I'm thinking of moving

[Isaac]

So after ~20 years in Phoenix, we're starting to think of moving to a place that's:
1) more scenic, in terms of deciduous forest and non-desert type beauty
2) has waterways, green grass and trees, and maybe even an ocean Coast
3) isn't too much more humid than AZ - somewhat is OK/expected, but we don't want to move to 'full' humidity
4) is cooler than Phoenix by at least ~14-15 degrees, which Albuquerque just barely accomplishes
5) is affordable
6) maybe has winter, but not a super long / cold one

We've ruled out Nevada due to being too much like AZ. Ruled out Colorado as having too hard of a winter. Ruled out southern California for being expensive and a bit too much, culturally speaking. Still pondering Oregon and Washington, I know I'll have a lot more humidity, but the in-between climate is appealing to me. (ruled out the major cities like Seattle and Portland for mostly-obvious reasons, but considering the smaller cities in either).

It would be nice to land on a coast, if possible, without paying too much - or within an hour.

I'm trying to figure out what Northern California is all about. You just don't hear much about it. I look on the map and the whole northern half seems abandoned by any sizeable cities to speak of. What is it like to live in the northern half of CA - excluding Sacramento and San Francisco ??

Place we are considering strongly enough to go take a trip there and check them out - Rio Rancho NM (greater Albuquerque), and Boise ID (my idea as I know a lot of tech jobs there).

For the most part, employment isn't an issue as I work from home......But it would worry us to end up in a REALLY small town, in case I ever have to look for an in person job.

Does anyone have ideas and insights - about anything, or northern CA ? I'm always interested in people's perspectives about cultural, political, or any other ramification of living somewhere. For example my brother lives close to Portland, and he confirmed it's everything it's known for, both good and bad.
I'm bit scared of moving to CA, which my wife wants, because I feel like we would encounter too many troublesome things that just make life more complicated there. We did live in San Diego for a year and I remember finding out there was no walmart supercenters there, we had to drive to El Cajon just to get ground turkey. I remember thinking this is just one small thing yet it's rocking my world........LOL

Edit - also it needs to be in the western half of the US as the eastern half is too fraught with natural disasters in the S and winter in the N

 

[Steve R.]

We've ruled out Nevada due to being too much like AZ.

Really???? We used to live in Ely, NV. Great place. Does get a bit chilly in winter. Though its been a while since we lived there, it appears, in terms of politics, both Reno and Las Vegas tilt the state towards the Democratic party because of all the California imports (who don't leave their culture behind) and the unions providing tourist services.

I'm trying to figure out what Northern California is all about. You just don't hear much about it. I look on the map and the whole northern half seems abandoned by any sizeable cities to speak of. What is it like to live in the northern half of CA - excluding Sacramento and San Francisco ??

Can't really answer that. We haven been in that area for many years. We were passing through California at the time California became a state. We have visited Eureka, CA and Crescent City, CA. We have enjoyed living in small rural towns.

Good luck with your search.

 

[Isaac]

Well ... are there places in NV that have regular trees, green grass naturally growing, rivers/lakes/streams, and rains sometimes?
It could be my ignorance of the place guiding me on that one, I just had the impression it was like another take on AZ basically..

 

[Steve R.]

Well ... are there places in NV that have regular trees, green grass naturally growing, rivers/lakes/streams, and rains sometimes?
It could be my ignorance of the place guiding me on that one, I just had the impression it was like another take on AZ basically..

Not quite. It is a high desert environment in the area around Ely. There are a lot of Pinyon Pine, Juniper, and Pine Trees on the sides of mountains reaching into the upper elevations. The valley floors contain a sage brush and rabbit brush. Much like what you would see in Albuquerque.

Great Basin Desert - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Mark_]

For "Northern California", I'd be looking north of the central valley unless you have no allergy issues. Anything in the valley is surrounded by agriculture.

I'd suggest going someplace like Redding to see if you like the area. Talk to the locals about the good AND bad. Biggest issues is wildfires.

 

[pbaldy]

I have in-laws that live in Redding. It can get pretty toasty there, though I'm not sure how it compares to AZ. Definitely gets into the 100s. I'd consider getting a little higher, either on the Sierra Nevada side or the Coast Range side. Maybe even north towards Shasta. The income taxes would keep me away from CA though; perhaps I've been spoiled by not having any.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Still pondering Oregon and Washington,

Landing on a coast will be tough. I live on the coast. It is way too expensive and Connecticut has real winter but not like Colorado. The climate on the coast where I live is moderated by Long Island Sound. We have warmer winters with less snow and cooler summers than does Hartford and other inland cities. Connecticut has an almost perfect climate during May/June and September/October. Almost a third of the year Connecticut is mostly tree covered rolling hills. A couple of the small towns are "quaint" but most are just poor. Big cities like Hartford and Bridgeport are crime ridden. Fairfield county (where I live) is one of the most expensive counties in the country. I've spent all my life except for my 3 years in East Hartford and 1 year in Nashville and a couple of months in Phoenix living within 15 minutes of an ocean, usually within 5 miles. I'm really not a beach person so even though my town has one of the best beaches on the 120 miles of coastline, I rarely go. I got spoiled by the water in the Arabian Gulf and the Atlantic off of Miami Beach. I don't like going into water where I can't see my feet.

