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J.,
Stay in Columbus.
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My husband has a possible job opportunity in Palo Alto(San Fransisco Bay area) California. Currently, he has a very good job here in Columbus and we live comfortably. So the move isnt a financial need, its more of "his dream job" type of thing. Im torn because as I do research I see that the cost of living in California, especially the area we would be moving to is about 67% higher then Columbus. We went into sticker shock. We live in a 3 bedroom home now that is around 1900 square foot and we think its way to small for our growing family. In order to get the same home in CA is over a million dollars! Hubby said that he would commute from a city about an hour away in order to afford more reasonable housing. Yet that means that he will be spending at least (if traffic so good and Ive read thats it a nightmare) 2 extra hours a day away from home more then he is now.
I want to be supportive of his career and goals, but not at the expense of our family. Has anyone lived in CA and have any positive information? Other then the weather?
J.,
Stay in Columbus.
Hi J.,
I moved to San Diego from Cincinnati in 2000. SD is gorgeous, I haven't seen a city more beautiful. HOWEVER, everything that you just spoke of is true & all those reasons combined are why we chose to move back to Columbus. The schools aren't as good there, the cost of living is astronomical & the traffic is awful every day. And if there's an accident, (which there is about once a week) well you can pretty much forget about your hubby getting home in an hour - more like 3 or 4. The neighborhoods are built so that there are only a few feet between you & your neighbor. We moved back because we wanted a better way of life for our daughter & to be near family & we haven't regretted it once. CA is a great place to vacation, but not to live there. I hope this helps you some. Best of luck to you.
I was raised in central ohio,spent 25 years in Calif for my husband's job. EVERY single chance/opportunity/vacation was spent with me coming home to the state I loved and him staying in the state he loved.When he passed away in 2005 at age 43, I moved back here and love being here. Please one thing to really really pay close attention to is the people are different there. While they seem very happy from the sunshine and their paychecks,They also seem to have the policy of live and let live so I personally don't believe morals are as high there. There is a nudey bar on every corner and people leave their spouses every day for someone new. The money is great there and the opportunity high. Please pray every single day that the stress or lifestyle there doesn't destroy your great family.Good Luck Honey!!
Myself-- 44, widowed, 4 sons
Hi J.,
I lived in California ( bay area and Los Angeles) for several years and then we moved to Seattle for several more years before moving to Columbus. I love the west coast and specially Palo Alto. i read the responses you got so far and some of it are true and some of it depends on who you are and what experience you will have there. It's true that living cost is more expensive there, but so are the salaries. in palo Alto you will have to pay more than here to find the same kind of housing that you have here, but the quality of life is better there. For instance the weather is better there so you can enjoy outdoor living all thru out the year, you can go for a walk, biking, hiking with the kids anytime in the surrounding hills.
the people are different in the west, in my opinion people are nicer and friendlier.They are more open to things and tho new ideas and to people. it's easier to make friends and strike a conversation with people, and then you can really create a community of support around you afterward. And the school system is great in Palo Alto, and then there is Stanford university is which a great university. they may not have the football programm of OSU but you'll see the University environment is created around students' lives. you'll see what I mean when you get there. Downtown palo Alto is pretty much like Easton,...Palo Alto is a great place to move to, it's family friendly,.. you won't have a night club or a nude bar in your neighborhood for instance, you 'll find that in San francisco which is about 40 mn driving...what else can I say? i think I cover it all.. So good luck with your move. Any move is scary because it's an adventure in the unknown..but trust that you'll find what you need there.
