Hubby and I are approaching retirement and want to move to South California because of the weather. We're sick of frigid, snowy winters and sickening high humidity and hot summers. We've been to San Diego and loved it but is so expensive! Anything off the beaten path that isn't quite as expensive? We'd ultimately LOVE to buy an acre or two and build a house. We'd love to be close to a body of water, whether it be a river or lake. We can't afford oceanside! We'd be moving in the next 1-2 years so just shopping around now. Thanks!
Any Southern Cali people here??
- Thread starter Stacy
- Start date
RapidBreath
Cathlete
What about northern CA? We don't get a lot of cold weather either. Just don't buy something 1000 feet above sea level. I live close to Folsom, and we are in the 70s this week. You might like the lake. It's not as expensive as San Diego. So cal has much worse traffic and crime. Check out granite bay. We have great shopping. Lots of different restaurants and shows come through both the Mondavi Arts Center and Folsom too ( weird Al this weekend ). Wine is grown across the street from my neighborhood. I live on 6 acres with my folks and older brother. If you want wetter conditions you might like fair oaks (close to sacramento) or Citrus Heights. The nice thing about living here is that the ocean is a day trip as well as Lake Tahoe.
RapidBreath
Cathlete
For coastal try San Luis obis po or Arcata
complik8td
Cathlete
I have been in the Philly area ALL MY LIFE, and I am ALWAYS wishing I could move to Cali!! 
Lucky you, Stacy, that you and your hubby are mutually on board with a relo there, and lucky you, RapidBreath, that you DO live there. Soooooooo jelly!!
Lucky you, Stacy, that you and your hubby are mutually on board with a relo there, and lucky you, RapidBreath, that you DO live there. Soooooooo jelly!!
desertambrosia
Cathlete
I have family in Southern California. (Oceanside) They love it there, however it is very expensive. I think all of California is expensive, compared to other regions. It's all relative.
Thanks for the rec's. We had looked at the Pacific Northwest originally b/c we both love the mountains and scenic views, but we hate humidity. I think I'll miss the greenery here in the midwest that rains provide so we didnt originally want anything too dry, but Oregon and Washington seemed too high in humidity even on non-rainy days from the weather logs we'd been looking at (unless you are east of the Cascades).
desertambrosia
Cathlete
I lived in Seattle for eighteen years. When the sun shines, there is not a prettier place on earth. The sun just doesn't shine enough. Not really humid there. Never gets hot enough to be miserably humid. (I guess I should say, rarely gets hot enough) Temperatures are very moderate. Beautiful place. Just rains a lot.
And, if you are a coffee drinker, it's the home of Starbucks. One on every corner.
And, if you are a coffee drinker, it's the home of Starbucks. One on every corner.
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Even in the Midwest at cooler temps say 60's it can still be so sticky and humid. We are SO done with that. I'm sick of bad hair days hehe! We were in Jackson Hole a few summers ago and the weather was great, low humidity, sun, great hair days and not that oppressive humidity that keeps us indoors here even in the summer. We are coffee lovers, but my hubby roasts his own beans, so haven't been to a Starbucks in years