Gotta get out of Commiefornia

[Expendable]

so had my last straw with California after I owe about 5x what my 2011 tax return was last year and made maybe 10% more in 2012 than I did in 2011 (I make less than 6 digits a year dollar wise)

So, my basic plan is to sell one of my crown victorias. use that money to work on my Hummer. gain back my national accreditation for being an EMT. Save up some money and move out of state. I have been looking into Texas the most. have only looked into the Amarillo / San Antonio areas (wasn't sure if the emissions testing is that big of a deal in those 9 counties or so that do them for the yearly vehicle inspections) so far. But open to other areas and states.

Things I am looking for:

-able to get CCW
-larger magazine capacity than 10 (would love to get some 30 and 60 round magazines when I built an AR rifle in the future as well as larger capacity in general for firearms)
-no salt used for snow
-weather (prefer cooler but hot is ok during summer)
-no CARB (California Air Resources Board) BS since some states take after CA (I have read Texas' vehicle inspection laws so I understand they don't take after CARB's idiotic ways)
-looking at renting out a house preferably. so I can work on my vehicles, not have to park in the street. prefer a garage as well.


Please give suggestions/opinions on different areas, what I should look for, etc. I do not have my heart set on Texas but it's definitely the front runner by far at the moment. Also any options for Jobs (EMS related or not) would greatly appreciated.

Thank You All in advance!

 

[Kyle]

what about idaho? you can get your ccw,large mags,i dont think salt is used for snow because the roads there are soo long it would be a crap load of salt to cover it, cold weather all year round, no ****y CARB laws, housing is dead cheap i mean realllyy dead cheap!!

 

[f5moab]

Never heard that a road was too long for salting...depends on the supply.:giggle: But from what I've seen, most western states use sand and sometimes sand/salt mixtures. And ID can be hot in July; I know, been there, done that. Unless you consider low 90s as not being too hot.

What type of work do you want to do and is work important? You state EMT, so you might have to follow the job more than the testing.

If you head out to some of these states, like Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, etc., you might be forced into the larger metro areas for work. Not necessarily a bad thing, but Boise area has an emission test requirement (http://www.deq.idaho.gov/regional-offices-issues/boise/vehicle-emissions-testing.aspx), I believe SLC also has emissions tests. UT has safety test requirements. And in some cases, emissions testing might not affect your vehicles...depends on laws and how old your vehicles are.

Also, renting can be harder in smaller areas vs. larger metro areas.

There's a website called city data (citydata.com...I BELIEVE) that has tons of info on most cities, and forums to ask questions to people in those area.

As for cheap to live....
WY/TX/NV have no income taxes (WY can be a very expensive state to live in due to the cost of living. I have checked and the nicer areas; western part of the state, have extremely high property values. Some of this is due to tourism, but most is due to the oil and when oil moves in, costs go up.

UT has a high flat rate 5 percent income tax and a high sales tax (UT IS NOT CHEAP)

ID is just behind UT is costs to live, in regard to taxes. But if you like green and mountains and cold winters, Idaho is beautiful.

As I said...it is green...this was taken the first week of July, 2010. Early AM temps were in the 70s, highs hit in the high 80s to low 90s, but low humidity.

As for CCW...They are all easy to obtain in the states I noted (UT requires NO range time). I believe WY is constitutional carry for residents but also issues permits for travel to other states similar to AK, AZ.)

 

[deserth3]

Another thing about Northern Utah and at least South East Idaho. Winter time inversions.
Utah has grown alot in the last 15 years. Mostly Californians moving in from what I understand. Now in Utah they are complaining about the winter time inversions which is caused by a natural event. But with all the influx of people it keeps in more polution. So there is a growing number of people screeming for the government to do something about it.

What happens during an inversion is the cold air falls down the mouintain gets trapped in the valley by the warmer air up top. This also traps polution in the valley. This valley is over 100 miles long and runs from somewhere south of Salt Lake and runs up into Idaho. The inversion can last for several weeks in the winter. Normaly in January. Unless a couple of storms run through to clean things out.
When an inversion sets up you have smog that can be quite dense.

 

[f5moab]

Another thing about Northern Utah and at least South East Idaho. Winter time inversions.
Utah has grown alot in the last 15 years. Mostly Californians moving in from what I understand. Now in Utah they are complaining about the winter time inversions which is caused by a natural event. But with all the influx of people it keeps in more polution. So there is a growing number of people screeming for the government to do something about it.

What happens during an inversion is the cold air falls down the mouintain gets trapped in the valley by the warmer air up top. This also traps polution in the valley. This valley is over 100 miles long and runs from somewhere south of Salt Lake and runs up into Idaho. The inversion can last for several weeks in the winter. Normaly in January. Unless a couple of storms run through to clean things out.
When an inversion sets up you have smog that can be quite dense.

