Let’s be honest. The West Coast is the best coast. West Coast living is far superior to East Coast living, especially during the winter time. I’ve lived on both coasts for over a decade and am giving you guys the honest truth.
Despite an honest attempt to search for more great things about the East Coast in a dedicated post, several readers actually proceeded to bash the West Coast instead! What’s up with that?
Some curiously mentioned that the East Coast is fantastic because the horrendous weather for half the year makes the other six months so wonderful.
Ummm, that’s like saying you appreciate your right hand more because you chopped off your left hand! Wouldn’t you rather have both hands?
The only positive takeaway from the comments I agree with is the cluster of historically significant cities within a several hours drive. Other than that, nobody came up with any stand out reasons other than the six I provided as to why East Coast living is great.
Given that the West Coast was attacked, I feel it’s important to stand up and defend our honor!
Why The West Coast Is Better Than The East Coast
* Beautiful Weather. With blue skies and sunshine, we have wonderful beaches, healthier, and happier people. There’s a reason why movie stars and other celebrities work and live on the West Coast. Why do you think there are so many songs about “California Dreaming”?
* Entrepreneurial Opportunities. Google, YouTube, Yahoo, eBay, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft, Amazon and many more innovative, life changing companies are all based on the West Coast. How many self-made 35-year old or younger mega-millionaires or billionaires can you name from the East Coast? Not many.
* Access To Asia. Asia is where the growth is and not Europe. Travel to Asia is quicker, and doing business with Asia is therefore easier. When it’s 8am in China, it’s still only 5pm here on the West Coast. Communicating at 8pm EST is no fun, and therefore doesn’t happen as often.
* Vacation Paradise. Hawaii is just a quick and direct 4.75 hour flight away! Hawaii is seriously one of the top 5 greatest places on Earth to live, and anybody who tells you otherwise has never experienced the island. Besides Hawaii, there is Tahiti, Bora Bora, Samoa, and of course many wonderful vacation spots in Asia.
* World Class Winter Sports. Lake Tahoe and Whistler have 11,000 feet high mountain resorts whereas the East Coast has icy Killington in Vermont and the Catskills in New York. I’ve been to all four places, and I can tell you there really is NO comparison between West Coast and East Coast skiing/snowboarding. Can you imagine getting dumped on with no mountains to ski down? That’s like living on top of a hill with no view! There is no point.
More Reasons Why The West Coast Is Great
* More Peaceful People. A large reason why many people are on the East Coast is because of a job opportunity or family. As a result, resentment builds for the region because they wouldn’t be there otherwise. This is a recipe for some very grumpy people. Meanwhile, a large reason why many people live out West is for a better lifestyle as well as job opportunities and family. Because people are living a better lifestyle, you have a much more pleasant social environment.
* Fewer Crooks. Do you think it’s a coincidence that some of the biggest crooks in America such as Bernie Madoff, Elliott Spitzer, Dennis Kozlowski (Tyco), and countless dirty politicians are all based on the East Coast? Of course not. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out why.
* Healthier People. Because the lifestyle is much better on the West Coast, there are much happier and healthier people in places like California. The healthier you are, the less you have to pay for health insurance and crucial life insurance if you have dependents.
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* More Diversity And Inclusion. With a less homogenous population on the southern portion of the east coast, it’s natural to have more racism. But at least for me, racism helped give me the drive and strength to achieve financial freedom by 34. Although, the Northeast is definitely pretty diverse nowadays.
Even More Reasons Why The West Coast Is #1
* Lower Home Maintenance Costs. There’s no such thing as freezing pipes bursting on the West Coast. There isn’t snow, hail, and rain storms crushing the integrity of your house. As a result, maintenance and home insurance costs are much lower. Make sure you re-shop your homeowner’s insurance every 1-2 years as well. With the cost of building materials going up and home prices going up, you need the right amount of coverage.
* Lower Power Bills. There’s never a need to use air conditioning to cool or heat yourself in many places on the West Coast given the moderate temperatures. Opening a window is all you need during the summer to get that draft going. Adjusting thermostats is a foreign concept! There is much less to spend on home maintenance as well.
* Fewer Auto Accidents. With better weather comes less accidents. Less accidents means lower auto insurance prices. Check how much you can save with Allstate. They have some of the best plans online with the lowest rates around. Plus, drivers who switch to Allstate can save $718 on average.
