British Expats
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British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   USA (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/)
-   -   Long Term LA/SF Views (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/long-term-la-sf-views-847153/)

N1cky Nov 17th 2014 4:37 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Hotscot (Post 11475189)
I have a low tolerance for sitting in traffic, all that shuffling bumper to bumper driving. Consequence of never having commuted in 15 years.

So when I do experience it, LA, SF, Houston, Boston or elsewhere...:thumbdown:

(I realize that individual members here may have perfectly reasonable commutes in the cities but many commuters are stuck in traffic every day.)
I hate it too, it's one of the reasons I haven't changed jobs yet, (despite being paid a lot less than I could actually get in this area), I love being able to just walk downstairs and start work.

Just to show it's not just major cities where traffic problems exist though. I lived in Holmfirth for 10 years, and commuted to Wakefield. So 20 miles. If the commute took me an hour, it was a good day. When I had a 6 month old screaming in the back seat for 2 hours it was a very, very bad day.

Sally Redux Nov 17th 2014 5:00 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Michael (Post 11475187)
He apparently lives in some small village in Ireland (probably something that he could afford after living in the bay area) that is wonderful and seems to try to compare his lifestyle with the bay area. I could also compare my brother's lifestyle who never made more than $50K per year living in a house that would cost millions of dollars in the bay area and is 10 minutes from the heart of downtown Minneapolis but there is no comparison. The following is a picture of his house.
Do we actually know where OP lives now?
Originally Posted by Hotscot (Post 11475189)
I have a low tolerance for sitting in traffic, all that shuffling bumper to bumper driving. Consequence of never having commuted in 15 years.

So when I do experience it, LA, SF, Houston, Boston or elsewhere...:thumbdown:

(I realize that individual members here may have perfectly reasonable commutes in the cities but many commuters are stuck in traffic every day.)
405 is a complete nightmare.

S Folinsky Nov 17th 2014 5:11 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Hotscot (Post 11475189)
I have a low tolerance for sitting in traffic, all that shuffling bumper to bumper driving. Consequence of never having commuted in 15 years.

So when I do experience it, LA, SF, Houston, Boston or elsewhere...:thumbdown:

(I realize that individual members here may have perfectly reasonable commutes in the cities but many commuters are stuck in traffic every day.)
Long commutes suck. if possible one should try to arrange one's life to avoid it. Also, sometimes public transit works. When younger daughter was in grad school, she used the Red Line to Orange Line every day and therefore avoided traffic altogether. Also, she would study while on the train/bus. [Note: the Orange Line in L.A. is a dedicated busway and generally follows an old interurban right of way.]

Bob Nov 17th 2014 5:18 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Hotscot (Post 11475212)
Does that not make them hipsters?
Not quite...

christmasoompa Nov 17th 2014 5:44 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Michael (Post 11475187)
I could also compare my brother's lifestyle who never made more than $50K per year living in a house that would cost millions of dollars in the bay area and is 10 minutes from the heart of downtown Minneapolis but there is no comparison. The following is a picture of his house.
I'm confused, are you saying your brothers lifestyle is good and using that house as an illustration?

Pulaski Nov 17th 2014 6:02 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by christmasoompa (Post 11475300)
I'm confused, are you saying your brothers lifestyle is good and using that house as an illustration?
"You can live very nicely on $50k, ........ in Minnesota!". :nod:

Michael Nov 17th 2014 6:09 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by christmasoompa (Post 11475300)
I'm confused, are you saying your brothers lifestyle is good and using that house as an illustration?
I'm saying he has a decent life on a relatively low salary just like Moses keeps saying he has a wonderful life in a small village in Ireland but neither has any bearing on the discussion. It would be no different if someone was asking about living in London and I said Austin, Minneapolis, Portland, Denver, or Atlanta is better.

Moses2013 Nov 17th 2014 6:18 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Michael (Post 11475324)
I'm saying he has a decent life on a relatively low salary just like Moses keeps saying he has a wonderful life in a small village in Ireland but neither has any bearing on the discussion. It would be no different if someone was asking about living in London and I said Austin, Minneapolis, Portland, Denver, or Atlanta is better.
Why so negative, long commute today?

