Leaving Los Angeles

[Stifle Tower]

Oh and don't worry, folks: no matter where we move, I will NEVER, EVER find myself cheering for Portland, Denver, any Texas team or Seattle. Well, I guess that last one is moot for now. I've been trying to pitch the cost savings point with my wife about moving to Utah. We'd save a ton of money by not having to subscribe to Dish and League Pass for me to watch the Jazz.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Yes, but that's not really a consideration in terms of where to move or work. I've worked with people of all types and persuasions. The only time I really drew the line was when a few work colleagues went to a gay night club in Amsterdam on a business trip. I didn't join them (and they knew I wouldn't). But we'd all go out to dinner as a group. No big deal with then drinking alcohol and me with my Diet Coke - yes, I do have "vices" ;-). In terms of where to live, there will be LDS meeting houses in any community. The main thing for us is to be in a family-oriented community. We live in Santa Clarita and there's a major Christian University (The Master's College) on the other side of town. So I'd say the city is fairly conservative as a result. And unlike the East and Bible belt, I've rarely run into any prejudice or major misconceptions about LDS people. Most, even if they strongly disagree with LDS beliefs, at least understand we're Christians. Not to turn this into a religious discussion, but I've always been more concerned with a person's ethics than religious affiliation.

I asked for a different reason..

Was curious because I think SLC could be a nice choice for family reasons and being LDS is a plus when looking to join a firm.

 

[Stifle Tower]

I asked for a different reason..

Was curious because I think SLC could be a nice choice for family reasons and being LDS is a plus when looking to join a firm.

Right. Utah has always been a consideration. Of course, asking about religious affiliation is illegal in an interview.

 

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Given the basic sketch of your life and interests, I'm not too surprised to hear you say you're ready to leave LA. As someone who has spent a good bit of time in Portland and Seattle (and I currently live in LA) let me say this: while you are likely to increase your square-footage and decrease your average commute time, the differences between LA and the PacNW are over-exaggerated. I'm 100% confident that a move within LA itself can accomplish the same objectives.

Dunno... I like the other cities you're considering, but imo LA has more to offer if you can be flexible within it. I know that isn't easy. Just don't be surprised in 5-7 years when the cost of living and commute times in your new city are equal to what you have right now.

 

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This won't be popular: don't move to SLC. I think it's actually a terrible place for kids because of how homogeneous it is, and how loudly morality is turned up in the mix. Adults think this is great, but it creates a lot of gaps where kids are unkind to their peers and poor at handling the pressures. Add to this the fact that there's nothing to do except hike, rock climb, and ski... that's 98% of everything. Oh, and Jazz games.

 

[Gameface]

I've known several Mormons from out of state who move to Utah and leave the church. Their comment is that the Mormons in Utah are different than the Mormons outside of Utah and it's a bit of a shock for them.

 

[Stifle Tower]

This won't be popular: don't move to SLC. I think it's actually a terrible place for kids because of how homogeneous it is, and how loudly morality is turned up in the mix. Adults think this is great, but it creates a lot of gaps where kids are unkind to their peers and poor at handling the pressures. Add to this the fact that there's nothing to do except hike, rock climb, and ski... that's 98% of everything. Oh, and Jazz games.

I do understand this viewpoint. And oftentimes that morality is false or misplaced. I like my child understanding - as she grows - that there are different lifestyles in the world, whether she (or her parents) agrees with them or not. What I do object to is being taught, or forced to accept/say that she CAN'T disagree with them on the basis of her own, personal beliefs. And that is exactly where the education system is heading in California. As for activities in Utah, yes, we give up the beach, but I think we'd welcome the change of seasons and hiking in the canyons.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Given the basic sketch of your life and interests, I'm not too surprised to hear you say you're ready to leave LA. As someone who has spent a good bit of time in Portland and Seattle (and I currently live in LA) let me say this: while you are likely to increase your square-footage and decrease your average commute time, the differences between LA and the PacNW are over-exaggerated. I'm 100% confident that a move within LA itself can accomplish the same objectives.

Dunno... I like the other cities you're considering, but imo LA has more to offer if you can be flexible within it. I know that isn't easy. Just don't be surprised in 5-7 years when the cost of living and commute times in your new city are equal to what you have right now.

You could be right. We've talked about moving from Santa Clarita to say Glendale/Pasadena if I got a job there. But other considerations are as important. Housing is still out of line in terms of the affordability index. Companies are still fleeing CA. Uprooting now may enable us to get established in a new area and lock in a house at a good rate before the COL or commute time becomes like it is right now in LA. My wife and I will both take salary hits, but I think we more than make up for it in housing, taxes, etc.

 

[UGLI baby]

Don't move to Utah cuz we got a good thing going and don't need you fuzzing it up.


£¥£ Retiring at 20,000 £¥£

 

[UGLI baby]

jk move to Utah if you want.


£¥£ Retiring at 20,000 £¥£

 

[Stifle Tower]

Don't move to Utah cuz we got a good thing going and don't need you fuzzing it up.


£¥£ Retiring at 20,000 £¥£

In that case, expect me in the 84790 soon - or wherever the STG crew hangs out!