* Environmental Movement. People love the Earth out here. California was the first to ban smoking in public places, and the state is a pioneer in recycling and emissions standards. We are the home of organic cuisine (Chez Panesse Alice Waters), Tesla Motors (electric car company), as well as thousands of tree huggers! If you love the environment and want to help save the world, you’ll love the West Coast.
* Great Athletics. The Golden State Warriors won the 2015 NBA Championship, almost won the 2016 NBA Championship, won again in 2017, again in 2018, and then again in 2022, baby! Meanwhile, the San Francisco Giants won three world series in five years. The LA Lakers won the 2020 NBA championship. And the LA Dodgers won the 2020 World Series. During the winter, I can play golf on Saturday in 70 degree weather, and drive 2.5-3 hours on Sunday to go snowboarding in 2 feet of powder. We’re truly blessed with amazing athletics.
* Watching The Sunset Into The Ocean. If you live on the East Coast, you’ll never see the beautiful sunset into the ocean.
* Pride. If you live on the West Coast you won’t have to make sensationalist statements such as “Florida will be torn apart in the next Tornado”, “It’s so humid in Washington DC you can go swimming in your own sweat“, “You’ll die early because you’ll never want to go outside,” “Be careful about the next enemy siege,” and other ridiculous statements to make yourself feel better about yourself. You don’t have to disparage like some on the East Coast will do about West Coasters because you’re already living the dream.
Related: Migrating To California For A Better Life
The West Coast Is The Best Coast
I know I don’t have to give any reasons why the West Coast is a much better place to live because it’s pretty obvious. It’s like wondering whether Bill Gates is rich, duh.
I give reasons anyway to highlight to those who bash the West Coast incessantly what they’re missing. It’s easy to look down upon those out West if you’ve never experienced living out here.
But as someone who has lived on both coasts for over 10 years, the choice is obvious. Perhaps this post will make things even more obvious!
If you are miserable out East, do more than just make fun of the West Coast. Do something to change your life by moving! The settlers did so hundreds of years ago, and so can you in much quicker a time.
Have no fear in seeking a better life. You deserve it!
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You can live on the West Coast and invest in Midwest properties with much higher cap rates without having to live through the bitter cold.
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West Coast Living Is Better is a Financial Samurai original post. I’ve lived in San Francisco, California since 2001 and it is simply one of the best cities in America and the world to live and make money.
This article is like everything on the west coast, all superficial with no real substance. Ive lives on the west coast for over 10 years now and I’m a very active person. Next week I’m moving back East.
The west coast is killing off the middle class, you’re either living in an overpriced home drinking margaritas for breakfast and driving away in you’re 50k Tesla or you’re homeless with a full time job riding a used bike you got on craigslist.
Entrepreneurship is basically dead because the taxes are so high you can barely break even while giant corporations are catered to causing the huge wealth gap with people who are completely dependent on their employer. On the east coast operating costs are much cheaper and in my experience the people are more honest. I run a business on the west coast and I spend a lot more time dealing with people not paying their bills or ghosting me on a deal. Culturally, people on the east coast are more reliable and have more integrity, maybe thats just my perception but it’s pretty eye opening in contrast.
Sure, I love the quick access to nature and the amazing mountains but all the trails are packed all the time. On the east coast trails might be another 20 mins further away but there are definitely lots of great hikes and better hunting and fishing and it’s much more secluded.You see a lot more wildlife and fewer people clogging up the trails.
And the biggest difference is the people. The west coast claims to be diverse but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The population on the east coast is far more diverse and more importantly it’s more diverse in thought. People aren’t afraid to speak their mind on the east coast where as people on the west coast seem to have constant pressure to adhere to what others deem exceptable. The west coast is full of people “trying to make it” where the east coast is full of people who are just happy living a modest lifestyle rather than trying to make it big. But even a modest lifestyle on the east coast can get you a nice house and a vacation home in the mountains or down by the shore.
Sure the weather changes, there are four complete seasons on the east coast and for a lot of people that beats the long crappy winters in the northwest or the singular season in the southwest. Plus who doesn’t like a good rain storm or big snow every now and then, the weather is seriously one of the things I miss most about the East Coast.