And it looks nasty on TV.:giggle: We had a month long inversion here in Moab too. We were running 20 degrees colder than up at 8K on the mountains, and at times colder than in Monticello. Bad thing was water lines froze all over town and a lot of people were (some still are) without water, but the good thing is we had no pollution since we don't have the traffic (winter time anyway) or the industry.

Does SLC area have an emissions test requirement?

 

[skeptic]

Does SLC area have an emissions test requirement?

Yes, but as I understand it different counties have different emissions/safety requirements.

Another possible option is OR/WA. I plan to move back or OR after my kids are both 18+. WA = no income tax, OR = no sales tax. I'm originally from OR - they sand the roads in the winter, so no salt issues. For as liberal as their reputation, their gun laws are not too bad and CCW seems easy enough (I never got my CCW, move out of state at 22). Get out of the Portland area and it's more redneck. Still a lot of Democrats, but I'd say they are quite Libertarian leaning (they just don't know it). With OR/WA you really have 3 very distinct climates, the coast where it rains a lot but has mild winters and generally cool summers, the inland (in OR we just call it the valley) with it's reputation for being rainy but has the best summer weather of any place I've ever lived, and the eastern half of the states which is high desert not too different from UT with a low population density.

 

[3Hummers]

Several of the larger metropolitan areas have emission testing in Texas. Salaries are generally lower than CA but then so is the cost of living. Don't know much about some of the areas but Texas seems to satisfy all of your criteria. Might wants to consider some of the burbs around Austin. I would stay out of Austin proper.

 

[Expendable]

what about idaho? you can get your ccw,large mags,i dont think salt is used for snow because the roads there are soo long it would be a crap load of salt to cover it, cold weather all year round, no ****y CARB laws, housing is dead cheap i mean realllyy dead cheap!!

I shall look into Idaho.

Never heard that a road was too long for salting...depends on the supply.:giggle: But from what I've seen, most western states use sand and sometimes sand/salt mixtures. And ID can be hot in July; I know, been there, done that. Unless you consider low 90s as not being too hot.

What type of work do you want to do and is work important? You state EMT, so you might have to follow the job more than the testing.

If you head out to some of these states, like Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, etc., you might be forced into the larger metro areas for work. Not necessarily a bad thing, but Boise area has an emission test requirement (http://www.deq.idaho.gov/regional-offices-issues/boise/vehicle-emissions-testing.aspx), I believe SLC also has emissions tests. UT has safety test requirements. And in some cases, emissions testing might not affect your vehicles...depends on laws and how old your vehicles are.

Also, renting can be harder in smaller areas vs. larger metro areas.

There's a website called city data (citydata.com...I BELIEVE) that has tons of info on most cities, and forums to ask questions to people in those area.

As for cheap to live....
WY/TX/NV have no income taxes (WY can be a very expensive state to live in due to the cost of living. I have checked and the nicer areas; western part of the state, have extremely high property values. Some of this is due to tourism, but most is due to the oil and when oil moves in, costs go up.

UT has a high flat rate 5 percent income tax and a high sales tax (UT IS NOT CHEAP)

ID is just behind UT is costs to live, in regard to taxes. But if you like green and mountains and cold winters, Idaho is beautiful.

As I said...it is green...this was taken the first week of July, 2010. Early AM temps were in the 70s, highs hit in the high 80s to low 90s, but low humidity.
As for CCW...They are all easy to obtain in the states I noted (UT requires NO range time). I believe WY is constitutional carry for residents but also issues permits for travel to other states similar to AK, AZ.)

Another thing about Northern Utah and at least South East Idaho. Winter time inversions.
Utah has grown alot in the last 15 years. Mostly Californians moving in from what I understand. Now in Utah they are complaining about the winter time inversions which is caused by a natural event. But with all the influx of people it keeps in more polution. So there is a growing number of people screeming for the government to do something about it.

What happens during an inversion is the cold air falls down the mouintain gets trapped in the valley by the warmer air up top. This also traps polution in the valley. This valley is over 100 miles long and runs from somewhere south of Salt Lake and runs up into Idaho. The inversion can last for several weeks in the winter. Normaly in January. Unless a couple of storms run through to clean things out.
When an inversion sets up you have smog that can be quite dense.

And it looks nasty on TV.:giggle: We had a month long inversion here in Moab too. We were running 20 degrees colder than up at 8K on the mountains, and at times colder than in Monticello. Bad thing was water lines froze all over town and a lot of people were (some still are) without water, but the good thing is we had no pollution since we don't have the traffic (winter time anyway) or the industry.

Does SLC area have an emissions test requirement?

