Droves Say Goodbye to Golden State
December 11th, 2006Via: Mercury News:
The Browns are an example of what demographers say appears to be an unprecedented phenomenon — even in a good economy, more people are leaving California for other states than are arriving from the rest of the country.
Between 2004 and 2005, the migration flow into California from the other 49 states started flowing the other way. Data from the state Department of Finance shows that, for the first time this decade, more people left California in 2005 for another state than the number who moved in. Mary Heim, a finance department demographer, says this particular kind of outflow will continue for the foreseeable future.
Unlike the tens of thousands who left Silicon Valley following the tech bust earlier this decade, the new migration is about the quest for something besides a job: a better quality of life at a lower cost of living.
Yeah, dammit, and they’re moving here! When I first moved to north Alabama 25 years ago, I thought I’d found paradise. Huntsville is Rocket City, USA, with a highly educated population, and for a city its size, a decent amount of culture. We’re surrounded by incredible natural beauty, with great backpacking, canoing, etc. For years, my commute to work was 3 minutes; I went home for lunch everyday. I never, ever sat in traffic.
Today, we’re being innundated by those relocating from the coasts. They’ve sold a house for hundreds of thousands of dollars, so they show up here with a wad of cash. There’s been an explosion in the building of McMansions. Traffic is getting worse.
Much like you, Kevin, my family and I are contemplating our next move. The surrounding countryside (50 miles out) is quite lovely, and my ability to make a good living without going to an office seems to be a reality. But there’s friends, family, culture, etc, that we would miss.
So…….. who knows what’s next?