The east coast is also riddled with farmers markets and outdoor activities. Growing up on the east coast I never ate store bought meat or produce untill I was 20 years old because my parents only bought food from the market or sourced it directly from the farmer. On the west coast everything is a about marketing and everyone is just trying to build some sort of health brand so they can afford their crappy apartment. They gotta buy the new Lululemon leggings for their upcoming hike so they can look good for their Instagram post and be an influencer but on the East Coast people eat healthy because they can and are cool with just wearing a pair of blue jeans and are cool just turning off their phone while they enjoy their day off from work since they don’t gotta work 7 days a week to pay the mortgage on their 1700 square foot house on a 1/3rd acre lot, because you can actually afford to live that way unless you live in NYC or something.
In any case I’m sure plenty of people love the west coast but honestly after living out here for so long it’s just abundantly clear that the east coast has so much more to offer and you don’t gotta be wealthy to really enjoy it.
I grew up in Midwest and lived in CA 20 years, and for 30 years served clients on Wall Street, so plenty of time spent working on the East Coast. Had to return to Midwest to help aging parent and while I agree that Cal has many man-made (ei, politician-created) problems, for me, the weather on the West Coast makes up for EVERYTHING. In addition to the huge increase in heating and cooling costs in Midwest and East coast, all it takes is ONE unfortunate episode on the ice, either on foot or in a vehicle, and your life and health could change in an instant for the worst! As an athletic adult, I had two serious falls on the ice the first two years back here, and fortunately there were no other vehicles nearby when my car slid into a 180. As for the people, no one friendlier than midwesterners, but finding people who actually have interests beyond their local area is rare.
Just an aside…. “Don’t gotta”? Is that from your east coast education?
The entire west coast is turning into a gigantic homeless encampment. I grew up on the East Coast, moved to LA and then San Francisco, and moved back a few months ago. East Coast towns don’t tolerate parks filled with tents, needles and garbage. They don’t tolerate gangs of kids shoplifting to the point where a big chain like Walgreens is closing more than a dozen stores. They don’t ignore fentanyl dealers freely plying their wares on the street. People aren’t attacked by drug addled lunatics. This stuff is happening even in the wealthiest parts of California. The weather is better in California but the quality of life is long gone here but can still be found in small East Coast towns amd suburbs (and you’ll pay way less for it, and have lower taxes).
Their Was a time when Cali was the BEST. Massive change over the last 40 Years! Traveling through for only 6 Hours I was hassled by Beggars on the subway.. The bus I was riding was taken over yes taken Over! Saw needles on the ground homeless everywhere filth and garbage. I cannot believe such decay. Long time Ago a chef delivered an exceptional meal… Now? Crap on paper plate if you can find a place..Really in the dumps.. Horrific SAD! The writer says West coast the best.. Then why is more people moving OUT of Cali than in? Wealth is Leaving. Billions being moved to places like Jackson Hole..
Based in my own experience as someone who lived for 3 years in the west coast and now living for almost 5 years in the east coast, i can give a short, simple and unbiased comment here. Both coasts has their own charm and beauty and I love living in both coasts. It just really depends on each individuals preferences. And besides both coasts are part of the United States of America which makes it the American Dream. So for me, there is no reason for a debate as to which coast is better than the other. Remember, we have all different needs and wants, different interests and likes.
@FS – lots of great ideas and thanks for sharing!
@Alma Vida – I think this makes sense – it’s somewhat subjective. For example, a friend of mine didn’t like Santa Barbara b/c it was too dry and bothered his skin (even though you could go swimming in the ocean) and instead preferred the humidity of the DC/Baltimore area.
While this article seems to have been written around 2010, I’d be interested in the an update for 2021 about the West Coast, etc.
Certainly the natural beautiful of the West/Pacific + Mediterranean climate are amazing. I agree, a lot more people on the West Coast seem to be outdoorsy, at least compared to NYC, Philly, etc. In terms of economics, the WC seems to have sparked a lot of tech innovation. But how much was fueled by East Coast transplants, finance, etc?
Also, the 4 seasons of the East Coast are amazing, too – and some people miss the fall and winter, especially if the grew up in the Midwest or East. For example, upstate NY or Western MA in the summer. In the fall, the Appalachians are amazing, too. Upstate NY and WV in the winter are beautiful.
A great option for the East coast (finances, energy & time, willing) would be something like live there for 3 seasons and go to PR or FL, etc for the winter. Then in August maybe go to Canada or Sweden for a few weeks :) Interestingly enough, dual-location living wasn’t that big in 2010, but 10 years later and it’s a lot bigger part of the US culture.