 

[♪alt13]

This won't be popular: don't move to SLC. I think it's actually a terrible place for kids because of how homogeneous it is, and how loudly morality is turned up in the mix. Adults think this is great, but it creates a lot of gaps where kids are unkind to their peers and poor at handling the pressures. Add to this the fact that there's nothing to do except hike, rock climb, and ski... that's 98% of everything. Oh, and Jazz games.

I absolutely disagree with this. Much of the state is like this but I live downtown. I have a picture of my daughters kindergarten class on my wall 12 out of the 21 children belong to a racial minority. My family is not LDS and my daughter has had no problems at all with her classmates she has friends of every race and with all sorts of families.

Reasons for Salt Lake
1. Real estate
The PNW is nice for sure but if your looking to buy a nice home in a nice neighborhood with a good school it's going to be more affordable in SLC.
2. Schools
Utah doesn't spend the most money but that doesn't mean the schools aren't quality.
https://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=26534032
3. Safety
There is not a single street that I would be nervous walking down with my 8 year old @ midnight.(not that we do but you get the point)
4. World class beer
Stereotypes are often wrong
https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile/52671152-90/brewing-beer-brewers-utah.html.csp
5. The obvious
Salt lake has the Jazz and is surrounded by more public land than anywhere else in the country. If you do move to salt lake buy a quad/horse and maybe a jet ski you can have a vacation every weekend.

 

[bigb]

3. Safety
There is not a single street that I would be nervous walking down with my 8 year old @ midnight.(not that we do but you get the point)

Holy crap, I couldn't disagree more with that one. There are plenty of streets I don't want to venture down at midnight. Haven't spent much time in Glendale? I grew up with a lot of the families that live in that area and I still wouldn't want to go there at night.

5. The obvious
Salt lake has the Jazz and is surrounded by more public land than anywhere else in the country. If you do move to salt lake buy a quad/horse and maybe a jet ski you can have a vacation every weekend.

This is one of the biggest reasons I stick around.

 

[♪alt13]

Holy crap, I couldn't disagree more with that one. There are plenty of streets I don't want to venture down at midnight. Haven't spent much time in Glendale? I grew up with a lot of the families that live in that area and I still wouldn't want to go there at night.

This is one of the biggest reasons I stick around.

I'm not going to say glendale is nice, but I am not afraid to be in glendale @ midnight. I think other cities do have areas I would be concerned to meander through. How many carjackings,muggings, etc really occur in glendale. Seems like when people do get jumped in slc it's because their junky *** was asking for it.

 

[The Thriller]

LA might not be ideal but why leave S California altogether?

I'm pretty sure there are some nicer safer areas without that LA congestion nearby. Oceanside, San Diego, and mission Viejo all seem like awesome places. San Diego in particular never seemed to be as congested as LA.

Then again, I'm used to traffic. I drove on I-15 here in Utah when they were doing construction on it for the Olympics. Anyone else remember the "chutes" we had for highways back then? Nothing like a 5 lane highway being turned into 2 and having the sides blocked with huge construction barriers and wooden walls. I still remember almost being crushed into the wall by semis in the lane next to me.

 

[Gameface]

I liked San Diego a lot. Problem for me was housing prices and just the general mess of CA government.

 

[leftyjace]

I liked San Diego a lot. Problem for me was housing prices and just the general mess of CA government.

This.

My job only requires I be near an International Airport for travel. I can live anywhere. I took a long, hard look at San Diego - but because of these two items, I just couldn't pull the trigger. Which is sad. I'm originally from California. I've always wanted to move back there.

 

[Beantown]

Isn't the Seattle real estate and cost of living really high?

 

[The Thriller]

This.

My job only requires I be near an International Airport for travel. I can live anywhere. I took a long, hard look at San Diego - but because of these two items, I just couldn't pull the trigger. Which is sad. I'm originally from California. I've always wanted to move back there.

But don't you also make a lot more there?

True, here in Utah housing costs are like half of what they'd be in the SD area. Yet, wages are like twice as much. It's fairly relative from what I've seen. Maybe it doesn't balance itself of completely but it's fairly relative... Right?

 

[Gameface]

But don't you also make a lot more there?

True, here in Utah housing costs are like half of what they'd be in the SD area. Yet, wages are like twice as much. It's fairly relative from what I've seen. Maybe it doesn't balance itself of completely but it's fairly relative... Right?

Wages are not twice as much there, in general. They are higher, but no where close to twice as high. Most middle income people lived in apts from what I saw. There was a much bigger line between the very wealthy and the not very wealthy than there is in Utah.

It doesn't balance out at all. You trade the ability to own your own large house for nicer weather and access to the beach, among other benefits that I think are not as great as people act like they are, like culture, night life, etc. Is there more to do in SD? Sure. It'll cost you, and if you find things you enjoy and stick to those things it doesn't really matter that there are 5 other places where you can do the same thing or that there are x number of other pursuits you could get into. So for most people the more stuff to do thing makes zero difference in how they are going to spend their time. I can do what I like to do in Utah, so it's a complete non-issue as far as I'm concerned. I always had season passes for the SD Zoo, and that was really cool, but I really don't miss it all that much.

Just like life in general, the place you're at is mostly what you make of it.