What a shock. 6 of the 10 cities on the list are in California. And, ohmygosh, not a single one in Texas. Shocking.

The high quality of life in California is indisputable. Even a rightwing publication such US News and World Report recognizes this fact.

.The high quality of life in California is indisputable.

Well, face it, it can't be when a higher percentage of you paycheck goes towards your house. Also, who wants to spend all that money to live in one of the 5 least free states in the country when you can pay less to live in one of the top 5 freest? Also, jobs mean something to a lot of people. The unemployment rate is lower in Texas than California. Besides, who wants to live in the most financially unsound state in country?

I was told by a friend of mine who lives in San Jose that my house the size of mine and its property would cost $700,000 in the Bay Area. I paid $105,000. It's a good thing for California real estate agents that there are fools willing to pay 7x too much for a house. LOL

You can't roll a 7 every time, m8. But don't take it personally. I'm sure you aren't responsible for California being bankrupt.

Again, moder sees only what he wants to see.
The high cost of housing in these markets only effects a small percentage of people,namely the rich,who would have no problem living anywhere.
The high priced colleges,the exclusive beaches and high end restaurants are not available to the average persons income.

rwd

With my job, I can live anywhere I want, as can most offshore workers since all but the lowest paid jobs get paid travel for crew change.

Funny, not a single one of them chooses to live in California. Why? They'd rather spend 20% of their take home pay on their mortgage than 50% (or whatever) on a comparable home.

I like California and like to visit there, but there is no way I could justify spending that much money on real estate -- especially in a bankrupt state that is falling apart at the seams. With their current economic woes, the infrastructure and public service are going to be shit there in a few years.

Had a long talk with my cousin Brian this afternoon. He lives in Florida and he and his wife just sold their home and he is now going to rent for awhile. He gave me some good tips and advice which I really, really, needed to hear from somebody ('cause I sure wasn't getting much help).

He told me to call a realtor (or two) this week and let them come in and just give me advice on what repairs I really needed to do to add a few thousand on to the sales price and what ones not to bother having done, what comps (comparable prices) in the area are going for, and just let them help me with what it would take to get the house sold.

Then he said I'd have an idea of how long I'd probably have before the house would likely sell in order to be able check out a couple new states to move to.

He and his wife just put a bid in on a 5th Wheel RV and if they get it will travel and promote their new side business (selling gourmet dips/sauces) over the summer by driving to a few states to attend farmers' markets, fairs, etc.

Now they sell at a farmer's market in Florida and it's going really well and they'd like to branch out. He planned on driving their RV to the Carolinas, Texas, and a couple states along the way. Sounds like fun. Maybe I could help them in one of those states and get a feel for some of the places to find out where to settle down.

Sorry if I'm boring y'all to tears with this crap. Just fast forward past my post. lol

Goat continues to be a know it all. I have lived in TX and Cali. Cali is better by leaps and bounds. Not so many ignorant fools like goat.

Just fast forward past my post. lol

Maybe you put that sentence at the beginning...LOL

I have lived in TX and Cali. Cali is better by leaps and bounds.

ratsa, if you want to spend 5x more for a house than what it is worth, go for it, dude. All the more power to you. I spend my money more wisely, though.

Not so many ignorant fools like goat.

Not many as frugal either if people like you who are willing to overpay for housing is any indication.

Maybe you put that sentence at the beginning...LOL

#7 | Posted by OzarkAggie at 2009-06-27 11:31 PM

LOL. Yeah, lots of good a warning does when it's at the end!

Next time I'll start out my long posts next time with "WARNING - post babbles on and on an on"

People in Cali actually care about things besides low taxes and capital punishment.

People in Cali actually care about things besides low taxes and capital punishment.

That's nice.

Lately people have literally been dying to leave California.

Next time I'll start out my long posts next time with

#9 | Posted by CalifChris

When I read it has become my habit to read the last few paragraphs of the book after I start.
When you post a novel I will have no problem if its at the end or beginning.

rwd

What a shock. 6 of the 10 cities on the list are in California. And, ohmygosh, not a single one in Texas. Shocking.

Funny, m8 -- you missed it completely didn't you? This article is exclusively about pricey cities -- hence the title: "Ten Pricey Cities that Pay Off". Of course 6 of the top ten are in California. California is a pricey state. Of course no Texas cities are. Texas isn't a pricey state. That doesn't mean the California cities are better. It just means that the Texas cities didn't meet the 'pricey' criteria so therefore couldn't be considered for the list. LOL

Funny, m8 -- you missed it completely didn't you?