Personally, my ideal would be central/south CA, but with lower taxes and less regulation. Same for Portland or Seattle, but maybe going somewhere with more sun in the winter, too!
For East Coast, maybe DMV, then go south in the winter, plus a few weeks in August somewhere cooler! For the Midwest, same as East Coast, but without the need to leave in the summer!
Anyways all the best to everyone!
The post is updated for 2021 and beyond! It gets updated every year like all of my classic posts.
I’ve actually seen an UPTICK in online search interest regarding migrating to California for a better life. With such a big dichotomy in vaccination rates between states like California, Washington, and Oregon (high vax rats) vs. Southern states like Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas (low vax rates), more people want to move to the West Coast and feel safe.
Related post: The Delta Variant Investment Thesis
No thanks, I’ll take the southern east coast anyday. I’m from Wilmington, N.C. and currently live in Portsmouth, VA. My family is from the rural areas of N.C. I’ll take the laid back, life style where no one gets in your business and tries to tell you how to live the life you want to live. The cities you mentioned; DC, Williamsburg, NYC are all very ideaologically liberal cities. I prefer small towns of 5,000 people or less who aren’t all about trying to get more and more money. They actually care about people. I’ve spent some time in San Diego and L.A. Only the rich people have that kind of life that you mentioned. The majority of normal, working, middle to lower middle class people are the exact same as everywhere else. Since you used to work in Finance and have an MBA from Berkeley I can’t image you know what its like to work as a secretary in a hospital or a mechanic at coal power plant, or as an admissions counselor at a university. They don’t have the lush, luxurious life of which you speak of. Southern weather has humidity. San Diego doesn’t. However, I love green. We have more woods, trees and fields than you can possibly imagine. The atlantic ocean is warmer but I never go to the beach, even though I live 25 minutes away. I’m just not a beach person. But give me the southern eastern states any day. I’ve also lived in Japan, the middle East and even the Caribbean. There’s no other place I’d rather live and raise my family then the S.E. United States.
You hit on the nail. All this west coast is better stuff with no solid reasons, just superficial, oh the weather, or the food is healthier and fresher. Get real. You can get healthy food anywhere if you can afford it. And the west coast prices out probably guessing, 80 percent of the people who would even consider living their. These reasons don’t hold air. In the long run they become financially hard to sustain as people retire or if they just graduate from one of the universities there or anywhere. And I love the beach but like to also get in the water. Not happening in CA. And Asia, moving because of that quicker access??? That is totally a weak argument unless you work with that part of the world or love it. Or have family there. The East Coast has quicker access to Europe. I’ll take that over Asia any day. Better food, cleaner, more polite and organized. And like you, I have been to most states, half of Europe, and all over the world, including most of California. There are different kinds of beautiful. Just overpaying for everything on the west coast is enough to turn me off, unless, like you correctly mentioned, I become rich. I would tell anyone, if they can afford it, to go back and forth from the east coast to the west before devoting a life to being there. And regarding racism, what???? I’m black and CA has it despite being so liberal and open. A lot of it. And not the diversity it touts. It is divided mainly by thirds between whites, Asians, and Hispanics. Doesn’t sound diverse to me by my Washington DC and Northern VA standards.
I have lived in Hawaii over a decade, I grew up in Midwest, I have lived in east coast 4 years. So I think your opinion of the island is way off, but again you have to live here.
Hawaii is a beautiful place, but crowded. Oahu has over 1.4-1.5 million people, and most of the jobs are on Oahu. If people could they’d go to Maui or Kauai. Couple Facts.
1. Most people here visit the beach only on weekends. I lived in Southern Cal two years, it’s basically the same. The traffic here is horrendous it can take you over a hour to go 5-10 miles. The traffic is regularly rated as the second worst in US right after LA, yes we beat NY with traffic problems.
2. Island living is a sacrifice, anyone here long term will tell you that. So don’t come here with ideas of overseas properties and foreign investments. If you come to Hawaii, you come to be in Hawaii. Even if you manage to juggle it, you will be judged for not committing to the island.
3. Air is clean, but you won’t notice it. Our air is often ranked high, but there are several factories and some of that air gets caught up in the forests.
4. About 20% of our population is retired, about 10-15% is military, 30% in government, homeless around 9%. Short term employment is about 2% So you are at between 71-78%. So even if you are outside those circles, realize 80% of the island is those circles, and interacts among those circles.
5. We have about 22% less doctors than we need, it’s a reason more people retire to Florida. Health Care is not great here.
