Moving to CA: I could really use advice from Kingsfans.com members.

[bozzwell]

Both good suggestions. Charming little towns, they are.

OK, now that you endorsed Brick's suggestion I am little bit scared. Is this some double entedre that I don't get or should I really look up those places?

 

[bozzwell]

Wow -- took the leap eh bozz?


Well...my own advice would unfortunately be to commute. Maybe from a scenic spot like Lodi or Galt.

Not much of a leap Brick. There is this little thing called Green Card sponsorship that and such a great job that I may never get one like that in Chicago that has pushed me over the brink.

I lived in London, UK with wife and 2 kids. By comparision California is dirt cheap. ;

 

[GoGoGadget]

OK, now that you endorsed Brick's suggestion I am little bit scared. Is this some double entedre that I don't get or should I really look up those places?

Neither town is what you could call a bustling metropolis.

 

[BigWaxer]

Hey I think you will like living here BOZ. Good luck with everything. I am a midwest transplant to CA from the same area as you..Although I always talk about Indiana being the best state in the world (which it is) I won't leave here (unless for IDAHO) because I love it here.

Just going to comment about a few things I scanned through in this thread.

Schools it's all about location - They have great schools in every city, just do the research. I live in a great school district, its all about research.

I agree, you will probably want to commute. Cost of living is all realitive here. If I move to Idaho doing my same job I can expect to make about 8-10 less an hour. Not sure if your getting a boost in pay none-of my business type of stuff

Real estate - I would just look in a 45mile radius from PAlto. Obviously north of PA is out of the question. Sunnyville may be a place with lower costs but not much lower. If your willing to communte an hour I would look at Tracy or Manteca. Commuting is CA

As far as having a Serbian population, I am not sure how important that is but CA is such a melting pot of cultures.

Are you driving? Hiring a moving company? I still remember that drive 20 years ago.

 

[bozzwell]

Hey I think you will like living here BOZ. Good luck with everything. I am a midwest transplant to CA from the same area as you..Although I always talk about Indiana being the best state in the world (which it is) I won't leave here (unless for IDAHO) because I love it here.

Just going to comment about a few things I scanned through in this thread.

Schools it's all about location - They have great schools in every city, just do the research. I live in a great school district, its all about research.

I agree, you will probably want to commute. Cost of living is all realitive here. If I move to Idaho doing my same job I can expect to make about 8-10 less an hour. Not sure if your getting a boost in pay none-of my business type of stuff

Real estate - I would just look in a 45mile radius from PAlto. Obviously north of PA is out of the question. Sunnyville may be a place with lower costs but not much lower. If your willing to communte an hour I would look at Tracy or Manteca. Commuting is CA

As far as having a Serbian population, I am not sure how important that is but CA is such a melting pot of cultures.

Are you driving? Hiring a moving company? I still remember that drive 20 years ago.

Thanks B-Dub! Yes, i will drive there ahead of my family. That way while I am spliting time between Chitown and PAL at least I have my own car there. Besides, I love driving aroung US.

I am a firm believer in public schools and schools will probably have major influence on where we move.

Comuting does not bother me in the least.

As for Serbian population - nothing in North America comes close to Chicago. There are more recent Serbian immigrants in Toronto or maybe NYC, but historically Chicago is Serbian Second City (largest Serbian population after Belgrade, Serbia). But there a plenty Serbs in Bay Area. Half of the kids that I grew up with live in Freemont or Redwood City. I have cousins in Mountain View. But I am not dependent on having fellow Serbians around me as I prefer the real thing (travelling to Serbia) when I get nostalgic.

 

[Bricklayer]

OK, now that you endorsed Brick's suggestion I am little bit scared. Is this some double entedre that I don't get or should I really look up those places?

Well, I'm pretty sure they have gotten electricty in the last few years. Not going to go out on a limb about indoor plumbing though.

Let's just say that you would be free to park you oxen anywhere on main street, and if you have a enough family members of voting age they might even be able to elect you mayor.


As an aside, how do you feel about living in a slum? I haven't been through East Palo Alto in 15 years, but last time I was there it was the sort of place where they were careful to shoot you in the head so as not to put a hole in the shirt they were going to steal off you. Might have gentrified in the face of the outrageous real estate market, but otherwise you might be able to find someplace relatively cheap and close to work just behind the second garbage heap to the left.

 

[bozzwell]

Well, I'm pretty sure they have gotten electricty in the last few years. Not going to go out on a limb about indoor plumbing though.

Let's just say that you would be free to park you oxen anywhere on main street, and if you have a enough family members of voting age they might even be able to elect you mayor.


As an aside, how do you feel about living in a slum? I haven't been through East Palo Alto in 15 years, but last time I was there it was the sort of place where they were careful to shoot you in the head so as not to put a hole in the shirt they were going to steal off you. Might have gentrified in the face of the outrageous real estate market, but otherwise you might be able to find someplace relatively cheap and close to work just behind the second garbage heap to the left.

I'll so your Lodi and Galt and raise you Millbrook and Millington, IL. I'll call your East Palo Alto with Englewood.

Don't make me bring out the big guns.

But seriously, we will probably just rent for a year anyway. Some place with decent schools and NOT in the boonies. Who knows what is next after that. We're experienced at this, and considering that we're staying on the same landmass, we consider this a local move.

 

[KevinMartinsGirl23]

Bozz-

I have lived in California my whole life, and although I am younger (still in college), I will offer my opinion. It sounds like you have a good situation going in Chicago, so I don't think you could go wrong by staying. However, you may not know what you're missing unless you try moving out here. I don't think you'll be disappointed if you do, the only thing I see a real problem with is the cost. The cost of living is ridiculously high out here. I am going to go to school in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota next year and I was just out there visiting and I was shocked at how much cheaper things were there- and I don't even live in the most expensive parts of California (My hometown is in a suburb of Sacramento). My current college is in the North Bay (If you move to the Bay Area you'll have to learn all of the different parts of the bay ) which is north of SF in wine country. It's super nice up here, but that would be a commute for you. I don't know how long you were looking to drive, but there are some nice areas up here- might want to research some of the towns north of SF such as: Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Novato, etc. Also, there are some nice areas in the East Bay such as Concord. And personally, I have loved every minute of growing up in Sacramento.

As far as schools go, I had some great teachers and although budgeting was sometimes an issue, it really depends on where you are. The great thing about California is there are a lot of colleges to choose from and you don't have to pay out of state tuition . I don't know how close your kids are to going to college, but it's never too soon to start planning.

Anyway, it sounds like your family is happy where you are, but maybe you all can take a trip out here and see it for yourself. Since all of you will have to live here it might ease your mind if your family really enjoys it. All I know is when I graduate college, my parents are planning on leaving California to live in a state that they can afford to retire in. They are looking forward to being able to own a bigger house, for less money. It sounds like you have a nice home set up where you are right now.

Hope I helped a little, I would be happy to answer any more questions you have, and good luck with your decision!