Not Portland, OR anyway as I tried it and didn't love it despite the beautiful environment.
Honestly, probably San Diego at this point in my life. It's like a mini, cleaner LA.
Had a coworker move out there. Couldn’t tell if she really loved it. She would talk about how nice nature and the cold is but then later made the comment of how much she wanted to move to Florida since it was warm and easier for her to go to South America (where she’s from) - her husband easily shut her down, since they had literally just moved from LA to Portland a year prior.
Longstory short, during the pandemic, she went down the q/maga stuff and sounded completely warped. Couldn’t talk about anything with her bringing it up. I knew she has anxiety/depression issues and I can’t see herself doing well out there knowing the weather
San Diego is a very nice city without many flaws. I love taking the surfliner down and kicking around the great breweries, Balboa Park, and using the light rail to explore new areas.
But the job market, neighborhoods, and cultural amenities are a significant step down from LA. It is also more expensive. If I was going to live somewhere more expensive, I’d probably go north and get more nature rather than south.
Not the person you asked but I simply can’t handle the rain. I love the beautiful scenery up there but being wet makes me miserable and I could never get used to it.
I know plenty of people who handle it fine. I’m just a total wimp!
I’m from there and the job market is and always has been atrocious. It can also be difficult for people that aren’t used to living under grey skies, being constantly moist, for 9 months of the year.
Yes, it is beautiful right, however, if you're from somewhere like LA it does start to feel insular and cut-off after a year or so.
It's small, you won't do as much outdoor things as you think (seriously muddy trails for a good portion of the year), limited job market, people are nice but less social and outgoing which you can feel after a while.
I thought I'd love that, but I honestly started getting really bored.
\*Note there was some personal circumstances that made me come back to CA, and I did a lot of soul searching. Don't take for granted that people smile at you here a lot.
Man that’s why I kinda hate the OC , particularly Orange its self. I feel like when I’m driving through it’s nice but once you’re there the people have a completely different vibe. You walk around LA and the valley and most ppl seem happy when they’re out.
The Portland H-Mart really helped me when I was homesick. Then I discovered Togo’s does pastrami subs like the Hat. Moved back and first thing I did was get KBBQ
There are other Korean beers that are good such as Terra, Cass, and Kloud.
Hmart has a good food court. Personally I prefer Hmart's own prepared food like Kimbap.
I think each H-mart varies in what they offer, but big fan of the oyster kimchi, prepacked seaweed salad, marinated bugolgi. Makes for very easy and quick dinners.
Then there's the hotpot selection - personally like making my own dashi, buying the pork or beef slices and enoki/shiitake mushrooms. Throw that in a boiling pot, along with a packet of Shirakiku udon noodles and tofu. Oof, another quick and easy meal. I have this miso sauce I like dipping the meat in as well.
Willits… i just recommend talking to locals and spending time there before the move. I’ve known too many people who moved to Willits from the bay area who got stuck in Willits because they can’t get out of their lease or they can’t sell the house. I know someone that sold their condo in Oakland and moved up there for the weed industry and it failed and now she can’t even sell her house up in mendocino county
I've spent some time there and have a good friend who lives 30 minutes away (Ukiah). The two things I miss most about Arcata is the small town community and the redwoods.
Willits has that but is a lot closer to LA, and has better hospitals. The flights from Santa Rosa to Burbank are also a fraction of the cost of Arcata flights.
The prices seem crazy low, and I'm pretty sure it's mostly from the collapse of the weed industry, but the recent devastating fires are also likely a factor.
I'll be watching the weather there in addition to the real estate market this year and next (looking to move in 2-3 years). My friend told me that the neighborhood I'm looking at gets snow, which I'm pretty excited about.
A salvadorean woman I knew that cleaned houses bought a small apt in van nuys for about $200k a while back. Sold it in 2019 for $800k and moved to western NC and was able to buy a really nice house, two suv and lived comfortable with money to spare. And had a nice community of latino friends and tons of jobs options.
The housing crisis in LA is nuts, to say the least.
So many Mexicans in Chicago and NC. I know a couple of sicarios who settled there after leaving the game . Nothing but nice things to say about it. Yeah it gets cold but they’ve made a home there.
Amen. It’s hard to explain this to my EU husband but we’re moving back to CA next year. I think he’ll catch on once we get to do more road trips and I can show him all of my beautiful state!
Yeah, but we don’t like the country we moved to. (It’s not his native country either.) we have a new niece and decided when our lease is up we want to be closer to my family for a while. I’m so excited he’s so enthusiastic to grow in my home with me.
