Best and Worst states to live in
Mar 6th 2009, 1:06 pm
#62
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
I have to agree, Northern California is simply the best place to live. I've visited around 25 states at this point and always think 'could I live here?' - and the answer is always no. People have misconceptions about CA, but the reality is, it's full of people who are interesting and who work hard; there's plenty of places to eat great food, the weather is unbeatable and there is plenty of work.
You can drive to the coast for year-round mild weather and greenery; head inland for warmer and drier climes; and head further inland for mountains. The warm weather comes with no humidity - it's the humidity that rules out the entire eastern and central part of the country for me. We have the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states (Mt. Whitney at 14,000+feet; the lowest point (death vallley); the hottest point (Death Valley) and often one of the coldest (Truckee in the Sierras). The tallest trees (Redwoods up in the Redwood forests), the trees with greatest mass (Sequoias, in Sequoia National Park). We have Yosemite National Park.
I have to admit, though - Utah has the best National Parks with Zion and Bryce being unbelievable.
Biggest problem with CA is that it is expensive. No getting around that one ... definitely a strike against it but if you came here a while ago like I did, it's not such a big problem.
I came to the states 29 years ago on vacation and traveled across the country by greyhound (CA->NY !) as a poor student. I fell in love with San Francisco back then and still love the Bay Area today.
You can drive to the coast for year-round mild weather and greenery; head inland for warmer and drier climes; and head further inland for mountains. The warm weather comes with no humidity - it's the humidity that rules out the entire eastern and central part of the country for me. We have the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states (Mt. Whitney at 14,000+feet; the lowest point (death vallley); the hottest point (Death Valley) and often one of the coldest (Truckee in the Sierras). The tallest trees (Redwoods up in the Redwood forests), the trees with greatest mass (Sequoias, in Sequoia National Park). We have Yosemite National Park.
I have to admit, though - Utah has the best National Parks with Zion and Bryce being unbelievable.
Biggest problem with CA is that it is expensive. No getting around that one ... definitely a strike against it but if you came here a while ago like I did, it's not such a big problem.
I came to the states 29 years ago on vacation and traveled across the country by greyhound (CA->NY !) as a poor student. I fell in love with San Francisco back then and still love the Bay Area today.
As for NPs, Glacier and Yellowstone for me every time.
Mar 6th 2009, 1:14 pm
#63
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
I have to agree, Northern California is simply the best place to live. I've visited around 25 states at this point and always think 'could I live here?' - and the answer is always no. People have misconceptions about CA, but the reality is, it's full of people who are interesting and who work hard; there's plenty of places to eat great food, the weather is unbeatable and there is plenty of work.
You can drive to the coast for year-round mild weather and greenery; head inland for warmer and drier climes; and head further inland for mountains. The warm weather comes with no humidity - it's the humidity that rules out the entire eastern and central part of the country for me. We have the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states (Mt. Whitney at 14,000+feet; the lowest point (death vallley); the hottest point (Death Valley) and often one of the coldest (Truckee in the Sierras). The tallest trees (Redwoods up in the Redwood forests), the trees with greatest mass (Sequoias, in Sequoia National Park). We have Yosemite National Park.
I have to admit, though - Utah has the best National Parks with Zion and Bryce being unbelievable.
Biggest problem with CA is that it is expensive. No getting around that one ... definitely a strike against it but if you came here a while ago like I did, it's not such a big problem.
I came to the states 29 years ago on vacation and traveled across the country by greyhound (CA->NY !) as a poor student. I fell in love with San Francisco back then and still love the Bay Area today.
You can drive to the coast for year-round mild weather and greenery; head inland for warmer and drier climes; and head further inland for mountains. The warm weather comes with no humidity - it's the humidity that rules out the entire eastern and central part of the country for me. We have the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states (Mt. Whitney at 14,000+feet; the lowest point (death vallley); the hottest point (Death Valley) and often one of the coldest (Truckee in the Sierras). The tallest trees (Redwoods up in the Redwood forests), the trees with greatest mass (Sequoias, in Sequoia National Park). We have Yosemite National Park.
I have to admit, though - Utah has the best National Parks with Zion and Bryce being unbelievable.
