In Reply to: OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?, Rod [Profile/Gallery] , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:02:26

Live in LA and don't know how I manage myself sometimes.

First as Mike says below, it is relative. I really can't understand how my friends in NYC do it.

Part of it is also timing. Live in LA in a 2BD 1800 sq ft. house in the Hollywood Hills. Bought 5 years ago and could barely afford it then (even with a DINK household), but prices have more than doubled since then. Median prices in my zip code for the last couple months were around 1.1 M and there is no way I could afford to buy the same house now. Even with the equity, can't afford to move up in the same neighborhood either. But prices can't continue to go the way they have been. Sooner or later there's bound to be a crash like there was in LA in the early 90's.

Priorities also have a lot to do with it. My house is tiny compared to friends who live in the Midwest or South - and no pool, gourmet kitchen, Mud-room, huge laundry room, etc. But at least it costs less to furnish. Have to save on a lot of things: No fancy vacations every year, no cleaning lady, brown bag lunch every day, have essentially "skipped" Christmas several years. But to me it's all worth it. Weather is near perfect; you can ski on one day & go to the beach the next; CA is incredibly rich culturally - grew up in suburban Detroit and when I visit now it just feels "backwoods" to me; traffic is really no big deal - think it's much worse in NYC, Chicago, DC, etc. Where I live, I'm 5 minutes from all of the hustle & bustle, but I'm surrounded by trees and wildlife (including coyotes). Where else in the U.S. can you live in an urban setting and still feel like you are in the middle of nowhere? I know it's not for everyone, but to me I couldn't live anywhere else and think the sacrifices are worth it.

posted by 69.231.7...

• OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?, Rod , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:02:26
  • Days like today, Monday...., Mike Lynch , Mon, 31 Oct 2005 11:46:54
  • My experience, Peter , Sun, 30 Oct 2005 19:25:15
  • Good thread - just got back five hours ago..., SaabSpeed, Sat, 29 Oct 2005 13:57:33
  • answer- How do you do it?, Railhead , Sat, 29 Oct 2005 00:25:19
  • Re: OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?, GM, Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:51:46
  • Not necessarily true about making more $, Jeff J, Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:18:52
  • This is a great thread! I go to CA 2 or 3 times a year, Noel, Fri, 28 Oct 2005 07:03:35
  • some cant, but the weather does help a lot...., baggsly , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 22:58:03
  • Re: OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?, Ben, Thu, 27 Oct 2005 17:22:55
  • Wondering myself, LCY64, Thu, 27 Oct 2005 15:13:40 <-- Viewing This Message
  • Not very hard to do, pokeyjoe , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 15:04:01
    • Re: Not very hard to do, Rod , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 20:22:23
    • $300K gain. That's only on paper though., SWEDECAR , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 18:23:02
  • Re: OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?, Jason Carpenter, Thu, 27 Oct 2005 13:08:00
  • It's all relative...., Mike Lynch , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 12:16:37
    • I was real close to Oceanside..., Rod , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:30:32
      • Temecula Wineries..., Mike Lynch , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:58:17
        • Temecula to LA in 1 hour? Mike your boost gauge is red, JBack, Thu, 27 Oct 2005 15:24:46
      • I've driven from Oceanside to San Francisco..., Scott Paterson , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:39:58
        • Some spectacular parts....., Mike Lynch , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 15:01:43
  • Well, I don't (currently) but will..., PGAero , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 12:03:28
    • the Yuba river?, Railhead , Sat, 29 Oct 2005 00:45:46
      • Yup., PGAero , Mon, 31 Oct 2005 07:20:17
  • How??? The sun is shining. That's it., SWEDECAR , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 11:16:58
  • Re: OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?,, Caarma , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 10:15:32
  • Re: OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?, Rick D, Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:38:38
  • you have some if it right on..., Scott Paterson , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:18:47
  • Re: OT: Question for Californians - How do you do it?, Randy Thatcher , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:13:48
    • I'm with you Randy... not one either..., Scott Paterson , Thu, 27 Oct 2005 09:20:30

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