6. School system here always ranks in the bottom of most states, people with children often move or leave the island.
Now, so I won’t be all doom and gloom.
1. We have the best beaches, hands down. Been to Brazil, Australia, east Coast, the sand and surf here is the best.
2. Seafood is great, it’s a local taste, but it is great.
3. Island living is very laid back, and I love it. If you just want to lounge at the beach all day, most people view that as a reasonable thing to do.
If your dream is Hawaii, go for it, but having 20 dreams sounds nice but is not very realistic. Focus on one dream, achieve it, move on to the next. If your dream is Hawaii, then come on down. If your dream is being rich, and having investments, and visiting Asia. Then I will see you far later down the road. Either way, Aloha.
Thanks. What do you do in Oahu?
BTW, the population of Oahu is closer to 953,000. 1.4-1.5M is for all the islands.
My dad is from Hawaii and we own property there for the past 60+ years.
This is a great response, realistic and tasteful. I think a lot of what the author wrote is pretty ignorant and disrespectful. I grew up on the East coast but live in San Diego now. I can say that there are things I like better about both coasts. One is not far greater than the other.
No no. I live on the north east coast right now and it truly is miserable. Especially the people.. especially when you grew up in the peaceful midwest. And I’ve lived out west too. The north east coast is pretty terrible. These two lists are almost 100% accurate.
Pro tip: No one move to the north east.
Lake Geneva cost in Switzerland between Montreux/Vevey/Geneva is my preferred coast. Charlie Chaplin knew when he quit the West Coast:-)
Switzerland to me is the most beautiful and sane place in the world. If I could afford it and dual citizenship I would try to be there. What it lacks in a beach makes up for it in every other area hands down.
This is the most childish post I’ve ever read. I hope you’re older than 21 years old because you sound like 16 years old.
First thing: East Coast is much more than New York City. There are clean cities on the East Coast (e.g., Boston), at least as clean as cities on the West, from my experience. The public transportation is MUCH better here in the East if you’re living in a big city. On the West Coast, not so much. Even SF doesn’t make it close to the East Coast. And I’d *hate* to have summer all around. I thoroughly enjoy New England fall and I actually do like it when the sun sets really early in the winter in the East. I love people being more serious and professional with their attitudes. And people on the West care about the environment and the East doesn’t? Have you ever visited Vermont? Have you ever watched a sun setting over a huge pond and the forest in upstate New York?
I do like the West Coast because they have their own charm. I did like the West Coast when I visited, but I found the East Coast more personally suiting. (And mind you, I have lived in the States for a long while, but I’m not originally from the United States, so I’m saying this from the third person point of view.) East Coast has history and huge business, legal, and government industries/sectors. West Coast is has huge tech and movie industries, so something more creative and less formal than the East. California has beautiful nature but so does New Engalnd. So why not just appreciate both instead of saying this place is better than that place, blah blah blah. That’s exactly what 16 years old do.
Seriously, it is almost always people in California who post these types of posts. It’s not even worded as “from my experience.” They’re always screaming how “relaxed” they are by trying to show how they’re different from the East Coast–all the while people on the East Coast don’t even talk about the West Coast because they’re going about their lives. It just makes you think why people like you are so desperate to berate other parts of the country. Maybe from self-insecurity…?
This post is based on experience. I lived in the Washington DC area, Williamsburg, Virginia for college, New York City for a couple years for a total of 10 years. New York City is the best city on the East Coast.
I’ve been in San Francisco since 2001. And I have explored all along the West Coast. The West Coast is clearly how much better life style.
How about you? So far you haven’t shared anything about your experiences are yourself. And the only reason why he landed on this post is because you’re curious about West Coast living and leaving the East Coast.
This post was in response to an original post on East Coast living.
you dont have kids. west coast is pretty much anti-middle class and anti-family. its hard and everyone with kids is forced dual income. cost of living/hosing and moronic zoning with glacial development and bad public transportation and horrific traffic make it suck hard.
Didn’t know that.
See: https://www.financialsamurai.com/day-life-work-home-stay-home-parent-who-also-work/
Dear “hahaha”, if this author is a 16 year old, then I guess that makes you a 5 year old due to your lack of experience (apparently) and childish response. Which I would expect no different from an northeasterner, because you all are that way.
