Leaving the Peoples Republic of California

[Heirloom]

So far I've been to 40 states in the course of my life. FL is too hot and humid. Not to mention it's only 25 ft above sea level. In earth history terms, FL has spent most of it's time under water. No thanks. Texas.... I lived in TX for almost two years. In Valley Ranch (take MacArthur north off of the LBJ). While I like TX in general, it's the start of tornado alley. In fact the day I moved out of TX there was a twister that hit Ft Worth pretty good. Moving South of DFW isn't going to happen. I already live in a boarder town, and want to get well away!! Plus Hurricanes are no fun from what I hear

My sister and bro-in-law have arrived in Huntington, WV. They say people are really nice. However, Huntington has the highest taxes in WV. Plus, there is a personal property tax. I guess they tax a % of the value of your car. Every year. That sucks. Good thing I own a heap! Maybe I won't paint it after all

Randy - Good for Kennesaw!!!

EDIT: More on the water issue in CA http://www.naturalnews.com/046734_extre ... lapse.html

[sargentrs]

They started a new auto ad valorem tax system in Georgia this year. They charge you value tax (7%) once. After that it's $20/yr for your tag/registration. If you buy and finance a car you better include the initial registration in with note! They do the same for boats, campers, trailers, etc. I had to pay $90 for my tag for that Camry I had but the Dart was only $23 total. Same for the bump.

[mcheath]

The wife and I had a long talk about leaving CA tonight, and we have friends and family doing the same. Handwriting on the wall here with the lack of water, a bad winter this year probably means rationing next summer. What kind of state allows the population to double in the last 30 years without adding any water resources? Oh, we do.

Thinking about Montana.

[thejunkman]

I'd say WV or Kentucky are both good choices, if you are looking to live cheap, and are somewhat self reliant (some areas just don't have a lot of retail anywhere close by.) Not much in the way of jobs however. I live near pittsburgh, so it's an hour to WV, and I had a few jobs that sent me down there to work from time to time, and I loved it. I like the culture, the terrain, the politics, etc. when I was about 20, I could have moved down around moundsville area. Wish I had. But now with a wife and two kids, that's sorta off the table. I'd stay out of PA if I were you. While I love the scenery and the attitude of the folks where I live, the two big cities (pittsburgh, and Philly) make us a democrat state while most everyone in between is a conservative, with all the city bs influencing our laws. It's an issue of low population density in the rural voting districs. And taxes keep climbing to pay for the free-loaders. Huntington WV is much different than the rest of WV in my opinion. I don't know what line of work you are in, but since The area you are looking at is kinda my backyard, and I've worked down there a lot, I may be able to tell you what kind of industry opportunities there are.

[Mancar1]

Positives and negatives no matter what state u choose to live in.
As for myself....I will just stay in my state of confusion

[motzingg]

hmm if you like beer you gotta be careful where you go in the southeast, lotsa places in the 'bible belt' that don't take too kindly to that.

also the humidity thing, that alone was enough for me to get out of north carolina, damp winters and muggy summers and debilitating allergies 9 months out of the year.

wherever you go it helps to keep an open mind. I've moved cross country 3 times in the last 3 years to 3 very different places. 'love thy neighbor' and 'judge not, lest ye be judged' both come to mind.

Coming from 'blue' wisconsin to 'red' north carolina, then to 'infra-red' texas, you'd think the governements would be more libertine, less BS regulation and nonsense... Wisconsin was definitely the best, a state government that actually functions, reasonable fees and taxes... NC was a train wreck, nitpicky rules about everything (woody guthrie wrote a song about everything being against the law in NC), and texas, i'm not sure if its worse or not but its pretty bad... vehicle inspection is ridiculous (motorcycles get inspected!) and there are taxes and fees for absolutely everything. A state parks pass in wisconsin is like $20/year and in texas it was over $100! Utilities in both NC and TX are out of control. Its been a real wake up call to my political prejudices seeing how functional wisconsin was and how completely gerrymanderd, co-oped and dysfunctional NC and TX are.

NC was actually the hardest state to buy a gun in, but thats kinda silly to even factor in because its pretty easy to buy guns no matter where you go (except NY maybe). The alcohol laws in NC were nothing short of unconstitutional. It was as if they had completely missed the 21st amendment, if you like drinking beer i wouldn't go there, not even to visit. Or dogs, man, NC won't let you have a damn dog anywhere.

also if you're leaving california and going east, sell your vehicles where they are worth more money and buy 800 dollar bumpsides all day long in NC, WV or TN!!

There were lots of jobs in NC, all the $8/hr jobs you could ever not want. There are lots of jobs in Texas too, but you probably don't want most of them, skilled trades in WI and TX paid well, really well, but in NC (and it sounds like VA and most of the south) they don't pay skilled trades very well at all.

My dad's in southwestern PA/ne OH/NW WV working in the oil industry. That pay is awesome but he makes it home 3-4 times a year and works 60 hour weeks... he's pretty tough for a 60 year old dude, but most people don't want to work that hard.