Both Oregon and Washington are beautiful but the coasts are utterly corrupted by expat Californians. They left California because it was too expensive and had too much crime but it still hasn't occurred to them that THEY caused the problems by voting for Democrats. I lived in Seattle in the 70's and it was my favorite city in the US. Now, there isn't enough money to make me go back there. But, if you can get over being on the coast, look for something East of the Rockies in Washington. The people are more like us, the climate is still not terrible and the mountains cast a rain shadow. Most of the rain comes down on the western side of the mountains so there is "desert" to the east. I don't know about humidity but I would guess it would be lower than on the coast. Find a nice river or lake.

If you can work remotely or don't need a job, someplace on the Olympic Peninsula might suit you. Port Townsend is in the "banana belt" I think. The "banana belt" is a semi-circle that covers the northern Olympic Peninsula and goes up to Canada where they get much less rain/clouds than the rest of the area because the clouds off the Pacific hit the Olympics and drop their rain. Then they pick up more water over Puget Sound to lay it on Seattle.

 

[Mark_]

I've had my toes in Kuwait bay, but that experience did not give me a desire to head back. Much preferred the waters in the Caribbean.

 

[ColinEssex]

California sounds nice. We know that it never rains in southern california. Also, LA is fine, sun shines most of the time and the feeling is laid back, palm trees grow and rents are low. Also, California girls are the best girls in the world
Col

 

[Steve R.]

California sounds nice. We know that it never rains in southern california. Also, LA is fine, sun shines most of the time and the feeling is laid back, palm trees grow and rents are low. Also, California girls are the best girls in the world
Col

But then, when reality strikes:

Will you tell the folks back home I nearly made it?
Had offers but didn't know which one to take
Please don't tell 'em how you found me
Don't tell 'em how you found me
Gimme a break, give me a break

 

[Pat Hartman]

palm trees grow and rents are low.

You are so wrong about that it is clear that you already live in la la land you don't have to move, although they are your kind of people. The legislature has regulated building new housing to such a degree that "affordable" these days is only around $750,000 for a tiny starter house. What do you think the rent would be on that? In SF they were talking about building condos for the homeless at a cool mil per pop. Please, let me be homeless in SF and qualify for a million dollar condo.

 

[ColinEssex]

You are so wrong about that it is clear that you already live in la la land you don't have to move, although they are your kind of people. The legislature has regulated building new housing to such a degree that "affordable" these days is only around $750,000 for a tiny starter house. What do you think the rent would be on that? In SF they were talking about building condos for the homeless at a cool mil per pop. Please, let me be homeless in SF and qualify for a million dollar condo.

Oh lighten up my dear, I was quoting from a Neil Diamond song. 'I Am I Said'.
Col

 

[Pat Hartman]

I know where the lyric came from. The problem is that you believe it, just like you believe that Americans walk around with six-shooters on their hips. La la land. Completely disconnected from reality.

 

[ColinEssex]

I know where the lyric came from. The problem is that you believe it, just like you believe that Americans walk around with six-shooters on their hips. La la land. Completely disconnected from reality.

Sorry love, you're wrong. In the UK we think you all run round with machine guns. Six shooters are outdated like your sense of humour.
Maybe it would help you if I indicate what is a joke or a serious comment. You certainly need help.
Col

 

[LarryE]

Unless you enjoy living in a Totalitarian Dictatorship, stay away from CA. I live there and can tell you the ruling regime is nothing to fool around with. We came from Seattle in 2000 and CA most certainly was not like it is now. The regime has run this state head-first into the ground and for the regular citizen, it is not fun. And just by the way, regardless of what Neil Diamond says, rents are NOT low (and it does rain occasionally).

 

[Pat Hartman]

The next time it rains in California, we'll be reading about mudslides. At least we won't be seeing houses sliding down off of cliffs since they've all burned to the ground.

@LarryE if you bought your house in 2000, I would try to sell it so you can become a millionaire and get out of Dodge

 

[Cronk]

regardless of what Neil Diamond says, rents are NOT low

He did write the song over 50 years ago, and while he was undergoing therapy.

 

[Pat Hartman]

50 years ago California was a nice place to live except that the sky was always a sickly green from all the auto pollution. Early 70's was the only time I ever went to LA and it was a short consulting assignment at Sunoco, I think. Hard to breath outside the whole two weeks.

 

[AccessBlaster]

I bought my house in Orange County CA in the '80s, and I would've moved a long time ago if it weren't for Prop 13 and Howard Jarvis. God bless Howard Jarvis. RIP, brother!

 

[DickyP]

Being a Brit can I ask one question? What's Sun?