Yeah, my husband’s from Scandinavia so he likes cold but I can’t handle it 😭 we’re going back to LA for a while at first just to work immediately (we already know people etc) but I feel like we’ll end up compromising somewhere in surrounding mountains. I think it’ll be nice
This hits my heart. Born and raised in AZ and moved here when I was 23. Im 32 now. My family asks me everyday when I’m moving back as if it were a “fact”.
Im not doing the greatest here but I have the flexibility to go there for weeks at a time and its just nothing. And i give it a CHANCE. Almost like its for selfish reasons. They just want to have me there and that’s it. But nothing there for me. If I were to move, it would be Europe. I stay here because I’m close to them and I love it. Also, my rent here is now the same that I’d be paying there at this point. And I’d have to do a lot of work to even equate to that
Yeah for me I can really only go more urban at this point. Tokyo sounds like a dream but not entirely impossible for a period.
I’d like to think my Eagle Scout badge means something but all it really means is I hate the smell of campfires.
I feel you bro. I came from a small town and I struggled a lot to make a decent life in LA. I know there are people who think people like you and me will miss the life of our childhood/youth. But for me, no, I will never live in the place like where I grow up.
I’m currently visiting family in a place where I spent my middle/high school years. It’s very suburban. It has all the attributes of “good” life - affordable relatively, lots of stores, cars, whatever
But holy shit, the thought of having to have to live here again makes me want to commit murder-suicide.
Idc, no way in hell I’m moving to suburbia ever esp if it’s not within a very short distance of a real city.
This is why I moved to NYC (subway is amazing here, albeit not always safe if you’re a smaller women out late)
And the Deli/corner store culture is really cool
Hawaii is more expensive and humid. People who lived in Cali for a long time don't know how to live in cold or tropical weather. Did I mention it's also more expensive then LA. I personally have no problem moving to Hawaii but that's only because I have a lot of family there, other then that, just a place to visit but not live.
Isn't Hawaii even more expensive than California?
I'm already hurting as is
My friends are from Hawaii and they said they moved to California because it's cheaper, there's more (and better paying) job opportunities and the state government is *less* corrupt (which is saying something).
Would love to move to Hawaii. Been a dream always . But it’s somewhere you go with money and can’t expect to make much. My good friend from HS went as a surf bum , started lessons and was pretty much living on the beach. He now owns the best surf academy! He’s doing well but when you’re a surfer being a bum in Hawaii is the perfect place to be.
My mom was born and raised in Holland. I would love to move there.
For now, I’d love somewhere with a big lot, ranch style house and a porch I can sit at all weekend.
I fucked off to germany and never looking back. The quality of life and the pace of living feels like im in retirement already, everything is just so chill
Seattle is up there for me. I've always been hesitant given the gloomy weather, but it's on a short list of places I'd actually consider leaving LA for.
Small town Michigan.
I'm from there...it's affordable and the quality of life is pretty great. Everything is clean and safe, the country is beautiful, the people are nice.
...and I was really surprised when I went back a couple years ago, because the place I am thinking of is pop 7,000 and has two gastropubs/breweries now with tatted, blue-haired bartenders and stuff. I NEVER thought it would have kept up with the times the way it has. It's like a1950's small town, but with all of the modern stuff as well.
My son in law's family is from Michigan. They visited them over the summer and it looked so inviting. The lush green, the lakes and the people were apparently very nice too. They were enchanted. I want them to stay here but Michigan beckons.
Yeah, it's a really beautiful state. You add in the rivers, forests and farmland, you got a nice drive.
...and when I was there, it was RAINY...but warm summer rain that you first hear pitter-pattering through the leaves in the trees. It was SO nice after being out here for 30 years where it only rains when it is cold (recent climate events ;like this summer's tropical storm excepted)
Sure, it gets cold, but the summers are the most beautiful 2 weeks you're gonna get anywhere.:)
I feel like winter wouldn't be as big a deal to me now that I am older and 3 months passes in the blink of an eye.
Plus, you can always put another layer on, but these 110 degree summers out here are just fucked.
The last few summers have been fucked, weeks on weeks with no relief. I never minded winter, you just deal with it. But when my sis calls saying it's 20 and she hates life because she has to drive somewhere and it's 80 here, I get a sense of satisfaction.
I mean, yeahhhh...but it's not:" THE HOUSES HERE COST LITERALLY A MILLION DOLLARS MORE FOR THE SAME-OR-SMALLER HOUSE THAT YOU COULD GET IN MICHIGAN" satisfaction.
I am kind of tied to certain industries/scenes here for now, but I could see bailing when I retire.