Biggest problem with CA is that it is expensive. No getting around that one ... definitely a strike against it but if you came here a while ago like I did, it's not such a big problem.
I came to the states 29 years ago on vacation and traveled across the country by greyhound (CA->NY !) as a poor student. I fell in love with San Francisco back then and still love the Bay Area today.
Have always heard good things about Northen Cali,I have mentioned countless times to the hubby that I wished his folks would move further North! We go visit them in Chino Hills, at least twice a year, they live in a very nice area, but I wouldn't want to live there. I was a nanny for a military family in Germany,(many years ago) that came from Medina (sp?) I think it was, long time ago, I could have the name wrong. But the Mom just loved it there and would get real homesick for her home there.
Hubby and I have plans (dreams) that when he retires, we will buy one of those big gas guzzling RV's and travel around the States, N.Cali is one of the first places on our list, but hope to get there for a 'look-see' before that :-)
Mar 6th 2009, 4:06 pm
#64
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
I nominate New York for both categories.
Mar 6th 2009, 9:56 pm
#65
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
I have been in all but four, and lived in nine. I did not like living in Kansas too much, and disliked Colorado even more. I liked living in Tennessee, Georgia and Texas, and only slightly less in West Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, and Indiana a little further behind. The states that I liked is because of a certain factor, or a combination, such as scenery, people, work attitude, outdoor activities, and education. Then again, different people have different likes and dislikes.
Mar 7th 2009, 2:00 am
#66
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Mar 7th 2009, 2:34 am
#69
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Location: Santa Monica,CA from Birmingham, UK
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
Not sure if it's the worst state but Las Vegas, NV is one place I've grown very tired of. It's great in your 20's for a piss up, amazing casinos but the novelty wears off after about your first 5 visits. I've been there at least 15 times now and the sound of a casino gets irritating after 2 days, I feel sorry for the middle aged cocktail waitresses who look like the life has been sucked out of them if you look into their eyes. It's super hot in the summer, obviously as it's a desert. Once you get away from the strip and downtown there's a lot of shitty neighborhoods and scumbags, not to mention it's hurting right now too. Two days and I'm glad to be out of there
Mar 7th 2009, 7:10 am
#70
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
Mar 7th 2009, 7:13 am
#71
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
I have to agree, Northern California is simply the best place to live. I've visited around 25 states at this point and always think 'could I live here?' - and the answer is always no. People have misconceptions about CA, but the reality is, it's full of people who are interesting and who work hard; there's plenty of places to eat great food, the weather is unbeatable and there is plenty of work.
You can drive to the coast for year-round mild weather and greenery; head inland for warmer and drier climes; and head further inland for mountains. The warm weather comes with no humidity - it's the humidity that rules out the entire eastern and central part of the country for me. We have the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states (Mt. Whitney at 14,000+feet; the lowest point (death vallley); the hottest point (Death Valley) and often one of the coldest (Truckee in the Sierras). The tallest trees (Redwoods up in the Redwood forests), the trees with greatest mass (Sequoias, in Sequoia National Park). We have Yosemite National Park.
I have to admit, though - Utah has the best National Parks with Zion and Bryce being unbelievable.
Biggest problem with CA is that it is expensive. No getting around that one ... definitely a strike against it but if you came here a while ago like I did, it's not such a big problem.
I came to the states 29 years ago on vacation and traveled across the country by greyhound (CA->NY !) as a poor student. I fell in love with San Francisco back then and still love the Bay Area today.
You can drive to the coast for year-round mild weather and greenery; head inland for warmer and drier climes; and head further inland for mountains. The warm weather comes with no humidity - it's the humidity that rules out the entire eastern and central part of the country for me. We have the tallest mountain in the contiguous 48 states (Mt. Whitney at 14,000+feet; the lowest point (death vallley); the hottest point (Death Valley) and often one of the coldest (Truckee in the Sierras). The tallest trees (Redwoods up in the Redwood forests), the trees with greatest mass (Sequoias, in Sequoia National Park). We have Yosemite National Park.
I have to admit, though - Utah has the best National Parks with Zion and Bryce being unbelievable.
