Reviews & Comments
San Jose, CA
Used to be called "The Valley of the Heart's Delig -
8/23/2014Lived here since 1999 but will need to move. If one locked in housing costs by buying years ago, it is not so bad and one might be siting on a gold mine. We're lucky with a great long term rental that hasn't changed in 15 years but otherwise the housing costs could drive us out almost overnight or prevent moving in.
As many have noted, this is close to the ideal climate for most people. It gets hot at times in the summer but we don't have air conditioning - ceiling fans suffice. Winters are my favorite season with only rare frosts - I'd prefer MORE rain. Our backyard is just our outdoor room on our house and I spend a good deal of time there under a large tree. Orchards were the primary crop before industrialization - I have five fruit trees in the modest backyard.
Schools vary greatly and housing costs closely correlate with student scores. Negative indicators are apartment dwellers and Spanish speakers. The schools for my children have been a major disappointment and the house we live in is worth almost $1M.
Overall, the liberal political climate is ruining the state and the town. Illegal immigrants are flooding the area and taxes are too darn high. Our electricity is 50 cents a kW-hr, multiples of the national average due to our renewables policies. Crime varies over time and space. Our "nice" neighborhood had a rash of problems that can wax and wane. Try to stay well clear of Section 8 housing. One positive are the excellent FM radio stations within my reception range.
If we had bought a home when we first moved here in 1999, we still couldn't retire here. Otherwise, we've grown to enjoy San Jose and surrounding areas but financially, it will be impossible to stay.
Pensacola, FL
Currently thinking of returning to Pensacola -
8/23/2014I grew up in Pensacola then moved away to college then directly to the San Francisco Bay Area and have more or less lived in California ever since. But as retirement approaches, my wife and I are considering a move back. We even spent an afternoon last week with a real estate pro looking at typical properties while visiting family. We found we could BUY a very comfortable house in one of the best neighborhoods for HALF what our current rent (already a local bargain in Silicon Valley) is. Our pensions and social security will go a long way in Pensacola. No state income tax is another big draw.
First, the climate. People vary in their response to Pensacola's climate - some crave the mild winters and very warm summers, others find the heat and humidity during the long summers oppressive. If you're the latter, like me, there's usually air conditioning. Outdoor life can be constrained by miserable summers so many people only come out at night 4 or 5 months a year. Even the winters can feel colder than the thermometer reading due to the humidity in the air transferring heat away so effectively. A "dry cold" is more comfortable than a "wet cold." But there's a saying, "a cold winter is the best insecticide" which tells you something about the vermin problems.
I found I was well served in my public education (1956 to 1971) when I transferred from PJC to U. of Florida where my preparations for engineering school were superior to most of the students who entered UF as freshmen. Choose your local school district with care though - some are terrible.
While some call the politics "right wing," one could say that the area believes in limited government. Corruption is there but it need not touch one's life and the effects don't seem significant. I love reading the local paper on visits since following the shenanigans of the political class is a popular form of entertainment.
Yes, wages are low and professional opportunities few - my technical talents would have not found a rewarding outlet there. The smart, ambitious locals go into small business or get government jobs (or leave). Pirates used to infest the Gulf Coast - today we call them "lawyers" of which there seems a surplus.
Downtown has been GREATLY gentrified! I expect my wife will become involved in the art gallery scene there. There are many areas of high crime and low cultural expectations (ie slums.) You learn where they are and keep driving. Owning a gun is prudent. The Navy seems to have declined in local impact - the cosmopolitan military population was a great stimulus to the townies like me. Another plus is the nightlife - the tourist trade provides financial support but the locals make the most of it - there's a great blues scene for example.
Perfect places to live are unicorns. One must look at one's life course and balance the compromises. Pensacola has both pluses and minuses.