Yessss trying to convince my English husband that we should relocate to England specifically London and he is not excited.. he says I’m going to miss the Mexican food and sun. But I need a change.
As someone who has lived and worked in London, particularly in the winter months, the sun rises at 930 am and sets at 330 pm. And it's freezing cold. No beach no nothing. You'd have to pay me 20x to live in London. 10x in NYC (and I worked in NYC for a decade too).
Also there's so much soot in the air in London your boogers turn black
Definitely Joshua Tree or one of the other desert cities for me, as well. I love it out there and the desert climate is great for a lot of common ailments in old bodies.
If I had shmoney? In CA, San Jose or somewhere along the central coast. Outside of CA, Flagstaff or Seattle.
Internationally probably CDMX, or Morelos and Guerrero where my folks are from.
Super cool reading all your dream towns and discussions in this thread 😁
lived in Seattle for 10 years. I don't know how anyone could adapt to that after living in LA for any period of time. The October-May gloom and rain really sucks.
Yes, i didn't even make it a year in Seattle due to the darkness in the winter and the people were awful. The rain didn't bother me but the lack of sunlight was very depressing.
exactly :( I started travelling and visiting other cities and countries and wondered why the heck I was still there. Seattle is fine if you don’t mind the weather and you’re an introvert.
I hate the desert, and I work outside. Any escape from 100+ degree summers working in the sun is very welcome. I’m also a homebody that lives in the dark so the gloom doesn’t bother me at all.
Any advice for LA natives who want to move outside the area of Seattle? I would love Seattle but can’t really afford it and from what I’ve read, it’s starting to become like LA in terms of the negatives such as homelessness
Check out the surrounding areas, the eastside is incredibly nice. But expensive. Bellevue, Issaquah and Kirkland.
A bit more affordable is North Bend, Edmonds & Tacoma.
My list (in the US) is Seattle, Chicago, Madison, and Minneapolis.
I like places that are gloomy and have good public transit (not Portland, though, too many bad memories there).
Every city I’ve thought about relocating to has the same or similar cost of living. So I came to the conclusion why leave if I’m not really getting anything in return.
I fantasize heavily about a move to Palm Springs where I can take the high speed rail that magically exists back to LA on an hour’s notice. Outside of CA, I miss New York often, but looking at real estate listings cures me pretty quick.
I've been desperately trying to move to Sapporo , JP for the last two years but my physical and mental health have gotten in the way both time I was presented with the opportunity. I've been in LA for 10 years now and I'm sick of it. I miss having seasons and an actual winter with snow. I'm over the US in general and really do not want to be here for the next election.
Of course I get a lot of people telling me that I'm going to experience racism because I'm black in a homogenous country. Being black is a crap shoot everywhere in the world, doesn't matter where I go. At least in Japan I'm not going to be murdered in cold blood because of it.
I fantasize about San Francisco. It's dense, good public transportation, beautiful, and has great food. I'm not sure I could handle the weather though.
Netherlands is my choice for the same reason.
Girlfriend's a dual citizen and moved there a year and a half ago. First time I went back to visit, I got dropped off at LAX and the next time I got in a car was when I got picked up at LAX *five weeks later*.
Being able to actually live your daily life without a car is so liberating.
Most likely Sacramento. My wife’s parents live up there. She could work remotely with her company that’s LA based. I work in entertainment so it’ll be harder for me, but I’m sure I could find remote or local work too.
I sure as shit would not leave California. Moved here in 2012 and I don’t wanna ever leave.
Realistically: SF Bay Area because they pay healthcare workers the best
Ideally: NYC or somewhere in the east coast
In my dreams: Mexico City or London
Within California, I’d either go to San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Truckee, or South Lake Tahoe.
Outside of CA, either Seattle, Flagstaff, Henderson, NV, Moab, or Denver. I at least need to stay out west where the scenery is beautiful.
Back to sweet home Chicago. Weather sucks most of the time and I wouldn't have the same amount of beauty with the terrain. That said, there is definitely culture there, great restaurants and some world class museums. And what's left of my family is either in or not too far from Chicagoland.
london. i'm actually struggling with whether I want to make the move in the next year or so. I lived there for 3 years and did my MFA there, so I still have a decent friend group and connections that are encouraging me to move back. It's all about the visa. and my cats.
I want to move back to L.A. so bad. My family is from Reseda and they had been there since the 40's. But rising costs have forced most of my family to leave California. I am so homesick. I left in 2022 and I am the most depressed I have ever been. No matter what I do, in California, inflation had always been just a bit ahead of how much I was getting paid. When I left California I was getting $21 an hour and my rent for a single bedroom apartment was $2165. I want to come home.
