Call me crazy, or maybe just the fact that I grew up in it - I miss the 4 seasons. I've always liked the cold weather - I just don't like building houses in it. These days - the personal relationships I have with others, especially the old friends seems more and more important. Other than my brother, there is little out here in CA for me. I came out here thinking I'd stay for 6 months out of the year and then go back every year. That plan changed when my folks decided to move to CA. My pop was my best buddy and I wanted to be near him for those "golden years". Now that the folks are gone, my bro is my anchor. He has his own life and friends and I feel I'm just not cut out for this place anymore. I find myself angry more and more and without friendship life is becoming lonely. When I talk to my old friends back east they tell me they'd welcome me back with open arms... we'll see if that is true when i eventually go back for a visit. As for the best place to live out ones life - I don't plan on moving anymore once I decide which coast I'm going to retire on, the price of living has to include more than groceries and gas. It has to include happiness - being around people and places that make you feel good and want to live life. I've done pretty much everything on my bucket list CA has to offer. I've made many friends out here, but this place is like the "Twilight Zone". Meaning that friends seem to evaporate into the air, move away or just move on.
My NY friends - are friends for life, the way I am. I still get birthday cards and calls from them. In comparison to my CA friends that don't seem to even think about me, let alone remember my birthday.
Where you live should make you happy - keep you content - have beneficial employment - and fulfill your hopes. My advise to anyone planning a move (including myself) is to keep that in mind.

+1 on everythng you said. Agreed. Plus NH isn't but a hop skip an a jump from NY

RK, I understand how you feel. I have folks I work with and for the most part they are all decent people. I don't really know most of them very well, so we just work together and get along, but it's not really like having friends. I got a couple of friends I go to breakfast with from time to time, but that's about it. I'm very lucky that my wife is my best friend.

"Where you live should make you happy - keep you content - have beneficial employment - and fulfill your hopes. My advise to anyone planning a move (including myself) is to keep that in mind."

I think that is great advice. It's more than moving and surviving. I

Having spent years riding out here and back there... I prefer the roads and scenery back there much more.
Plus, I've taken the trip from NY to NH many times and it was always enjoyable - except maybe once, the time a female (nicest word) in her Jeep Grand Cherokee almost head on'd me when she crossed over the double yellow around a blind corner... I was OK - after I changed my skivvies.... thank G-d I was able to react in time. My main concern is I'm going to get fat as a house living back there - the food is better - the weather is worse (less exercise). I miss my buddy at the Pizzeria - man does he make a great pie. Last time I was back there I gained 40 pounds, but that just goes to show how much I enjoyed being there. Having said that - I'll miss my brother the most if I leave CA - he's my best friend and I don't want to leave him behind.



"but it's not really like having friends" - KS, once you have a real friend - a life long friend - like the kind I come from - nothing else really compares. IF/When you decide to make your move, make sure the people in the place you go to are the kind of people that you like to be around. I didn't realize the importance of that when I moved out here. I was surrounded by my parents and siblings at first so I didn't give it any thought, but now my folks are gone - my sister moved out of state - all that's left is my bro - and he does his own thing most of the time. I've bounced from relationship to relationship never really finding what I needed in a "CA Girl"... the Beach Boys Lied!! I don't wish they all could be CA girls!! Give me a NY girl anytime!! So what if they're not tan, they know how to take care of a man!!

I've always moved around since I was little. Adopted father was a career navy guy, then I hitch hiked around before I was married and then we moved around alot after I got married. Been here the last 20 year but have minimum to no friends. Most of the time was spent raising kids and being a family person. There was the 6 years I spent in RI where I went to Jumior and Senior High school. I've touchd bases with many of them and they are just as shitty as I remember them being in HS w/ the exception of one neighborhood friend an who lives on Whidbey Island, WA. So basically theres no particular place to move back to. Yo're lucky if thts a realistic option RK.

Never bothered me much when I was busy doing kid's stuff the last 20 years but they are gone and I'm a smidge bored. I should try to join the local chapter of Hells Angels(Laconia Nomads)... that'll keep me hopping and I'll make some really good friends in and out of jail,lol. I'm so kidding.

I have a fairly decent job so when we had our mid life kid, I decided to let my wife retire. (raising a kid and taking care of the house is enough of a job). Everything I've done is to let it stay that way the last 12 years. We make it on probably less than $3,000 a month right now and are in the process of cutting back more. Material toys that have tickled my eyes years ago don't even get my attention now.
The good book says, "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things (or evil), and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains (or stabbed themselves all over with many payments ).
Like I've said in one of you previous threads, a good running bike, a good meal with family and friends, quality time with the family. These are the important things and nobody can steal this from us but ourselves.