USA / West Coast Retirement in the future

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ScottJon said:
I was born and raised in NY (Manhattan and Long Island) but I live in Los Angeles now

i ride 40 plus weeks a year, it was over 80 this weekend, Im in the San Fernando Valley, just by the start of Mulholland Highway, it is a incredible place to ride, you can take it down to the beach in 20 minutes if you take one of the straighter canyons or 60 minutes if you prefer to explore them all. Since you are talking about retiring, i will not talk about commuting to work where the traffic can be unbearable.

i have been very fortunate, that i have been in all 50 states, some many times and i honestly will retire here too for the riding weather.

it is not a cheap place to live, but it is no where as expensive as San Francisco or NYC. most other areas would be less expensive, but there is plenty of affordable housing out here if you are willing to look around a bit

feel free to contact me offline if you have questions.
Click to expand...

Much appreciated.

I may get a part time job like a Block Buster or something :cool: Just kidding.

I've look into living in countries like Thailand, Philippines, and South America. Been to all many times and very cheap to live and still may be a option but I am considering U.S. first. Ducati is not cheap in those countries as well...:(
 
Sure, I will comment on life in California. Please take this post in the very good faith that it is given.

I have travelled around most of America and I have not found a place that I do not appreciate. I love it all.

My commentary pertains to life in North California, Bay area / Silicon Valley.

I am a lucky, optimistic soul.

First off let me provide some context, I am a self made man and very much a people person. I love all motorcycles and those who know me well, know that I have six outlets, (1) My women (2) My friends (3) My Work - computers (4) Sailing (5) Motorcycles - and very much Ducati (6) Golf and other sports.

Many folk who wish to live in California or whom migrate to California tend to apply the mindset from their previous abode to California - which is completely understandable yet often leads to a great deal of frustration and ultimately depression. Life in California stems from California and to be a success here you have to learn the ropes. You either buy your where in here, are born into a good family or you work damn hard, take a lot of risks and climb that ladder. I am of the latter.

First off lets look at the bike angle. Ducati NA HQ is about 10 mins drive from my home, I have found them to be friendly, extremely knowledgable and fun - great people.

You have Alice's Restaurant / Four corners where hundreds of bikers meet.

California's bay area is land locked on three sides, you have every type of amphitheater within riding distance. Tahoe, beaches, fog and constant sunshine. Riding is all year around. Leguna Seca is in easy riding distance. The roads are a bit iffy, due to the earthquakes and yes California is broke / spends a lot of money. Foodies love SF.

Napa and Sonoma offer an amazing retirement life and the cost of living there is the most reasonable in the bay area (for property).

I lived in San Francisco for 13 years and I loved it. Bike is the best way to get around and the city is very bike friendly. I have a boat in the SF west harbor (near the Golden Gate). I sail a lot with retired Military vets. I now live in the heart of the Bay Area, older crowd and I know my neighbors.

Generally and specifically for my area, property is outrageously expensive, the OP would be looking at $2-3 Million for the property he described ( check out zillow to get specifics ). Yes, Gas is expensive along with everything else - net net the cost of living is very high. Health care is a big deal after property and Health Care rates in California are the highest in the USA. Expect to pay large sums of money for Health care. Many folks get high deductible insurance, however having a bike accident can easily bankrupt you if you are not covered. I offer a unique perk to my employees, 100% health care coverage paid by the firm on a zero deductible policy. It is important to me that my employees do not pay a dime of the excessive health care costs, otherwise life is hard. They have my back and I have theirs.

I pay 50%+ in personal taxes, compound this with the overall cost of living and you get the picture about life in California's bay area - it is VERY expensive. I am not bothered about paying high taxes it just means that I have to make more money not just for myself but for everyone in my employment. It is what it is and if I did not like it then I can always go and live somewhere else.

For folks who moan, and are negative life in California will crush you in a New York minute. It really helps to be tolerant of the differences in people.

I do like Guns. I have quite a few friends from Texas who have an impressive amount of guns. In addition, 92% of my friends are from Michigan / Mid-west.

So why is life so expensive in California's Bay area, simple the powers that be have a certain attitude, they are not business friendly, weather and social is very good, the most competitive people from across the globe come here to make their money (in IT / Computers) and because you need to make a certain amount of money and due to high personal taxes life can be hard. Folks from China who have significant wealth love to invest in Bay area properties. Then again, if you have a hard work ethic then this place yields positive life changing events that are second to none.

