I hate you all!

[GlockN'Roll]

I usually don't say I'm from California.

I just say I moved from out west.

We all appreciate it.

Please continue to keep your secret...

[bigbossman]

We always say "we escaped California". People understand.

I usually say I'm a refugee, not a missionary.

[kustomkat1950]

Damon, you have to want it bad enough. I left in just under a solid month. We, as a family, said enough. And we were gone, just like that.

[nitroxdiver]

[Dirtlaw]

That is it. I have to be here five more years.

Are you my brother??? If so, we need to party!

[strakill]

In Northern Idaho it is south of Boise!

This is so true.

[Senko]

As everyone else has stated, start now. Make improvements and take care of deferred maintenance if you own a home. Purge. Purge some more. Then keep purging.

Scout out where you want to move to and spend some time there throughout the seasons. Figure out what communities you like and dislike. Know the RE market better than the local Realtor.

In all likelihood there will be a rollercoaster in RE the next couple of years. If you put the time in learning an area, you will know a good deal when you see it.

Had we taken the time to visit Idaho a few years earlier, we could have purchased for far less and rented or possible even just visited like a vacation home til we could move. Everyone's situation is different, but you can make great use of the five years.

[Garand Hunter]

I tell folks here in Tennessee we are from the other side of the world, most of them say California? YES.

Psalm 1

[Sir Toast]

Pucker up, Buttercup.

[oddball]

Seriously. Do everything you can on prepping to get the hell out. Get all your shyte together, figure out where you want to be and spend time on the road.

The wife and I both expressed remorse for not getting out of dodge a decade earlier.

THIS.

Took us several years or "pre-production"; scouting states and cities, preparing to sell our house, looking for a house to buy, etc. etc. etc.

And yes, we regret not escaping CA years sooner.

[audiophil2]

Leaving California is the first step.
Leaving USA is even better.
After 1 month in Thailand my son does not want to return to the USA. Poor kid has to go back to save money and retire early.

[Dan_Eastvale]

Leaving California is the first step.
Leaving USA is even better.
After 1 month in Thailand my son does not want to return to the USA. Poor kid has to go back to save money and retire early.

Hopefully then you all are taking Thai classes

I lived in Germany three years but took 5 years of German at UCI a long time ago.
I spoke no English on purpose except at 7th Corp Army Post where I worked

[Dvrjon]

I usually don't say I'm from California. I just say I moved from out west.

Geographically well-played.

[audiophil2]

Hopefully then you all are taking Thai classes

I lived in Germany three years but took 5 years of German at UCI a long time ago.
I spoke no English on purpose except at 7th Corp Army Post where I worked

In Thailand it's almost pointless to learn Thai. As a foreigner it's almost impossible to get local prices even speaking fluent Thai. English is spoken in tourist areas. Broken but not horrible. My kid is doing better knowing basic Russian due to our location.

What is important is having a Thai with you. You get Thai prices for everything. It can be such a huge difference that prices can't be spoken. They are displayed on a calculator with a hand covering it. Or you just get free stuff that foreigners would have to buy or rent.

Thai is very difficult to learn though so any foreigner that understands is well respected.

[Krueger79]

Move to Vegas in 2017 could have have escaped a year earlier and we should have.
It was easy for us I just should have looked into where we were going more thoroughly Las Vegas is not the best