[Calfdemon]

I have 11 more years to go until I retire with a full 35 years on and an amazing California pension. The wife will retire at the same time with 25 years on a good CA pension. Then we will waste no time getting out of this hell hole of a state. We are planning on heading to Idaho near Boise (Star or Eagle area...). The politics are right, you get a lot for your money, and with our retirements based on our CA salaries, we will be able to live very well! I actually cannot wait.... 11 more years (at the most). I could actually go in about 8 or 9 probably, but if I keep 11 in my head, then I wont be disappointed if I go the distance.

[Heirloom]

Wow. Thanks for all the replies everyone. It seems everybody wants out.

Calfdemon - I truly hope that 11 years isn't too long. My parents are hastening their plans from selling in 3-5 years to putting it on the market next spring. Dad is going to retire a year early. My parents didn't seem to share my urgency in leaving until researching more on the water issue, they have changed their tune. Once the zombies realize there is a real issue property values will plummet and the market will be....well...there will be no market to speak of. The only thing people will be able to do is walk away or hope that Cali DOES break off the main land and become a tropical island.

Mcheath - I love Montana but don't want to subject the old folks to the harsh winters. Or myself for that matter. Plus, I prefer a longer growing season. However, I applaud you and your wife for taking it seriously and taking steps towards securing your future.

Motzingg - I love beer. Good thing I don't have to rely on a store for it I brew and bottle 10 gallon batches. Also grow some hops. I have lived in Olympia, WA, Dallas, TX and Tucson, AZ (besides of course San Diego). Keeping an open mind is certainly helpful.

thejunkman - PA isn't an option because of what you said about the large populations of welfare voters in the cities. I currently live in a district that was recently redrawn (gerrymandered) to cut the conservative population in half and mixed in with HEAVILY latino/democrate areas. They simply washed our conservative voting community away in a sea welfare voters. I swear, I would be dangerous if I didn't have morals and live by an ethical code.....

[IN2FORD]

You mentioned central TN...I live right in the middle. Cookeville TN right on I-40. College town Tennessee Technological University. Great engineering school as well as other programs. We have many of the big city stuff such as restaurants, Lowes, places to shop and such. Incredible state parks. Good schools and several smaller towns near by. And most important...good junkyards near by. We are about 1 hour from Nashville, 1.5 hours from Knoxville and Chattanooga. And about 2.5 hours from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburgh..Smokey Mountains. It has been a great place to raise a family. Academy Sports just announced they are opening up a distribution center here...700 jobs. And there is an automotive supplier coming here with 1100 jobs but have not announced who it is yet. Take a close look at us and the area. You won't be disappointed. We also have 3 lakes with in 30 minutes of us as well.

Barry

[jimmy828]

Come to Asheville NC. You can live at this residence.

[Heirloom]

You mentioned central TN...I live right in the middle. Cookeville TN right on I-40. College town Tennessee Technological University. Great engineering school as well as other programs. We have many of the big city stuff such as restaurants, Lowes, places to shop and such. Incredible state parks. Good schools and several smaller towns near by. And most important...good junkyards near by. We are about 1 hour from Nashville, 1.5 hours from Knoxville and Chattanooga. And about 2.5 hours from Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburgh..Smokey Mountains. It has been a great place to raise a family. Academy Sports just announced they are opening up a distribution center here...700 jobs. And there is an automotive supplier coming here with 1100 jobs but have not announced who it is yet. Take a close look at us and the area. You won't be disappointed. We also have 3 lakes with in 30 minutes of us as well.

Barry

I have looked at right at Cookeville. I really like it. There are one or two properties that I have come across. Good to know there are lots of jobs coming. Thank you for the info Barry!

[Heirloom]

Come to Asheville NC. You can live at this residence.

Plenty of room for my own personal F series junk yard and a fountain to wash my hands in!!! No, no...I got it. Fill the fountain with purple power for a drive through degreaser!!

[ToughOldFord]

Boy, I hear you. Born and raised here and I'd get the hell out of Commiefornia in a minute if I had the chance. It's pretty disgusting to work hard all your life just to pay the bureaucrats to regulate your life into meaninglessness.
Unfortunately my roots are too deep here and my health isn't the best anymore so I'm probably stuck here and working 'till the end.

The idea of the state of Jefferson, (northern California, southern Oregon), actually had some momentum once, but then the Japs attacked Pearl Harbor and national attention was understandably focused elsewhere. So Jefferson remains just a dream for some and an unmentioned victim of WWII.
So-Cal needs our water (guys in Bel Air have to fill their pools you know) and they greatly out-number us in votes so they'll never let us go now.


Edit: Just noticed this is my post #1776! Is that apropos?

[ultraranger]

Edit: Just noticed this is my post #1776! Is that apropos?

Maybe it's a sign that it's time to vote with your feet (go someplace more inline with your beliefs).

[IN2FORD]

Let me know if Cookeville is it. I can get you in touch with a Realtor and such. I live in the area between Cookeville and Baxter. Western Putnam County is more rural. North Putnam County is a very nice area as well as East Putnam. I would not want to live in Monterey TN...not the nicest town.

Barry