Whenever I lay out why the north east sucks everyone gets SUPER offended (even though I provide statistics) and then respond “What if I said why Illinois sucks?” (childhood home). I respond that I would provide them with even more reasons! Because I’m not ignorant to the issues.
I’ve lived in 5 states within the midwest, west, and currently reside in the northeast. The northeast is undoubtedly the worst. Mostly because the people are so absolutely miserable.
Additionally, in regards to Mick Russom – everything you said is the exact same problem in the northeast.. My wife and I make approx. 140k or so and have one child and still are struggling to be financially strong.
But I love that both of your arguments include public transit…. if it wasnt such a clusterf* of people, perhaps it wouldnt be entirely necessary..
Completely in agreement with HAHAHA’s comment. As expats living in the States, we often look at things without any pre-existing bias or personal penchant. West Coast is pretty and a good place to visit, but arts and culture, and style are amiss. People have no sense of formality, decorum or institution; no reverence for what carried them along to this day. United States began on the East Coast, which has a great deal to be admired and desired. A good reason why they started in the Northeast, not even Florida. Not because of the distance, as Europeans sailed all the way to South America. People on the East Coast are not superior, but many who journeyed west is exactly because they got shuffled out, and couldn’t make it there. So have gun, will travel, and west they go. If sunshine is your ultimate life pursuit, then perhaps it is time you re-evaluate yourself and your focus.
Amiss? The museums on the East coast (Met, AMNH) are poorly curated piles of mediocre art and history compared to their west coast counterparts. The Getty is a much better Art museum than any in NYC. I’ll give you that the National gallery is probably the best gallery museum in the US, that’s in DC.
Broadway shows all start out elsewhere and eventually, with enough corporate sanitation and unification, end up on Broadway. It’s not like there’s really anything original there versus what you might find in the better theaters in Seattle and LA.
And, when it comes to food… forget it. Portland’s the best city for food in the US these days, original and exciting. NYC food is dreadful, a relic mostly of the 1950’s where it had no competition. There’s better cuisine in Florida, Seattle, and Texas than NYC.
People migrated because places like NYC (whose population has remained remarkably stable over the decades because so many that arrive leave) are overpriced, undervalued s**tholes. Nowadays with the insane rentals, crowding and pollution it’s akin to living in a large, CCTV controlled prison. Let alone the rickety ‘mass transit’ infrastructure, the only one in the US using pathetic metrocards rather than RFID systems like those used in real major cities around the US and the World.
Full disclosure: NYC born and raised, spent 45 of my 60+ years in it or nearby in NJ. Lived in Seattle/Portland area for 10 years, now an expat in Europe.
There’s better cuisine in Florida, Seattle, and Texas than NYC.
Had to hold my hand in my mouth to withstand the laughter to this stupid comment.
I love both the West and the East Coast.
I was born and raised in San Francisco. Lived in Outer Sunset for 18yrs.
I’ve been calling New Jersey home for the last 12yrs however.
My goal is to have rental properties on both sides of this country.
Being financially free to me means that I get to enjoy the fruits of both coast. Let’s all get there!
OK, you will not agree with me but: WC- too hot, too much sun, too dry, and though we have a few 10 lane roads, you have bigger crazier freeways. To be fair, the “WC” is a long coast and northern CA, WA, etc. is wetter and more lush, but a lot of CA is more like a desert (remember the drought- before the floods?). Some of us are a little reptilian and need to live in dark moist places.
The thing that most adult east coasters will never admit is that, as children, we all dreamed of summer and warmth and sunshine and so, of course, CA. East Coast kids, teens and young adults are obsessed with thoughts of the Golden State. Ir represents adventure and the good life. Families I grew up around would sometimes forbid their kids to consider college here because, the truth is, once you come our west you are unlikely to ever go back. That says it all. I’m an east coast transplant who absolutely loves NYC but would never consider living there again after living in Los Angeles/Pasadena for 18 years. I worked in NYC for an extended time this past summer and, again, loved it but also loved coming home to LA even more. It is jus so incredibly beautiful here – the oceans, the mountains, the palm trees, the light. And, FYI, we definitely have 4 seasons. The changes in light in particular designates the season shifts. So our seasons are just far more subtle and allow to be outdoors for extended periods for the entire year. Heaven. Worth every penny!
Thank you, Lenore. Looking to transplant myself from 38 yrs of E.Coast living out to West Coast. There’s a big wide world. I don’t need the support of family or friends – although it helps – I just need to DO IT, and adjust as I go.