Military folks are very well respected in the bay area.

Trust this helps.
 
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Its always interesting to hear these discussions about to avoid this or avoid that because of whatever. . ..

Look - the reality of the matter is this. There are areas with very high taxes, gun laws, etc, etc .. and yet they are still the highest population areas in the country (New York, California/West Coast, etc, etc). There are areas with low taxes, very few people, lots of freedoms, etc, etc - and yet those states still have a hard time attracting people to live there (read Montana, Wyoming, et al).

So what does that tell you ? That those areas with high taxes know that people will still live there for whatever reason (climate, business, other people, location, etc) and will tax accordingly. Those in the not so desirable areas have removed state taxes, income taxes, etc, etc and scores of people still don't want to live there. there are certain things that are inelastic and certain things that are. So it depends on what/where people want to live, how much they are willing to put with and what is important to them to determine whether they want to live there.
 
I lived in the good calif for 3 years (northern calif :)
Cali is a great state, for me, just way too many people, and horrendous traffic, plus I think tough times are ahead for Cali because of the debt situation and the long term mismanagement of the state govt. in overseeing pensions and such.

For me, just too many costs/sacrifices to live in the "good" parts of california. Plenty of other good places to go .
 
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CaliDuc said:
Sure, I will comment on life in California. Please take this post in the very good faith that it is given.

I have travelled around most of America and I have not found a place that I do not appreciate. I love it all.

My commentary pertains to life in North California, Bay area / Silicon Valley.

I am a lucky, optimistic soul.

First off let me provide some context, I am a self made man and very much a people person. I love all motorcycles and those who know me well, know that I have six outlets, (1) My women (2) My friends (3) My Work - computers (4) Sailing (5) Motorcycles - and very much Ducati (6) Golf and other sports.

Many folk who wish to live in California or whom migrate to California tend to apply the mindset from their previous abode to California - which is completely understandable yet often leads to a great deal of frustration and ultimately depression. Life in California stems from California and to be a success here you have to learn the ropes. You either buy your where in here, are born into a good family or you work damn hard, take a lot of risks and climb that ladder. I am of the latter.

First off lets look at the bike angle. Ducati NA HQ is about 10 mins drive from my home, I have found them to be friendly, extremely knowledgable and fun - great people.

You have Alice's Restaurant / Four corners where hundreds of bikers meet.

California's bay area is land locked on three sides, you have every type of amphitheater within riding distance. Tahoe, beaches, fog and constant sunshine. Riding is all year around. Leguna Seca is in easy riding distance. The roads are a bit iffy, due to the earthquakes and yes California is broke / spends a lot of money. Foodies love SF.

Napa and Sonoma offer an amazing retirement life and the cost of living there is the most reasonable in the bay area (for property).

I lived in San Francisco for 13 years and I loved it. Bike is the best way to get around and the city is very bike friendly. I have a boat in the SF west harbor (near the Golden Gate). I sail a lot with retired Military vets. I now live in the heart of the Bay Area, older crowd and I know my neighbors.

Generally and specifically for my area, property is outrageously expensive, the OP would be looking at $2-3 Million for the property he described ( check out zillow to get specifics ). Yes, Gas is expensive along with everything else - net net the cost of living is very high. Health care is a big deal after property and Health Care rates in California are the highest in the USA. Expect to pay large sums of money for Health care. Many folks get high deductible insurance, however having a bike accident can easily bankrupt you if you are not covered. I offer a unique perk to my employees, 100% health care coverage paid by the firm on a zero deductible policy. It is important to me that my employees do not pay a dime of the excessive health care costs, otherwise life is hard. They have my back and I have theirs.

I pay 50%+ in personal taxes, compound this with the overall cost of living and you get the picture about life in California's bay area - it is VERY expensive. I am not bothered about paying high taxes it just means that I have to make more money not just for myself but for everyone in my employment. It is what it is and if I did not like it then I can always go and live somewhere else.

For folks who moan, and are negative life in California will crush you in a New York minute. It really helps to be tolerant of the differences in people.

I do like Guns. I have quite a few friends from Texas who have an impressive amount of guns. In addition, 92% of my friends are from Michigan / Mid-west.

So why is life so expensive in California's Bay area, simple the powers that be have a certain attitude, they are not business friendly, weather and social is very good, the most competitive people from across the globe come here to make their money (in IT / Computers) and because you need to make a certain amount of money and due to high personal taxes life can be hard. Folks from China who have significant wealth love to invest in Bay area properties. Then again, if you have a hard work ethic then this place yields positive life changing events that are second to none.