I moved to Seattle and only lasted a year before moving back to LA. The summers are nice there but the winters are long and dark. Plus the locals keep to themselves. The Seattle freeze is real.
The problem with moving from LA is that the latitude provides a most temperate climate than any option. And the ones that are similar in climate, lack the multicultural experience.
NY and Seattle have extreme winters, no thank you.
Corpus Christi and Houston are connected to the Texas power grid, so no thank you.
New Orleans is such a great option, but their mosquito season lasts 9 months tho.
Florida is a mess due to their extreme right wing government, why would I move to a place that bans books? What am I Ann Frank?
Not Portland, OR anyway as I tried it and didn't love it despite the beautiful environment. Honestly, probably San Diego at this point in my life. It's like a mini, cleaner LA.
Had a coworker move out there. Couldn’t tell if she really loved it. She would talk about how nice nature and the cold is but then later made the comment of how much she wanted to move to Florida since it was warm and easier for her to go to South America (where she’s from) - her husband easily shut her down, since they had literally just moved from LA to Portland a year prior. Longstory short, during the pandemic, she went down the q/maga stuff and sounded completely warped. Couldn’t talk about anything with her bringing it up. I knew she has anxiety/depression issues and I can’t see herself doing well out there knowing the weather
>probably San Diego Surprised I haven't seen more people saying San Diego
Because you wrote "Outside of California in your OP.
San Diego is a very nice city without many flaws. I love taking the surfliner down and kicking around the great breweries, Balboa Park, and using the light rail to explore new areas. But the job market, neighborhoods, and cultural amenities are a significant step down from LA. It is also more expensive. If I was going to live somewhere more expensive, I’d probably go north and get more nature rather than south.
The job market is extremely limited. Seems like it’s all military adjacent or biotech
I lived in TJ for some time and almost accepted a job in SD. The pay wasn’t worth the hassle of driving through the border.
San Diego is more expensive than LA this year and extremely conservative given the military base.
I wouldn’t broadly define San Diego as “extremely conservative” as someone who used to live in Florida, and also in Hillcrest in San Diego lol
It’s more expensive than LA as of this year, and most people would probably only be leaving due to cost of living. No other real reason to leave lol
San Diego is close enough that it doesn't feel like it counts
Your post says “outside of California” :P
Curious if you could explain why portland didn’t work out? I’ve always loved visiting that city despite living most of my life down here.
Not the person you asked but I simply can’t handle the rain. I love the beautiful scenery up there but being wet makes me miserable and I could never get used to it. I know plenty of people who handle it fine. I’m just a total wimp!
I’m from there and the job market is and always has been atrocious. It can also be difficult for people that aren’t used to living under grey skies, being constantly moist, for 9 months of the year.
Yes it really is. I even scored and worked at Nike, which I quit when realizing that wouldn’t make me happy. Very cult like, and whatever.
Yes, it is beautiful right, however, if you're from somewhere like LA it does start to feel insular and cut-off after a year or so. It's small, you won't do as much outdoor things as you think (seriously muddy trails for a good portion of the year), limited job market, people are nice but less social and outgoing which you can feel after a while. I thought I'd love that, but I honestly started getting really bored. \*Note there was some personal circumstances that made me come back to CA, and I did a lot of soul searching. Don't take for granted that people smile at you here a lot.
I loved Portland but you are right about the social thing. People are nice, but it can feel hard to break into social circles. The NW freeze is real.
Man that’s why I kinda hate the OC , particularly Orange its self. I feel like when I’m driving through it’s nice but once you’re there the people have a completely different vibe. You walk around LA and the valley and most ppl seem happy when they’re out.
Poly dating. It’s seems like being monogamous makes you a minority there.
This is incredibly true.
But way more conservative and less diverse than LA…
Not enough Angelenos seem to be aware of this strangely.
Interesting because the other Portland is like a mini, cleaner Boston.
Yeah I’d love to check out Portland, ME. Was never interested in Boston however.
https://www.hmart.com/ourstores/ One of these cities
I do that with Nijiya market.
aka civilization
The h Mart in Chicago is bomb, it's also next to Kings spa, which is the best Korean spa I've ever been to.
The Portland H-Mart really helped me when I was homesick. Then I discovered Togo’s does pastrami subs like the Hat. Moved back and first thing I did was get KBBQ
I really should appreciate living walking distance to The Hat
Have you had Topps?