Sally Redux Nov 17th 2014 6:49 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Michael (Post 11475324)
I'm saying he has a decent life on a relatively low salary just like Moses keeps saying he has a wonderful life in a small village in Ireland but neither has any bearing on the discussion. It would be no different if someone was asking about living in London and I said Austin, Minneapolis, Portland, Denver, or Atlanta is better.
Well yes it does. If someone has a wonderful life in an area with a low cost of living they need to know about what they are possibly getting themselves into.

Moses2013 Nov 17th 2014 6:56 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11475374)
Well yes it does. If someone has a wonderful life in an area with a low cost of living they need to know about what they are possibly getting themselves into.
Agree and moving from a nice house with garden into a tiny 1/2 bed without balcony for a better job, might not be the quality of life some expected. Just a point to consider if it's important for them.

Michael Nov 17th 2014 7:00 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Moses2013 (Post 11475330)
Why so negative, long commute today?
Why do you think I am negative?

About a year ago, N1cky said she was looking to rent a house in Mountain View but the prices were high and the availability was limited. I mentioned that she can get much more for her money elsewhere and showed a picture of my previous townhouse that was on a hill with a view of San Francisco. She said it was beautiful and asked where the townhouse was located and I said Fremont which is about 15 miles away but the biggest issue with Fremont is that doesn't have a great town center. She said she doesn't want to live in a place that she is not within walking distance of a nice town center and that was the end of the story. I didn't keep trying to convince her that she was making a mistake since that is not what she wanted.

Where you currently live may be wonderful for you but that is not what the OP was asking about.

Sally Redux Nov 17th 2014 7:03 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Michael (Post 11475389)
Why do you think I am negative?

About a year ago, N1cky said she was looking to rent a house in Mountain View but the prices were high and the availability was limited. I mentioned that she can get much more for her money elsewhere and showed a picture of my previous townhouse that was on a hill with a view of San Francisco. She said it was beautiful and asked where the townhouse was located and I said Fremont which is about 15 miles away but the biggest issue with Fremont is that doesn't have a great town center. She said she doesn't want to live in a place that she is not within walking distance of a nice town center and that was the end of the story. I didn't keep trying to convince her that she was making a mistake since that is not what she wanted.

Where you currently live may be wonderful for you but that is not what the OP was asking about.
Nicky knows the area, OP doesn't.

OP will be picturing himself and wife in Santa Monica or similar.

Michael Nov 17th 2014 7:19 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11475395)
Nicky knows the area, OP doesn't.

OP will be picturing himself and wife in Santa Monica or similar.
That's fine. Talk about the area or compare it to something of a similar size in the UK.

Even though the OP mentioned LA or SF, I've been hesitant to mention Sacramento, Auburn, Placerville, Grass Valley, Redding/Shasta, or Davis which are much less expensive and are all pretty nice cities although some are a little too hot but if I did mention them, at least I'm in California.

Sally Redux Nov 17th 2014 7:22 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
Originally Posted by Michael (Post 11475415)
That's fine. Talk about the area or compare it to something of a similar size in the UK.

Even though the OP mentioned LA or SF, I've been hesitant to mention Sacramento, Auburn, Placerville, Grass Valley, Redding/Shasta, or Davis which are much less expensive and are all pretty nice cities although some are a little too hot but if I did mention them, at least I'm in California.
OK. I think you're seeing a problem where none exists.

He did say coastal though.

What's Redding like? My son's met a girl from there.

Michael Nov 17th 2014 7:45 am
Re: Long Term LA/SF Views
 
4 Attachment(s)
Originally Posted by Sally Redux (Post 11475419)
OK. I think you're seeing a problem where none exists.

He did say coastal though.

What's Redding like? My son's met a girl from there.
Shasta is beautiful and Redding is clean, well kept, but maybe a little boring unless someone likes the outdoors. The biggest problem is there is a drug trade in Redding but like most American cities, it's easy to keep away from it.


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