I was mulling that over too Goat.
Moder is just so easy to beat.
This guy is so unaware that it is inconceivable to me that this guy is a lawyer.

rwd

As long as there are people like Goat in Texas the state will never be a decent place. I meet rotten fools like you every single day. I wish there was a law that made you all live in GA.

As long as there are people like Goat in Texas the state will never be a decent place. I

Keep that thought in mind and tell everyone you know -- especially the ones thinking of moving here.

Thanks

This guy is so unaware that it is inconceivable to me that this guy is a lawyer.

He says he's a public defender, and he's obviously a lib. So what do you want to bet he's one of those lawyers with long gray hair tied back in a pony tail and wears a cheap hound's tooth jacket in court.

I'll betcha . . .

wish there was a law that made you all live in GA.

Posted by jackass at 2009-06-28 12:06 AM

Wait, Jackass, let me be sure I have this right.

You want all the Texans to move to Georgia?

Did you then want to send everyone in Georgia to live in Texas?

And you're in Texas now so would you also move to Georgia?

Maybe you ought to give this novel idea of yours a little more thought.

Keep that thought in mind and tell everyone you know -- especially the ones thinking of moving here.

Thanks

#17 | Posted by goatman

My side is winning Goat. Within 20 years TX will be blue again. The hispanic voters keep coming in droves to TX an the anti-immigration stance of the right is driving the hispanics into the arms of the DNC.

Ga sucks Cali. I want the evil texans to move to GA. I want the liberals in TX to stay in TX.

My side is winning Goat.

I'm happy for you, ratsa.

Within 20 years TX will be blue again.

Within 20 years I'll be dead. So what do I care if Texas is purple, green, orange, or blue?

Within 20 years I'll be dead. So what do I care if Texas is purple, green, orange, or blue?

#22 | Posted by goatman

You'll be in your 70's Goat. I'll be in my 50's approaching the day I can collect my union pension. Hopefully by then you'll have wised up and will be a liberal by then.

Hopefully by then you'll have wised up and will be a liberal by then.

Unlikely

the anti-immigration stance of the right is driving the hispanics into the arms of the DNC.

#20 | Posted by jackass

How did that work out for Reagan and the Republicans the first time around?

Hispanics are swing voters and conservative values.

"How did that work out for Reagan and the Republicans the first time around?"

Reality check: that was before the R's hard-line stance on immigration, and before the Hispanics saw the R's reaction to Sotomayor. Any doubts minorities had about how the right wing really feels about them were dispelled between the immigration bill, the most recent election, and the SC nomination.

And next election, Rs will again be surprised they don't get the vote of the folks they denigrate every day other than the first Tuesday in November.

I would bet dollars to donuts that for a typical working class stiff the quality of life in California leaves Texas in the dust. THAT is the reason California is more expensive than Texas in the first place.

I would bet dollars to donuts that for a typical working class stiff the quality of life in California leaves Texas in the dust. THAT is the reason California is more expensive than Texas in the first place.

OK.

Reconcile your belief with the fact that the entire state of Cali is on the verge of implosion - they are facing insolvency; Texas isn't. Now, imagine if they really DO go under - how, in 5 years, would you compare the Utopia you view Cali as with the cesspool that you see as Texas fare?

I grew up in Norcal. I liked it better than TX but it is very very very expensive to live there. I don't know how people continue to live there. I want to move back but I can't see paying 1400 a month for a studio apt with my debt.

The impending financial meltdown is real. But for most of us, it's impact will be limited. Personally, I don't expect it to affect me too much, other than increased fees at State Universities for my kids, and an increase in some local taxes. Maybe even eventually a 2% pay cut. Whatever. We will weather the storm and come out stronger than ever. The first step is to repeal Prop 13, the anti-tax bill which has choked the States finances ever since enacted in the '80s.

I would bet dollars to donuts that for a typical working class stiff the quality of life in California leaves Texas in the dust.

Better dust than smog. I've never seen a city with filthier air than LA. You can have it. You deserve it, m8

But for most of us, it's impact will be limited.

You're hoping.