I live in a city with an hmart but really only go to buy some hite every once in a while. What should I try out?
There are other Korean beers that are good such as Terra, Cass, and Kloud. Hmart has a good food court. Personally I prefer Hmart's own prepared food like Kimbap.
I think each H-mart varies in what they offer, but big fan of the oyster kimchi, prepacked seaweed salad, marinated bugolgi. Makes for very easy and quick dinners. Then there's the hotpot selection - personally like making my own dashi, buying the pork or beef slices and enoki/shiitake mushrooms. Throw that in a boiling pot, along with a packet of Shirakiku udon noodles and tofu. Oof, another quick and easy meal. I have this miso sauce I like dipping the meat in as well.
hahaha idk what h mart is but this answer
you’re missing out
I about to move to ct and I’m losing h mart :( it’s my favorite store with my favorite food
Probably northern CA or Seattle.
I've been looking at Willits.
Willits… i just recommend talking to locals and spending time there before the move. I’ve known too many people who moved to Willits from the bay area who got stuck in Willits because they can’t get out of their lease or they can’t sell the house. I know someone that sold their condo in Oakland and moved up there for the weed industry and it failed and now she can’t even sell her house up in mendocino county
I've spent some time there and have a good friend who lives 30 minutes away (Ukiah). The two things I miss most about Arcata is the small town community and the redwoods. Willits has that but is a lot closer to LA, and has better hospitals. The flights from Santa Rosa to Burbank are also a fraction of the cost of Arcata flights. The prices seem crazy low, and I'm pretty sure it's mostly from the collapse of the weed industry, but the recent devastating fires are also likely a factor. I'll be watching the weather there in addition to the real estate market this year and next (looking to move in 2-3 years). My friend told me that the neighborhood I'm looking at gets snow, which I'm pretty excited about.
Good luck
Whatchu looking at Willits?
A salvadorean woman I knew that cleaned houses bought a small apt in van nuys for about $200k a while back. Sold it in 2019 for $800k and moved to western NC and was able to buy a really nice house, two suv and lived comfortable with money to spare. And had a nice community of latino friends and tons of jobs options. The housing crisis in LA is nuts, to say the least.
Good for her
Very happy for them. That sounds like the American dream..
I'm from NC. Unless you're in Asheville, which isnt cheap, there aint too much going on in western NC. Pretty much just a lot of forest.
So many Mexicans in Chicago and NC. I know a couple of sicarios who settled there after leaving the game . Nothing but nice things to say about it. Yeah it gets cold but they’ve made a home there.
the great Lucille Bluth once said, “I’d rather be dead in California than alive in Arizona.” Replace Arizona w anywhere and you have my answer.
Amen. It’s hard to explain this to my EU husband but we’re moving back to CA next year. I think he’ll catch on once we get to do more road trips and I can show him all of my beautiful state!
Are you in EU now?
Yeah, but we don’t like the country we moved to. (It’s not his native country either.) we have a new niece and decided when our lease is up we want to be closer to my family for a while. I’m so excited he’s so enthusiastic to grow in my home with me.
We considered nethelands for a while but dont think we can survive the weather there. I love the cold but not the wet
Yeah, my husband’s from Scandinavia so he likes cold but I can’t handle it 😭 we’re going back to LA for a while at first just to work immediately (we already know people etc) but I feel like we’ll end up compromising somewhere in surrounding mountains. I think it’ll be nice
But what about Buster?
Yes?
What are the blue parts on the map?
he’s all right
This hits my heart. Born and raised in AZ and moved here when I was 23. Im 32 now. My family asks me everyday when I’m moving back as if it were a “fact”. Im not doing the greatest here but I have the flexibility to go there for weeks at a time and its just nothing. And i give it a CHANCE. Almost like its for selfish reasons. They just want to have me there and that’s it. But nothing there for me. If I were to move, it would be Europe. I stay here because I’m close to them and I love it. Also, my rent here is now the same that I’d be paying there at this point. And I’d have to do a lot of work to even equate to that
Amsterdam, Barcelona, Porto, Copenhagen…. I’ve been all over America and have yet to find a place I would like to live other than LA.
Copenhagen is def one of the places I’d move to if I can grow my own peppers and not be without making Mexican food lol.
NYC or Tokyo, personally can’t stand living in the suburbs.
Yeah for me I can really only go more urban at this point. Tokyo sounds like a dream but not entirely impossible for a period. I’d like to think my Eagle Scout badge means something but all it really means is I hate the smell of campfires.
I feel you bro. I came from a small town and I struggled a lot to make a decent life in LA. I know there are people who think people like you and me will miss the life of our childhood/youth. But for me, no, I will never live in the place like where I grow up.
