due to proximity. Overall it is a conservative area, and the people are generally friendly; neighbors look out for one another. The cost of living is pretty good and a there is decent hospital in town (important as you get older). And for people people that enjoy pew pew pew stuff you don't need a permit to CC and you can hunt just about anything with a permit (deer, elk, grizzly, bighorn, moose, wolf, Bigfoot etc..) Snake river is real close and allot of boating in the area. Mtn biking is also big where I live. Might retire here might retire in ????
SE Idaho is good for me right now, I am very happy I left California!