Biggest problem with CA is that it is expensive. No getting around that one ... definitely a strike against it but if you came here a while ago like I did, it's not such a big problem.
I came to the states 29 years ago on vacation and traveled across the country by greyhound (CA->NY !) as a poor student. I fell in love with San Francisco back then and still love the Bay Area today.
I love all of Cali
Mar 7th 2009, 8:14 pm
#72
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
CA includes Southern CA not just Northern CA. I like the central coast a lot from Santa Barbara to Carmel including San Simeon, Cambria and Monterey, or are you lot claiming that as N. California. Ca is great, the biggest drawback is the cost of housing and living in major cities, even now.
Not sure if it's the worst state but Las Vegas, NV is one place I've grown very tired of. It's great in your 20's for a piss up, amazing casinos but the novelty wears off after about your first 5 visits. I've been there at least 15 times now and the sound of a casino gets irritating after 2 days, I feel sorry for the middle aged cocktail waitresses who look like the life has been sucked out of them if you look into their eyes. It's super hot in the summer, obviously as it's a desert. Once you get away from the strip and downtown there's a lot of shitty neighborhoods and scumbags, not to mention it's hurting right now too. Two days and I'm glad to be out of there
Not sure if it's the worst state but Las Vegas, NV is one place I've grown very tired of. It's great in your 20's for a piss up, amazing casinos but the novelty wears off after about your first 5 visits. I've been there at least 15 times now and the sound of a casino gets irritating after 2 days, I feel sorry for the middle aged cocktail waitresses who look like the life has been sucked out of them if you look into their eyes. It's super hot in the summer, obviously as it's a desert. Once you get away from the strip and downtown there's a lot of shitty neighborhoods and scumbags, not to mention it's hurting right now too. Two days and I'm glad to be out of there
! And Las Vegas - same thoughts here - thoroughly depressing to see all those people sitting at slot machines, smoking, and the noise ... awful. I like driving in at night after crossing the desert; amazing to see it, etc ... but after one night I'm ready to bail. Last visit, for the first time, I did go and see a 'Cirque Du Soleil' show and it was fabulous; that's what I'm going to focus on in the future - one good show.
BTW - last night on CNN they said the median price of homes in CA has fallen from ~$500k to $250k, and with interest rates dropping, the monthly mortgage payment required to buy the median home has gone from ~$2,800/month to $1,000 / month (these are not the exact figures from the show, but what I remember).
Mar 8th 2009, 7:08 pm
#73
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
I'm with you on all this ... Cambria is a great little gem of a town. And how could I forget to mention San Diego - my new favorite town in the US !
And Las Vegas - same thoughts here - thoroughly depressing to see all those people sitting at slot machines, smoking, and the noise ... awful. I like driving in at night after crossing the desert; amazing to see it, etc ... but after one night I'm ready to bail. Last visit, for the first time, I did go and see a 'Cirque Du Soleil' show and it was fabulous; that's what I'm going to focus on in the future - one good show.
BTW - last night on CNN they said the median price of homes in CA has fallen from ~$500k to $250k, and with interest rates dropping, the monthly mortgage payment required to buy the median home has gone from ~$2,800/month to $1,000 / month (these are not the exact figures from the show, but what I remember).
! And Las Vegas - same thoughts here - thoroughly depressing to see all those people sitting at slot machines, smoking, and the noise ... awful. I like driving in at night after crossing the desert; amazing to see it, etc ... but after one night I'm ready to bail. Last visit, for the first time, I did go and see a 'Cirque Du Soleil' show and it was fabulous; that's what I'm going to focus on in the future - one good show.
BTW - last night on CNN they said the median price of homes in CA has fallen from ~$500k to $250k, and with interest rates dropping, the monthly mortgage payment required to buy the median home has gone from ~$2,800/month to $1,000 / month (these are not the exact figures from the show, but what I remember).
Yep, the inlaws live in S.Cali, their house was worth around 700K this time last year, they extended it and put a lot of money in it, their house is now worth around 250K! They were hoping to move out of State, but now they can't afford to sell it.
Mar 8th 2009, 7:45 pm
#74
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Re: Best and Worst states to live in
Oh no! Where abouts are they?
Mar 8th 2009, 8:42 pm
#75
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