Relocation from WA to CA

[Calimerostache]

Hello ,

Not really a FIRE question.
I currently live and work in the Seattle area. I really love the area.
I just got a job offer to relocate in the Santa Rosa, CA area.
Beside the cost of living which I hope will be offset by a higher compensation, I’m wondering if that area is right for me.

What I really love about Seattle is the cultural life (lots of concert).
Also in general I think air quality is good, close to mountain.

I have not been to Santa Rosa .
I’m wondering how is the life there. Seems to be very rural .
How about traffic , air quality (with the fire ??). Cultural life?
How much do you think is the difference in cost of living ?
Kids friendly ?
Any city not too far that might be good to live in ?


Thanks for your input.

[nalor511]

Very rural. Have to go to SF or Oakland if you want City.

Traffic sucks (single freeway). Costs will be higher. Income taxes in CA. No cities close by. Grew up 45 minute away, do not recommend.

[Calimerostache]

Thanks nalor511, appreciate the Feedback.

Does anyone else has an opinion ?
 Curious to see what the one who live there like

[Tuskalusa]

I think you should visit Santa Rosa before you make a decision. Very different from Seattle.

[honeybbq]

I'm also from Seattle and I have visited Santa Rosa.

It reminds me a little bit of Walla Walla. Cute little wine town surrounded by grapes and a lot of rolling, dry hills. Small town for sure, with a few nice restaurants and a tourism industry.

The good things might be proximity to SF, all the California parks, etc. I personally would be bored in a week... but if you are looking for a slower, quieter place and living in a sleepy town... could be charming.

Don't forget CA has income tax from 1-12% I think, so factor that in with your offers.

[Here4theGB]

There's a rather large fire raging near SR right now.  Give it a week and see of the place still exists.

I enjoyed my time living in CA, but no freaking way I'd move back right now.

[Calimerostache]

Thanks guys. Really appreciate the feedback .
Will ask for an exploratory trip.
But your comments are kind of confirming my initial impression.

[trollwithamustache]

I believe Santa Rosa is currently on fire...

[robartsd]

Yes, the Kincade Fire is burning in Sonoma County just north of Santa Rosa. I highly doubt that a large portion of the city will be damaged.

Don't know all that much about events in Santa Rosa. It's not a very big city; but big enough to be home to the Costco I stop at on my way to the Mendocino coast.

[dang1]

If you're getting compensated to the point that it'll substantially speed up your FIRE date, then maybe. If not, please don't move to California. It's already too crowded; actually it would be good for more people to move out.

[FINate]

If you're getting compensated to the point that it'll substantially speed up your FIRE date, then maybe. If not, please don't move to California. It's already too crowded; actually it would be good for more people to move out.

California isn't too crowded. Germany has about double the population density and it does just fine. No, California has failed to plan for growth due to a misguided mid-twentieth century penchant for low density suburbs, homes with pools and BBQs, and an obsession with cars.

People are already leaving the state and, if anything, we need more people to move here. There's a reason the state government has quietly passed legislation to limit local control over development of new housing. Those at the state level get it. CA has large unfunded pension liabilities, and the tax revenue is not as reliable as the current surpluses have lulled many into believing.

OP: Other than qualitative concerns around culture, I recommend taking a hard look at the housing situation. Price, but also availability and desirability. Check that there's actually the type of housing you desire where you want it. In recent years wildfires destroyed a lot of housing in what was already a tight market.
 

[Calimerostache]

Very thankful for all your comments.
The housing market does seem very tight and expensive .
I will most likely decline as I am very attached to the Seattle area (soOooooooo many good concerts).
And don’t think I will be able to adjust to this lifestyle .

Just need to land a new job here in finance !

[ysette9]

What exactly do you like about Seattle?

I grew up in petaluma and went to school in Santa Rosa. It has a lot to offer but it is also very different from Seattle. As a kid I thought Santa Rosa was The Big City, but as an adult I see it as a cutesy little country town that happens to sprawl all over the place. The area does offer a lot with wine and some food and the Santa Rosa JC and Sonoma State (university), but it is also not what I would call an urban area. If you want more cultural diversity, for example, you’ll need to go to San Francisco.

We went back and spent a weekend in Santa Rosa a few months back and I was impressed at how they have been improving downtown. We drove and walked around and even spent 30s considering moving there. As others have mentioned, summers are hot and dry, hotter than petaluma even. I’m just not into that. There is a soft spot in my heart for the whole area but I’m pretty happy not living there again.

Do check it out for yourself if you are tempted by the offer. But yes, please wait about two weeks or so. Once the rains come the fires will end.

On that note, I’m concerned that this suddenly seems to be the new normal with Fire season. This was absolutely not the case when I was a kid. But the weather is also different from when I was a kid. More of the hot, hot days. Yuck. Damn climate change.