You can have your high sales tax, your smog, your failed liberalism, your state income tax, your exhorbitant real estate prices, your bankrupt economy, your mismanaged government, your plastic people, your high cost of living, m8. You deserve to live in such a place

JACKASS

What's transparent about your running battle with Goatman is your extreme jealousy of him.

On another note . . .

You're 34 years old now. I hope you don't plan on working for Wackenhut for the next 30 years so you can collect a big pension. Wackenhut isn't noted for paying big bucks over the years. They'd rather replace you.

If you have a Master's Degree as you claim, you really should be looking for something that pays more than the $10.90/hr (gross) you're making now. Even with your 15% shift differential and factoring in standard deductions, your take home is pitiful for a guy your age. And definitely not the kind of stuff that result in great pensions.

I've lived in California and Texas, and could never live in Texas again. On the other hand, I thought California was (at the time) the most beautiful place I had ever seen in my life. I lived in the Monterey Bay area, traveled to SF whenever I could--words fail to describe how beautiful it all was.

But I couldn't afford to live there, without sacrificing so much else of the lifestyle I've come to love. It's good thing Californians think they've got the best of all worlds, and would tolerate anything to live there--an exodus of 35 million Californians would be a shock to the rest of us, after all. But there nevertheless IS an exodus going on. Stratospheric real estate prices, choking regulations, sky-high business costs, energy costs 30% higher than the national average, and now state-issued IOU's instead of tax refunds?

Arizona is nice. So is Oregon, Nevada, Colorado. Guess where most of THEIR population growth is coming from?

Las Vegas and Reno ...

> > The Veterinarian
> >
> > One Sunday, in counting the money in the weekly offering, the Pastor
> > of a small church found a pink envelope containing $1,000. It
> > happened again the next week!
> >
> > The following Sunday, he watched as the offering was collected and
> > saw an elderly woman put the distinctive pink envelope on the plate.
> > This went on for weeks until the pastor, overcome by
> > curiosity, approached her.
> >
> > "Ma'am, I couldn't help but notice that you put $1,000 a week in the
> > collection plate," he stated.
> >
> > "Why yes," she replied, "every week my son sends me money and I give
> > some of it to the church."
> >
> > The pastor replied, "That's wonderful. But $1000 is a lot, are you
> > sure you can afford this? How much does he send you?"
> >
> > The elderly woman answered, "$10,000 a week."
> >
> > The pastor was amazed. "Your son is very successful; what does he do
> > for a living?"
> >
> > "He is a veterinarian," she answered.
> >
> > "That's an honorable profession, but I had no idea they made that
> > much money," the pastor said. "Where does he practice?"
> >
> > The woman answered proudly, "In Nevada .. He has two cat houses, one
> > in Las Vegas , and one in Reno ..'

Goatman gets what he pays for. You SHOULD be able to buy a Texas house for a seventh of what you pay in The Golden State. What detemines the value? As some forgotten famous realtor once put it:

Location, location, location! Sorry, Austin, But TEXAS??? herm

Location, location, location! Sorry, Austin, But TEXAS???

I just wish you Texas sour grapers were more convincing. People are moving there in record numbers just like the great rust belt migration of the '80s when the 'superior' states were going under and Texas remained afloat with jobs, low cost of living etc.

Please -- double up on your efforts, herm. Thanks

Top 10 cities in the US.

Atlanta, GA Los Angeles, CA
New York, NY Seattle, WA
San Diego, CA Chicago, IL
Austin, TX Charlotte, NC
Denver, CO San Francisco, CA

Overland Park?!?
You have got to be kidding.

Q:What's the difference between OP and yogurt?
A:Yogurt has a more active culture.

Overland Park?!?
You have got to be kidding.

I was thinking the same thing. I used to work in Overland Park. B O R I N G

I'm trying not to descend to deeply into condescension. But Overland Park, Kansas? Norman, Oklahoma? What the fuck? What in Christ's name? If any of you actually believe that a single one of those "cities" on that list are preferable to San Francisco, San Diego or Santa Barbara, then you are so fucking high that let's just call you orbital.

If any of you actually believe that a single one of those "cities" on that list are preferable to San Francisco, San Diego or Santa Barbara, then you are so fucking high that let's just call you orbital.

Isn't it kind of vain to think everyone has the same criteria as you as to what makes a city good, m8? Not a lot of people really care for overpriced housing and high taxes.

