California Myths

I've lived in California on and off for almost 2 years now, and many friends wonder why? They've shown concern over everything from driving here, to expense, to lack of courtesy. Well, I'd like to explore some of these myths about California.

I've heard numerous times about how expensive California is. Well, yes and no! It depends on what we are talking about and where we are talking about. San Francisco will always be one of the most expensive places to live in the country, but Palm Springs not so much. A few examples of some of the more reasonably priced items.

Food: If you eat at home it can be quite cheap. One of the reasons that eating out in California is so expensive is the minimum wage for servers. Servers make the same as everyone else per hour. In places on the East Coast and Midwest, servers only make around $2 and hour. Here that's a difference of $6 and hour more restaurants must pay per employee.  Produce is the most reasonable. There is always something in season here, and if you shop away from the chains it is always cheaper than any other place I've lived. Within 3 miles of where we are staying I have a weekend farmers market and two stores that receive produce daily direct from the growers. Not only is this produce cheaper by cutting out the middlemen, it's also fresher. California also is abound with cattle, poultry, and fresh seafood all at a reasonable price because of being local. We walk about a mile from our boat to get fish direct off the boat. Crab from the same vender is only $3.50 a pound. We've also found shopping at ethnic stores to be of great value. There is a Mexican grocery we go to with shrimp for $4 a pound and an Asian store with filet mignon at $5 a pound. Then there are the usual stores for good prices anywhere you go: Winco, Trader Joe's, Super Wal-mart, and a number of others. If you like wine, CA is the place, but not only for premium's, but there are a number of great discount places. On our recent trip to OH, we were shocked to find out the same wine's in TJ's we see for $2 is $4.50. The checker commented on how good the wine was that I'd selected for such a cheap price. My face must have said it wasn't such a good deal. The clerk questioned me and when informed I was living in CA, he said that he new it wasn't such a good deal then. He apparently has had other people from CA in the store. Not only is the wine reasonable, but hard liquor is down right cheap. Apparently, CA doesn't tax the heck out of alcohol and it's available at any store that wishes to sell it. We can purchase wine or liquor at our local grocery or pharmacy. Not only making it cheap, but convenient also.

Housing: Well, this one is going to be an oddball for most of you. I'm talking about boats and moorings here. That is how we live after all. The boats here are lower that most states except Florida. We've seen exceptional boats for sale here near the 10 grand range. Yes, a lot of it has to do with the economy and people getting rid of toys that can't really afford any longer, but this is about the right place and the right time. If we were looking for a boat, RV, or any other luxury item right now, I'd be looking in CA, particularly Southern California. As for mooring, yes, for the most part that is more expensive, but one just needs to look a little harder. We have found excellent prices in Wilmington, CA. The downside is Wilmington is out of the way and it takes a vehicle to get anywhere, but we've also found for the convenience and just a little more money mooring balls in Newport Beach to be excellent. Actually, the mooring in Newport Beach, during the winter rates, is cheaper than our marina in Portland. The summer rates are a bit higher, but when you average the year out it's almost the same. The rates at Avalon on Catalina Island during the winter are even cheaper than Newport Beach. I know most are thinking "but it's winter", well, yes, but it's also Southern California. We were cold maybe one of two days a week this winter, but most of the time we were still wearing shorts and by mid afternoon were down to short sleeves. So, it kind of balances what we were paying for in trying to keep our boat warm and dry in a colder climate. As for traditional housing, yes it is a little more expensive, but that's supply and demand. You put this many people in once place with limited land and it's gonna cost a little more, but prices have dropped just like everywhere. We also noticed that areas where people would have a second home the prices have dropped as they've walked away or just can't afford to have a second place any longer. Palm Springs is a good example. We've seen one bedroom condos for as low as $40K and in good locations.

As for the people being rude, I've never experienced that here. I find they are direct, loud, and love to show off sometimes, but rude..... never! We've actually had some of the best service when dealing with retail and restaurants, but we are most shocked when we are trying to find some oddball part for the boat and they actually help us find a source. They've gone as far as to call another company to see if they have the item. We've been told in other areas flat out No they don't have it and just turn and walk away. No suggesting another item they might have or since they don't carry it, suggest someone local who might. What's the harm in that? They don't have it so it's not taking money out of their pocket.

Now, the downside, yes, driving in and around LA can be bothersome. I hate to drive to begin with, but when you add 6 lanes of traffic traveling at 70 plus miles an hour I just shut down. So Scott drives, I don't know my way around very well yet, but that's just how it goes. When I do have to drive we keep it to off rush hour traffic. I wouldn't drive in New York, London, or Paris either. Outside of the LA area I'm just fine. It's just like anywhere else in the country. San Francisco is another area I don't like to drive, but I'm told I drive like an old lady. Well, perhaps, I grew up driving on flat straight roads in Florida with about a trillion senior citizens.

As for being loud, yes for the most part it is very loud here, but crowd this many people into one area and it's gonna be. Helicopters and boats during the day, but I've found that is tends to quiet down by sunset. The holiday makers from the rentals on shore start heading home for dinner and some quiet time. While we are in a vacation area, it's not Laguna Beach or South Beach in Miami. It's mostly families who want some quiet while on vacation and they start to settle in after dinner.

As for some of the expensive items we've found, we've found almost the same things to be more costly in other areas as well. Boat items will always be expensive no matter where you are. Oh, you have a boat, well bend over.... any boater can tell you that one. I was a little shocked coming here from Oregon where there is no sales tax, but when I compare it to our cross country trip, it's within a percent or two of almost everywhere we went. Gas is a shock sometimes. There was almost a full dollar difference in price between here and my mother's in SC for a gallon of gas. Well, we just bought a more efficient car, and we stick to local places.

So, California is not for everyone, but it is for us and we've found it to be no more expensive than anywhere else. The expenses are just in a different part of the budget. Driving is not a hassle if you are comfortable with it and the people a delight. The people are a wonderful cross of almost every culture on the planet. This diversity makes it exciting and every errand we run we find to be some sort of an adventure meeting some new and interesting person.

Well, I hope this helps to bring California into a new light

Cheers!