Likely moving to CA

[Bushwack44]

My advice??? Don't do it. It is not worth it. You might think that her new job pays REALLY well. But you have to look at the cost of living in CA. It is going to eat up any perceived monetary gain the new job is offering.

Examples:

Current avg gas prices: OH $1.65 a gal Orange Co CA $2.40 a gal
Current sales tax: OH 5.75% Orange Co 8%
Average housing cost in Orange Co $600,000
Average car registration fees in CA $300 a YEAR depending on what kind of car you have
We also have smog inspections....will your vehicles conform to CA smog laws?

And this list goes on and on. Something to really think about.

Plus our gun laws suck and are getting worse. As well as laws in CA in general.

Good luck!

^^^^^^^
What he said.

'nuff said.

[Rodell]

Truly I am dead set against the move. She loves CA and I wish it would float away. I have some time and do have a say. Fortunately there are 2 other states on the table tentatively...Washington and Colorado. Either way her company is fully on the up and up about the alien state of CA and it's ever changing nonsense, so compensation based upon the numbers I looked at won't be the issue. Overall it will come down to what I personally can tolerate, which after being a Trooper in Ohio, isn't much.

I'd be happy to tell you about firearms, laws, taxes, etc., in WA; PM me if you would like.

[highpower]

All the other BS in the PRC aside, the traffic in the urban areas is by far the worst thing to have to deal with on a day to day basis. At the wrong time of day it can easily take an hour to go 15 miles. My second ex wife had family in Dana Point and when we would go to visit, I would leave my home in Pismo Beach at 2AM in order to beat the worst of the traffic when we got there.

Of all the many things about the PRC I absolutely hate, the traffic is at the top of the list. The cost of living is next, as while it seems that you are making lots of money compared to where you were before, your money is eaten up by the insane cost of housing, fuel, utilities car registration, insurance etc.

Here in Reno for instance, my electricity bill has never been over $87 a month and that was in the summer when I was running the AC all day. My cost of living has been cut in half since I moved. The only thing that the PRC has going for it is the beautiful weather and that is just not worth all the negatives that come with living there.

[Angrysnarf]

Where in California?

[bcsatch]

Likely Orange county

[97F1504RAD]

My advice??? Don't do it. It is not worth it. You might think that her new job pays REALLY well. But you have to look at the cost of living in CA. It is going to eat up any perceived monetary gain the new job is offering.

Examples:

Current avg gas prices: OH $1.65 a gal Orange Co CA $2.40 a gal
Current sales tax: OH 5.75% Orange Co 8%
Average housing cost in Orange Co $600,000
Average car registration fees in CA $300 a YEAR depending on what kind of car you have
We also have smog inspections....will your vehicles conform to CA smog laws?

And this list goes on and on. Something to really think about.

Plus our gun laws suck and are getting worse. As well as laws in CA in general.

Good luck!

X1000

I would avoid this state like the plague.

[dune870demon]

For traffic example. On a Thursday at 3pm, it took me about 40mins to go 7miles. Friday traffic starts at 12/1pm and will take me about an hour or so. For my dad to due the drive home from work takes 2hrs. The cheapest apartments that are in a nice area or decent quality run about $1,000/$1,200 a month.

[sigstroker]

My advice??? Don't do it. It is not worth it. You might think that her new job pays REALLY well. But you have to look at the cost of living in CA. It is going to eat up any perceived monetary gain the new job is offering.

Examples:

Current avg gas prices: OH $1.65 a gal Orange Co CA $2.40 a gal
Current sales tax: OH 5.75% Orange Co 8%
Average housing cost in Orange Co $600,000
Average car registration fees in CA $300 a YEAR depending on what kind of car you have
We also have smog inspections....will your vehicles conform to CA smog laws?

And this list goes on and on. Something to really think about.

Plus our gun laws suck and are getting worse. As well as laws in CA in general.

Good luck!

The sad thing is that Orange County looks like a bargain compared to the Bay area.

[San_Diego_Shooter]

PRK is known as PRK for a freaking reason. Avoid it at all costs if you value the freedoms described in that thing called the Constitution of the United States of America.

[BoJackUSMC]

Make sure to buy some single stack firearms for cc before coming here....CA gun laws and free handouts to illegals, etc... sucks, but beautiful place to live (depends where you live and if you like outdoor activity).

Good luck with your decision sir.

[Eirerogue]

CA will tax your LEO pension!

[spyde12]

First, thank you for your service.
Second, get in touch with an accountant. That way, you'll know what your financial situation will actually be. Then you'll have figures to compare.
Third, take a trip out here and experience what it'll actually be like. We can list the pros and cons, but it's based on one's perspective, priorities and expectations. What one would consider a con, may not affect you. For example, traffic may not be a big deal if you're going to start biking or walk around town.

Considering the fact that you're retired LE, your situation will differ than most of the members on here. I would recommend that you visit the LE sub section. That way, you'll get feedback from those that have been in your line of work that have either stayed in CA or moved.

What ever you do, good luck!

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[bcsatch]

Thanks for info all, great help for sure.

[Messerschmitts]

Truly I am dead set against the move. She loves CA and I wish it would float away. I have some time and do have a say. Fortunately there are 2 other states on the table tentatively...Washington and Colorado. Either way her company is fully on the up and up about the alien state of CA and it's ever changing nonsense, so compensation based upon the numbers I looked at won't be the issue. Overall it will come down to what I personally can tolerate, which after being a Trooper in Ohio, isn't much.

Taxes suck, gun laws suck, traffic sucks, cost of living sucks. However, happy wife, happy life. So I would say, in the end you have to ultimately keep your family together.

[Angrysnarf]

Where in ca are you moving to?