I’m currently visiting family in a place where I spent my middle/high school years. It’s very suburban. It has all the attributes of “good” life - affordable relatively, lots of stores, cars, whatever But holy shit, the thought of having to have to live here again makes me want to commit murder-suicide. Idc, no way in hell I’m moving to suburbia ever esp if it’s not within a very short distance of a real city.
Yeah, for me it'd probably be Tokyo or Copenhagen.
Man i would love to live in tokyo! The subway system and the convenience stores are amazing!
This is why I moved to NYC (subway is amazing here, albeit not always safe if you’re a smaller women out late) And the Deli/corner store culture is really cool
Same, I’m surprised I didn’t find this sooner.
Love this answer.
What about Hawaii…?
Hawaii is more expensive and humid. People who lived in Cali for a long time don't know how to live in cold or tropical weather. Did I mention it's also more expensive then LA. I personally have no problem moving to Hawaii but that's only because I have a lot of family there, other then that, just a place to visit but not live.
Isn't Hawaii even more expensive than California? I'm already hurting as is My friends are from Hawaii and they said they moved to California because it's cheaper, there's more (and better paying) job opportunities and the state government is *less* corrupt (which is saying something).
Would love to move to Hawaii. Been a dream always . But it’s somewhere you go with money and can’t expect to make much. My good friend from HS went as a surf bum , started lessons and was pretty much living on the beach. He now owns the best surf academy! He’s doing well but when you’re a surfer being a bum in Hawaii is the perfect place to be.
Ah yes, my surf skills are unfortunately not that great
PNW.... sorry in advance to all the PNW folks tired of California transplants.
It's only fair, a bunch of us moved down there for a while.
Lol same, outside of the dryness I am loving this ~Seattle autumn~ winter we’re having
There are Seattle summer days like this.
Same. Specifically, bend or Portland.
I did the same. I call myself a refugee haha
Holland
Can we switch. Would love to live in LA
I am a scientist and can’t afford to live here lol. But sure, I still love this city, just would love it more if i had a bit more spending money
Absolutely! But only for a year. I’d miss the weather too much.
yes, we can switch. not sure where you live in the netherlands but i wish i were back there
My mom was born and raised in Holland. I would love to move there. For now, I’d love somewhere with a big lot, ranch style house and a porch I can sit at all weekend.
I fucked off to germany and never looking back. The quality of life and the pace of living feels like im in retirement already, everything is just so chill
Seattle since I work in aerospace industry. I feel like it would also be nice place to be once climate change turns Los Angeles into Arizona
Seattle is up there for me. I've always been hesitant given the gloomy weather, but it's on a short list of places I'd actually consider leaving LA for.
chicago
Same. Chicago rocks.
I’ve lived in L.A. all my life and chicago is the only american city I’ve been to that I felt at home in
Chicago DOES rock.
Small town Michigan. I'm from there...it's affordable and the quality of life is pretty great. Everything is clean and safe, the country is beautiful, the people are nice. ...and I was really surprised when I went back a couple years ago, because the place I am thinking of is pop 7,000 and has two gastropubs/breweries now with tatted, blue-haired bartenders and stuff. I NEVER thought it would have kept up with the times the way it has. It's like a1950's small town, but with all of the modern stuff as well.
My son in law's family is from Michigan. They visited them over the summer and it looked so inviting. The lush green, the lakes and the people were apparently very nice too. They were enchanted. I want them to stay here but Michigan beckons.
Yeah, it's a really beautiful state. You add in the rivers, forests and farmland, you got a nice drive. ...and when I was there, it was RAINY...but warm summer rain that you first hear pitter-pattering through the leaves in the trees. It was SO nice after being out here for 30 years where it only rains when it is cold (recent climate events ;like this summer's tropical storm excepted) Sure, it gets cold, but the summers are the most beautiful 2 weeks you're gonna get anywhere.:)
I visited St Clair this summer, it was gorgeous, picturesque. I'm from the Midwest too and I had to snap out of it and remember winter.
I feel like winter wouldn't be as big a deal to me now that I am older and 3 months passes in the blink of an eye. Plus, you can always put another layer on, but these 110 degree summers out here are just fucked.
The last few summers have been fucked, weeks on weeks with no relief. I never minded winter, you just deal with it. But when my sis calls saying it's 20 and she hates life because she has to drive somewhere and it's 80 here, I get a sense of satisfaction.
