I want to say sorry, because I think if I hadn't made a remark, it never would have gone so off-topic. I am also sorry because I really enjoyed hearing thoughts/opinions. Didn't meant to cause stress for anyone and don't want to ruin CAG for anyone, but I did enjoy it.
About 200,000 people move out of California per year. That's the equivalent of losing the entire population of a decent-sized town every year. And they all seem to move here to Colorado, driving up rent and home prices, and then continue voting for the exact same kind of scumbag politicians that caused them to flee their old state like refugees. I guess I am just tired of seeing hybrids with California plates drive by every minute here. They don't even bother getting new plates when they move here lol. Sorry for derailing the thread, I wasn't going to say anything else, just irked by this comment in particular. I have no desire to revisit California and don't care about how expensive it is, but just want you all to stop migrating here in mass numbers if California is so wonderful. Also, it would be nice if your state's massive inept government bureaucracies filled with unqualified cronies could get a handle on those wildfires that keep ruining our air quality over here every summer, that would just be wonderful, thanks.
I also just want to say that this is a problem in many places and is something we have to look at (in my view) at a national level. There are mass migrations all over. Many of the huge amounts who moved to California then move to Denver, or... to Boise. That's right; in Boise, people say, "I wish all these damn people from California would stop moving here, because it has driven up costs." And it has! Not a knock of California people, or anyone-- just the opposite, I'm trying to say this is a bigger issue. If a "low-income" person in California takes their money to Boise before this happened, they can get a lot more for it. But enough people do that, and Boise changes. Actually, lots of folks moved where I am, too, for jobs, NOT because it is a popular place.

It brought many great things with it, but it made it a mess here, too. I am not trying to one-up or compare, not knocking anyone either. Again, just saying this is a big issue happening many places.
Frankly, I'd love to find a great place to move, too. People in California, Washington state, Colorado, Boise, New Mexico-- they will all say "Okay, but for god sake, DON'T move here!"
I want to move somewhere more sparsely populated, so I am unlikely to irritate anyone when I arrive (I hope).
Sorry for all that. That was just in general, not for you specifically. I know possibly no one will read it. Shrug!
Sadly, no. Houston. Anyone have thoughts on that area?
Yeah! I don't have many good thoughts, though.

Sorry! I have friends there and have visited. They are able to do decently, however, so they don't have the issues. it sure is a strange place though. I'd love to narrate if it didn't offend. I also have friends in the Ft. Worth area I have not visited (I think), and they have similar issues, where it takes what I'd consider a huge income just to afford to live at all. My buddy makes $60k out of school at age 23. I was his advisor, plenty older than him, and the most I've ever made is $30k. I am nowhere near that now. From my perspective, he has done incredible! Yet we are both in the same boat of financial insecurity, paycheck to paycheck, trying to figure out a sustainable life. The person who said they were sick of working 30 hours per week and not being able to make it, I feel the same. Some jobs were more like 50-60 hours, for even less pay. Makes a person sort of give up (luckily I do not have kids)
And that's why people migrate around, often without enough knowledge to understand the choice they're making. But as long as it greases the money wheels, no one is going to try to solve these sorts of issues very hard.
SORRY AGAIN to all for derailing. Obv. if I were really sorry I'd stfu now, so sorry for that too!