WWYD: Move to Cali for career opp or stay in VA

[Anonymous]

We did this to a well known ski town. It’s not SFO expensive but it’s close - housing starts at $2M for anything reasonably nice, food is expensive, etc. Income taxes are not as bad as CA though.

Best decision I ever made. I think you need to look at the decision holistically, would being on a coast where skiing, hiking, boating, the outdoors, etc are all a day trip or less away make you happy? Would you take advantage of the things CA has to offer - better weather, no mosquitos, beautiful places to explore, etc?

If not, you’d just be trading one commute for another, and the commutes in CA can be brutal (hour to hour and a half is totally normal depending where in CA you are).

If on the other hand the idea of going skiing with your kids every weekend, eating out on the deck most months of the year, going swimming in lakes, surfing, and hiking through endless wildflowers makes you smile, consider it. We did it and never looked back. Best decision of my life, biggest regret was not doing it earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did this to a well known ski town. It’s not SFO expensive but it’s close - housing starts at $2M for anything reasonably nice, food is expensive, etc. Income taxes are not as bad as CA though.

Best decision I ever made. I think you need to look at the decision holistically, would being on a coast where skiing, hiking, boating, the outdoors, etc are all a day trip or less away make you happy? Would you take advantage of the things CA has to offer - better weather, no mosquitos, beautiful places to explore, etc?

If not, you’d just be trading one commute for another, and the commutes in CA can be brutal (hour to hour and a half is totally normal depending where in CA you are).

If on the other hand the idea of going skiing with your kids every weekend, eating out on the deck most months of the year, going swimming in lakes, surfing, and hiking through endless wildflowers makes you smile, consider it. We did it and never looked back. Best decision of my life, biggest regret was not doing it earlier.

we used to on the Peninsula and had a house in Tahoe. We used to go skiing quite often. Sometimes I think we should've stayed in CA. I have no qol here in the DC area. It really sucks. I can't wait to leave this area after the kids have left the house - 5 years maybe. Seems so looong.

[Anonymous]

OP - to do it, you better be getting paid twice as much

[Anonymous]

I would do it if kids were in elementary school or younger. I wouldn't for middle or high school - its a toxic environment - unless you feel strongly about getting UC in-state tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks PP! I don’t know much about the area apart from google search and YouTube videos worth maybe 5-10 hours. Do you mind explaining why Los Gatos is a place we should consider?

For context - LOVE farmers market, love walkability, would like a safe place, small town vibe.

saratoga is fantastic. sister has been there for 40 years and still recommends it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you make $900k I think you should live wherever you want to live and not worry about needing an increase in the future.

Omg quality of life in CA is great with that salary. Only don’t move if you will miss you VA people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would do it if kids were in elementary school or younger. I wouldn't for middle or high school - its a toxic environment - unless you feel strongly about getting UC in-state tuition.

+1 ask them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you make $900k I think you should live wherever you want to live and not worry about needing an increase in the future.

Omg quality of life in CA is great with that salary. Only don’t move if you will miss you VA people.

Agree. It's enough. You will be fine at that salary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op what do you do in BigTech are you programmers or in AI?

Considered Non - tech, but senior on the business side

[Anonymous]

OP again - Kids are young - pre elementary

[Anonymous]

Thoughts on San Mateo? Housing seems more attainable there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thoughts on San Mateo? Housing seems more attainable there.

It’s okay, it costs less for a reason though. The housing stock is not as nice, the schools not as good (as say mtv, palo alto, etc) and the commute could be lengthy depending where you need to go. But it’s full of Apple and google people who can “only” afford low single digit millions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again - Kids are young - pre elementary

We were in California, no family, pre elementary. That is especially the time you want your kids to be with extended family and flying across the country with them is not as easy as you’d imagine.

I would consider staying here until the kids are about to enter elementary.

Also if you think the competitive school environment here is tough, you might dislike it out there even more.

Consider also a long summer vacation in the neighborhoods you are thinking about to see if you like it.

[Anonymous]

Family is a big thing. It depends on your relationships and what you want that to look like as your kids grow up. We would never move because my kids see each set of grandparents at least weekly. But that's us.

[Anonymous]

Please never call it Cali if you go.