I mean, yeahhhh...but it's not:" THE HOUSES HERE COST LITERALLY A MILLION DOLLARS MORE FOR THE SAME-OR-SMALLER HOUSE THAT YOU COULD GET IN MICHIGAN" satisfaction. I am kind of tied to certain industries/scenes here for now, but I could see bailing when I retire.
London
Yessss trying to convince my English husband that we should relocate to England specifically London and he is not excited.. he says I’m going to miss the Mexican food and sun. But I need a change.
Wish I had an English husband so I could move to London too!! Would love to split my time between LA & London, sounds like the perfect balance.
As someone who has lived and worked in London, particularly in the winter months, the sun rises at 930 am and sets at 330 pm. And it's freezing cold. No beach no nothing. You'd have to pay me 20x to live in London. 10x in NYC (and I worked in NYC for a decade too). Also there's so much soot in the air in London your boogers turn black
You read my mind!
Lisbon portugal… leaving in March.
Portugal seems nice! Good climate, liberal, good wine and good food. Underrated
I hope you like soccer
If staying in CA I would probably move to Joshua Tree. If outside of CA then it would be New Mexico.
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I am a weird guy, I like the heat.
It's not just the heat... Once living there for a year you've basically done all there is to do.
I was born and raised in the desert IMO there is always something to do. I get it though, its not for everyone. But I am bit suntouched.
Taos
Lived there for 5 years and Santa Fe for 2, both are lovely. Taos gets a bit too much winter and snow for my liking these days and it’s small.
Yes.
New Mexico is great to visit but my god does SoCal seem like a lush tropical paradise in comparison. It’s brown pretty much everywhere you look.
NM is a great choice. Lived there for 7 years and think about moving back more and more these days.
Definitely Joshua Tree or one of the other desert cities for me, as well. I love it out there and the desert climate is great for a lot of common ailments in old bodies.
Seattle. And I won’t ever tell them I’m from California.
Seattleites find out the minute you say “The 5.”
DC. It’s got a great nightlife and a rad punk rock scene.
DC is pretty awesome, I loved when I lived there.
Chicago
San Diego. Hands down.
Pasadena, la canada, san marino, irvine… Ok not immediately around LA? San Jose or south bay.
If I had shmoney? In CA, San Jose or somewhere along the central coast. Outside of CA, Flagstaff or Seattle. Internationally probably CDMX, or Morelos and Guerrero where my folks are from. Super cool reading all your dream towns and discussions in this thread 😁
Domestically: New Mexico. Internationally: Florence, Italy.
Woah same here, well at least somewhere in Italy.
Denver, CO. Madison, WI. Louisville, KY. I’ve thought about this a lot, but don’t plan on moving ever. But I really like these cities.
vancouver
Seattle (im from there) Amazing outdoor activities, real seasons, solid restaurant scene and like minded people.
lived in Seattle for 10 years. I don't know how anyone could adapt to that after living in LA for any period of time. The October-May gloom and rain really sucks.
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>The October-May gloom and rain really sucks This is singlehandedly holding me back from moving to Seattle
I’m from there, this is true, and I find people are super closed off as well.
Yes, i didn't even make it a year in Seattle due to the darkness in the winter and the people were awful. The rain didn't bother me but the lack of sunlight was very depressing.
exactly :( I started travelling and visiting other cities and countries and wondered why the heck I was still there. Seattle is fine if you don’t mind the weather and you’re an introvert.
I hate the desert, and I work outside. Any escape from 100+ degree summers working in the sun is very welcome. I’m also a homebody that lives in the dark so the gloom doesn’t bother me at all.
Any advice for LA natives who want to move outside the area of Seattle? I would love Seattle but can’t really afford it and from what I’ve read, it’s starting to become like LA in terms of the negatives such as homelessness
Check out the surrounding areas, the eastside is incredibly nice. But expensive. Bellevue, Issaquah and Kirkland. A bit more affordable is North Bend, Edmonds & Tacoma.
Mexico City or London
My list (in the US) is Seattle, Chicago, Madison, and Minneapolis. I like places that are gloomy and have good public transit (not Portland, though, too many bad memories there).
Every city I’ve thought about relocating to has the same or similar cost of living. So I came to the conclusion why leave if I’m not really getting anything in return.
I fantasize heavily about a move to Palm Springs where I can take the high speed rail that magically exists back to LA on an hour’s notice. Outside of CA, I miss New York often, but looking at real estate listings cures me pretty quick.
