Ah, yes the greener grass is always on the other side of the fence. I remember years before I moved to Cali; dreams of perfect weather, broad expansive highways, economic opportunity. But, the dream was, dreams can be, illusory.
The reality of California is a somewhat less rosy picture. High Crime, even higher taxes, Government regulation that would choke Linda Lovelace. Real estate costs that are beyond reason and the means of about 75% of the population. Oh sure, you can buy a home in one of the outlying areas, then you can make a 2+ hour commute daily. And don’t for a minute think that commute is ever going to get up anywhere near the posted speed limit. Plus, I’ve been to third world countries (including Detroit) that have less garbage thrown on the roadsides than California. For all the talk about it being so beautiful, many of the people here have no respect for where they live.
The possibility of Earthquakes doesn’t even get on my list of reasons to avoid California.
Like waiting in lines? I hope so, because if you move here you’ll wait in line plenty, and if you’re really lucky when you get to the front of that line the person waiting on you might even speak English (but their attitude will still be surly).
Other costs are higher too, food, gas, insurance. How about paying $500 per year just to license your car (not even a new one). I pay more for California grown produce than do my parents who are living in the Midwest. What’s up with that?
Don’t send your kids to public school, that is unless you want them to be indoctrinated about (insert special interest/social programming here) rather than learning to read and write. (They’ll learn all about how Columbus Invaded America destroyed the peace loving native cultures and enslaved all those he couldn’t murder and essentially burned Eden to the ground; just don’t ask them to spell Columbus or when he actually committed his special crimes against humanity, because that’s not in the curriculum)
Think flight instructors are having a tough time economically everywhere else, You can multiply their woes by shear orders of magnitude here. My heart goes out to anyone trying to build time and experience here as a CFI, it’s akin to financial suicide.
The weather is the only positive benefit that I can see after having lived here for over 6 years of my life. But, in the overall analysis, I’d take the snow and the rain and more than anything else the people and the quality of life in the Midwest any day.
California is like a dead fish in the moonlight; from a distance it shines, but up close it stinks.
Thanks for the rant, I feel better: More eggnog Honey.