Military folks are very well respected in the bay area.

Trust this helps.
Click to expand...
We should hang out :)
When do you normally ride around Alice's?
 
youngR said:
I still have few years left. I only have to do 20 years since I am in the military, but feels like 40 years. If military decide to promote me to a General then I have more years to go. Hah! :D (not that I can or would)
Click to expand...

Are you at Fort Bragg? Or were? I recognize the Airborne Special Forces patch. NC wasn't too bad, rarely snows, Fayetteville sucks though. But I loved the rest of the state. Especially Charlotte, NC.
 
elitesoldier357 said:
Are you at Fort Bragg? Or were? I recognize the Airborne Special Forces patch. NC wasn't too bad, rarely snows, Fayetteville sucks though. But I loved the rest of the state. Especially Charlotte, NC.
Click to expand...

I am currently in Louisiana, Fort Polk.:( Lived in Fort Bragg for while but mostly overseas assignments. :)
 
youngR said:
I am currently in Louisiana, Fort Polk.:( Lived in Fort Bragg for while but mostly overseas assignments. :)
Click to expand...

I was at Bragg in the early 80s with the 82nd. Fayettville was crazy... I don't know about now, but Hay St back then was ridiculous, so many bars. I was always hearing about fatalities it seemed. It's a good thing we were in the field so often.
 
bronch said:
I was at Bragg in the early 80s with the 82nd. Fayettville was crazy... I don't know about now, but Hay St back then was ridiculous, so many bars. I was always hearing about fatalities it seemed. It's a good thing we were in the field so often.
Click to expand...

I was at Bragg the whole time I was in, plus 1 year in Afghanistan from 2010-2011. Was in the 18th Fires Brigade (aka 18th Airborne Corps Artillery) There was a political change and our brigade was assigned under command of the 82nd so we went from the cannon with wings to 82nd patches not long after I got to Bragg. I was a weapons/artillery mechanic (91F. Used to be 45B, which changed as well.) I worked on the M777A2 howitzers. Did 4 years active with an honorable discharge (completion of contract) Now I go to Michigan State University full time, figured I would go to college while I am still young (I'm 24) and get my degree. If I want back in I can go back. I would like to go into special forces as a weapons sergeant, or go back as a flight warrant officer. I miss the military. Here's what I used to work on (it's HD video FYI):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB1jyNwhgrM
 
youngR said:
I am currently in Louisiana, Fort Polk.:( Lived in Fort Bragg for while but mostly overseas assignments. :)
Click to expand...

I heard Fort Polk is pretty dried up for offtime activity. Never been there, but I am sure you can kill lots of time on the bike no matter where you go anyways!
 
elitesoldier357 said:
I heard Fort Polk is pretty dried up for offtime activity. Never been there, but I am sure you can kill lots of time on the bike no matter where you go anyways!
Click to expand...

Triple 7s. ah yess :D Definitely used/called few of these when in hot contact.

Fort Polk, LA...LA in general have the worse roads in the US. :mad: Its got to do with alcohol drinking age (federal law) and LA state did not want to comply and thus no federal money for quite a while. :rolleyes:

Good luck on your education. SF is always looking for candidates if that is what you want to do in the future.
 
I think after college I may take up the offer to go work as an FSR (Field Service Representative) for BAE. Back to working on the M777. Who knows though, I change my mind all the time. I have 2 years or less left. But they offered me a contract starting at 55K a year stateside and more than double that overseas. Right now I am just trying to finish college, and they keep dangling the fish hook in front of me! Let me finish college first! Then we shall see... What are you going to do after you retire?
 
youngR said:
Appreciate the info and knowledge. I think I will stay away from Northeast for sure. NM TX NV is all good choices. I have somewhat connection with TX, so that will be a good choice but I want to check out NM as zaster mentioned above. Maybe I was just California dreaming. :D
Click to expand...

I think Sandiego , Delmar, to be exact is a nice place to live.
But you will not find a home with the specs your looking for in any area in 200k range.
Unless you want to run the risk of being on a red bike in blue neighbor "gang land" My choice would be Houston,Tx espceacially for a home that meets your needs you will be amazed what 200k will get you in Houston Sugarland to be exact... Only downside to TX is the heat! When you get a chance google hones in Houston in your desired price range.
 

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