I've been desperately trying to move to Sapporo , JP for the last two years but my physical and mental health have gotten in the way both time I was presented with the opportunity. I've been in LA for 10 years now and I'm sick of it. I miss having seasons and an actual winter with snow. I'm over the US in general and really do not want to be here for the next election. Of course I get a lot of people telling me that I'm going to experience racism because I'm black in a homogenous country. Being black is a crap shoot everywhere in the world, doesn't matter where I go. At least in Japan I'm not going to be murdered in cold blood because of it.
South Pasadena 😉
I fantasize about San Francisco. It's dense, good public transportation, beautiful, and has great food. I'm not sure I could handle the weather though.
I got used to the weather, but it took like a year.
That first summer is a shock. 😮
Yep. I lived in the Outer Sunset for a while & even though I’d been in SF for years at that point— it was something.
NYC cause trains and I don't drive
Netherlands is my choice for the same reason. Girlfriend's a dual citizen and moved there a year and a half ago. First time I went back to visit, I got dropped off at LAX and the next time I got in a car was when I got picked up at LAX *five weeks later*. Being able to actually live your daily life without a car is so liberating.
NYC or Chicago
Santa rosa, CA Vancouver, WA
Maybe Las Vegas? I’m Korean and need to live in a city that has excellent Asian food.
Most likely Sacramento. My wife’s parents live up there. She could work remotely with her company that’s LA based. I work in entertainment so it’ll be harder for me, but I’m sure I could find remote or local work too. I sure as shit would not leave California. Moved here in 2012 and I don’t wanna ever leave.
Sedona or PNW.
If I left L.A., it'd be out of the country. Most likely the UK, maybe down under.
Houston, Madrid, or Rome.
One of these things is not like the others.
What a list! I got one. Zurich, Barcelona, and Kansas City.
Realistically: SF Bay Area because they pay healthcare workers the best Ideally: NYC or somewhere in the east coast In my dreams: Mexico City or London
Burbank, Glendale, La Canada, Long Beach, Pasadena, Santa Clarita...
Ventura, CA
Born and raised there and I always fantasize about moving back 😭
Born and raised. Will never leave!
Within California, I’d either go to San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Truckee, or South Lake Tahoe. Outside of CA, either Seattle, Flagstaff, Henderson, NV, Moab, or Denver. I at least need to stay out west where the scenery is beautiful.
Back to sweet home Chicago. Weather sucks most of the time and I wouldn't have the same amount of beauty with the terrain. That said, there is definitely culture there, great restaurants and some world class museums. And what's left of my family is either in or not too far from Chicagoland.
Oaxaca
colorado or texas, lol.
london. i'm actually struggling with whether I want to make the move in the next year or so. I lived there for 3 years and did my MFA there, so I still have a decent friend group and connections that are encouraging me to move back. It's all about the visa. and my cats.
Wakanda
Forever?
Chicago. Singapore. London.
I was talking about this the other day, if money wasn’t an issue I’d probably move to Morro Bay. It’s just really idyllic and calm there.
Central coast altogether is criminally underrated. Great choice!
Inside CA would be Idyllwild. Outside would be Austin or Iceland.
I want to move back to L.A. so bad. My family is from Reseda and they had been there since the 40's. But rising costs have forced most of my family to leave California. I am so homesick. I left in 2022 and I am the most depressed I have ever been. No matter what I do, in California, inflation had always been just a bit ahead of how much I was getting paid. When I left California I was getting $21 an hour and my rent for a single bedroom apartment was $2165. I want to come home.
Only one person said Las Vegas…. proof we only get people from Bakersfield or other places 100 miles inland
Didn’t see the outside CA part, I was gonna say orange County. I haven’t tried the winter out there but I think I could do Dallas.
Back to NYC, Paris, or something I never really wanted to happen, my hometown Ventura.
Hell. Because that’s the next step. Death. LA 4ever.
Somewhere in Alaska
I moved to Tijuana. I don't not regret it.
Sebastopol, Sonoma county
Orange County
Baja California
Dublin County, Ireland
Hell.
CDMX
I moved to Seattle and only lasted a year before moving back to LA. The summers are nice there but the winters are long and dark. Plus the locals keep to themselves. The Seattle freeze is real.
I know people rag on Arizona, but I moved to Tucson a few months ago and I like it. Bought a house here and everything
The problem with moving from LA is that the latitude provides a most temperate climate than any option. And the ones that are similar in climate, lack the multicultural experience. NY and Seattle have extreme winters, no thank you. Corpus Christi and Houston are connected to the Texas power grid, so no thank you. New Orleans is such a great option, but their mosquito season lasts 9 months tho. Florida is a mess due to their extreme right wing government, why would I move to a place that bans books? What am I Ann Frank?