[WSUCoug1994]

I lived in Seattle for 30 years before moving to Silicon Valley where I spent 14 years before moving to Santa Rosa 3 years ago.  OBVIOUSLY this is all subjective but I absolutely love living in Santa Rosa.  There are things that I loved about all three places and they were all so different and at different times in my life.  I wouldn't change growing up in Seattle for anything - especially the micro-climates from Downtown to Moses Lake and beyond.  I grew up on Lake Sammamish and that was simply spectacular.  I won't go into the 14 years in Mountain View since it isn't relevant. 

Santa Rosa is big - don't let the other comments distract you.  I am not sure it is all that important but size does matter to some.  Santa Rosa is second in country in terms of small business employment - there are not a lot of big employers here - it feels like a small town due to so many of the jobs come from agriculture and the hospital systems.  Santa Rosa is beautiful and affordable in CA terms - median home price was $500K (San Francisco is $1.38M) when I last checked.  There is plenty of art and culture here, if you like being outdoors this places is terrific from Bodega Bay to Armstrong Woods to Russian River but you are a few hours from Tahoe and Yosemite.  There are lakes spread out all over the place and our little family of four never struggles to find things to do outside.  San Francisco without traffic is 60 miles away when you need a big hit of culture/theater but the cities that surround Santa Rosa are fantastic with Healdsburg (currently on fire) as our personal favorite but you are a stones throw from Napa/Sonoma/Calistoga.  There are smaller theaters and cultural activities which are really fantastic.  It is affordable Wine Country living. 

Although my wife grew up here and is a second generation immigrant from the Middle East, it is more diverse here than just big diesel trucks and neck tattoos.  It certainly feels more mid-western to me, no big Universities, slower pace and more of a community feel.  We wanted to raise our kids outside of the Silicon Valley pressure cooker school system and get them exposed to a more rural lifestyle.

We love it here - the only real downside here is the fire risk - which had not been a problem until I moved here.  Maybe it is my fault.  I am happy to answer any questions about SR if you want to send me a direct message. 

[EscapedApe]

Very thankful for all your comments.
The housing market does seem very tight and expensive .
I will most likely decline as I am very attached to the Seattle area (soOooooooo many good concerts).
And don’t think I will be able to adjust to this lifestyle .

Just need to land a new job here in finance !

You're making the right call. California sucks for a whole host of reasons.

I'm currently gunning to move up to the Seattle area myself, in due time.

[Calimerostache]

I lived in Seattle for 30 years before moving to Silicon Valley where I spent 14 years before moving to Santa Rosa 3 years ago.  OBVIOUSLY this is all subjective but I absolutely love living in Santa Rosa.  There are things that I loved about all three places and they were all so different and at different times in my life.  I wouldn't change growing up in Seattle for anything - especially the micro-climates from Downtown to Moses Lake and beyond.  I grew up on Lake Sammamish and that was simply spectacular.  I won't go into the 14 years in Mountain View since it isn't relevant. 

Santa Rosa is big - don't let the other comments distract you.  I am not sure it is all that important but size does matter to some.  Santa Rosa is second in country in terms of small business employment - there are not a lot of big employers here - it feels like a small town due to so many of the jobs come from agriculture and the hospital systems.  Santa Rosa is beautiful and affordable in CA terms - median home price was $500K (San Francisco is $1.38M) when I last checked.  There is plenty of art and culture here, if you like being outdoors this places is terrific from Bodega Bay to Armstrong Woods to Russian River but you are a few hours from Tahoe and Yosemite.  There are lakes spread out all over the place and our little family of four never struggles to find things to do outside.  San Francisco without traffic is 60 miles away when you need a big hit of culture/theater but the cities that surround Santa Rosa are fantastic with Healdsburg (currently on fire) as our personal favorite but you are a stones throw from Napa/Sonoma/Calistoga.  There are smaller theaters and cultural activities which are really fantastic.  It is affordable Wine Country living. 

Although my wife grew up here and is a second generation immigrant from the Middle East, it is more diverse here than just big diesel trucks and neck tattoos.  It certainly feels more mid-western to me, no big Universities, slower pace and more of a community feel.  We wanted to raise our kids outside of the Silicon Valley pressure cooker school system and get them exposed to a more rural lifestyle.

We love it here - the only real downside here is the fire risk - which had not been a problem until I moved here.  Maybe it is my fault.  I am happy to answer any questions about SR if you want to send me a direct message.

Thanks for your detailed answer...I started to wonder if there was anyone who liked SR.
As other have mentioned, I think it’s now time for me to visit the place and make an opinion for myself.
The fire are for sure an area of concern now.
I doubt I ll be able to make the jump... but you never know .

Thanks again for your answer and to all the contributors