My sister's mother in law came to visit her in Georgia from Oklahoma where she grew up. My sister commented, "Isn't it beautiful here, Betty?" Betty paused and said, "Well, I don't know. I can't see anything because of all the trees". True story

We're all different M8. Not everyone sees things as you do, and you don't see things as others do. That doesn't make anyone so high they are orbital. It does make you quite arrogant if you think you set the standard in what makes a good city.

Shut the fuck up Goatman. Of all the people on the DR who I conceivable was addressing myself to, you were the least likely. I feel like you've become this onerous troll, - following me from thread to thread posting your stupid facile disagreements. Get the fuck away.

Poor m8 doesn't like being exposed as the arrogant bastard he is. LOL Your post pretty much underscored that fact.

And no, I won't shut up. When you spew BS, expect me to challenge it. If you don't like that, stop spewing BS.

And you still do not set the criteria for what makes a good city whether you like it or not.

You're 34 years old now. I hope you don't plan on working for Wackenhut for the next 30 years so you can collect a big pension. Wackenhut isn't noted for paying big bucks over the years. They'd rather replace you.

If you have a Master's Degree as you claim, you really should be looking for something that pays more than the $10.90/hr (gross) you're making now. Even with your 15% shift differential and factoring in standard deductions, your take home is pitiful for a guy your age. And definitely not the kind of stuff that result in great pensions.

#33 | Posted by Twinpac

Thanks twin I thought working at wackenhut was the be all end all but I'll try to find gainful employment in another arena. I obtained the masters in hopes of becoming head security guard.

PS Santa Barbara and San Francisco suck. LOL

Do you thinking anybody on this fucking planet gives a flying fuck about what your fucking mother in law said about trees in Georgia? Stop stalking mr you freak!

Hey Goat, Have you done any work in the solar industry?

I am looking at taking a 40 hr class on installation of Solar Panels. I think it's worth the 1300.00 investment.

Do you thinking anybody on this fucking planet gives a flying fuck about what your fucking mother in law said about trees in Georgia?

My sister's mother in law

Yes I do or I would not have bothered to type it. Do you make blog entries tha tyou think no one cares to read?

Hey Goat, Have you done any work in the solar industry?

Not at all. Before I went offshore, I was 20 years in the telecom business.

I am from Santa Cruz which is not too far from San Fran.

Btw twinpac I worked part time as a security guard it was never my main occupation. I guess I fall under the category of ET's. I work in the medical field but can do electronics work in 100's of other fields.

I'll hire some illegals and make a ton of money installing solar panels.

" I feel like you've become this onerous troll, - following me from thread to thread posting your stupid facile disagreements. Get the fuck away."

I know what you mean. That troll attacks me on threads I haven't even posted on. The good news is that it goes away every two weeks or so.

I'll hire some illegals and make a ton of money installing solar panels.

It appears to be a booming business in Texas. I see them going up everywhere in the country side. You could probably make a lot of money.

That troll attacks me on threads I haven't even posted on.

And now, for the rest of the story

You know as well as I do, null, that you do the same and at least 80% of the time it is you who initiates the troll session.

FTFY

Oh yes, null-n-void, I have good news and bad news for you. Good news: We are going to a 21/21 rotation, so I will be away from the blog for 21 days at a time. Bad news for you is that I'll be here for 21 days at a time.

But you, poor null without a meaningful life will still be here everyday. LOL

Everyone is trying to tell him that he has become a troll. So what does the creepy fucker do? Deflect.

Everyone is trying to tell him that he has become a troll. So what does the creepy fucker do? Deflect.

???

Null was talking about trolls. I talked about trolls. Are you so high you are orbital? LOL

JACKASS

If you have $1300, invest it in psychoanalysis.

You're a mess!

And I mean that in the kindest way possible.

twin I am mentally fine

My sister's mother in law came to visit her in Georgia from Oklahoma where she grew up. My sister commented, "Isn't it beautiful here, Betty?" Betty paused and said, "Well, I don't know. I can't see anything because of all the trees". True story.

-- Goatman

What his sister saw as beautiful scenery (the lovely trees of Georgia) apparently weren't considered "scenic" to her mother-in-law who was likely someone more used to the flatlands of Oklahoma. I prefer trees myself.

TREES

I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

-- Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

personally finds = personally find

You're a mess!

And I mean that in the kindest way possible.

LOL