My brother lived in Utah for just over a year. not sure I wanna live there. it's a consideration. but that inversion really sucks. he lived in SLC. my family was visiting him for 3 days when the first gen Duramax truck decided the injectors would go out. so we spent just over a week there IIRC. and the inversion set in like a day after the truck broke down. luckily GM was paying for the injector fix but because of that the dealership took their time fixing it. the smog was worse in SLC compared to LA due to the inversion. I got chest pains from being outside too long. so that's a bit of a negative. but once that storm went away boy was the air crisp and clean.

as for job I am an EMT and currently work as an EMD (Emergency Medical Dispatcher). I'm hoping to get my company pay for my EMD license (they said they would). so I would looking for an EMT job which would most likely mean a larger city to work in but I would rather live on the outskirts and or just outside of a larger city. I'm considering going Paramedic after moving.

Yes, but as I understand it different counties have different emissions/safety requirements.

Another possible option is OR/WA. I plan to move back or OR after my kids are both 18+. WA = no income tax, OR = no sales tax. I'm originally from OR - they sand the roads in the winter, so no salt issues. For as liberal as their reputation, their gun laws are not too bad and CCW seems easy enough (I never got my CCW, move out of state at 22). Get out of the Portland area and it's more redneck. Still a lot of Democrats, but I'd say they are quite Libertarian leaning (they just don't know it). With OR/WA you really have 3 very distinct climates, the coast where it rains a lot but has mild winters and generally cool summers, the inland (in OR we just call it the valley) with it's reputation for being rainy but has the best summer weather of any place I've ever lived, and the eastern half of the states which is high desert not too different from UT with a low population density.

went on a 9 day vacation with my family 3 years back driving from LA to Seattle and back. we went most direct route to Seattle and then took the coast route down from Seattle to about 2/3 down Oregon coast we wanted to take the coast route down all the way but was taking longer than we expected. so had to cut it short to get back to LA. not sure if I wanna live in OR. that gas attendent having to pump your fuel I don't care for for one thing. also being 23 I think I would rather live in a different state (I can see myself retiring in Oregon/Washington)

Several of the larger metropolitan areas have emission testing in Texas. Salaries are generally lower than CA but then so is the cost of living. Don't know much about some of the areas but Texas seems to satisfy all of your criteria. Might wants to consider some of the burbs around Austin. I would stay out of Austin proper.

how are the emissions testing in the those areas (such as Dallas, Austin, etc)?

Thank you for the tip about staying out of Austin. and doing research I plan on living in the suburbs of a larger city. bit cheaper and easier to rent a house.

 

[3Hummers]

I have never had any issues with emission testing anywhere in Texas.

 

[3Hummers]

Doesn't your 95 pre-date the emission test requirements? I thought it was 98 and up.

 

[HUMMERDAD]

The biggest thing I can advise you on is make sure you know how the properity taxs are set up. I moved out of SoCal 4yrs ago and bought in IL was very happy with the house lot everyting until I got my properiity tax bill for the past 4 yrs they have gone up around a grand each time I have a lot size of lees then 1/4 acer and pay 11,000 in tax. started with 8,000 so as you can see watch your tax rates and how they apply them. Trust me tried to get mine lowered all I wound up doing was calling them a bunch of crooks. didn't help

 

[LagunaH1]

Doesn't your 95 pre-date the emission test requirements? I thought it was 98 and up.

In California, it *is* indeed 98 and newer that are subject to emissions testing, for Diesel's that is. Mine is a 97 :-D

 

[3Hummers]

The property tax rate in Texas is maybe a little more than double what it is in CA. The offsets are that property values are only about 1/3 of those in CA and there is NO state income tax in Texas. You save big time being in Texas.

 

[alrock]

Arizona! or Texas. Those would be my two choices

 

[poncho1965]

I would like to check out the Austin TX area.


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[3Hummers]

Arizona has an income tax.

 

[Expendable]

The emissions would be regarding my 2004 Crown Victoria.

I just want to make sure, property taxes only affect me if I own a piece of land, house, etc? I'm thinking I might rent at first to make sure I like the area.

 

[twinmill28]

I had the decision where to live in 2011 when I retired out of the Air Force. We could have stayed in Youtaw, moved back to Arizona to be with family around Phoenix, gone to Colorado where we've always dreamed of living around Colorado Springs or come back to Florida where we'd built our house and I'd established some roots, long term friends and knew the area.
Youtaw was not even an option, massively long, cold, gray winters with lots of inversions and burning trash made that decision for us--and that sucked because we'd made some GREAT friends/family while there for 5 years. With as tough as my job was, the gray days and cold weather just continued to get me down so we had to go.
While Colorado is beautiful and my dream destination, it is also much colder than we wanted to tolerate so we scratched that one.
That left Arizona and Florida. We were looking at Northern Arizona, around the Prescott/Sedona area. Very beautiful like Colorado, but very cold as well. I grew up in Phoenix but left when I joined the Air Force and just grew away from wanting to ever move back.
So Florida was the most logical for us--we already had a house here, just needed to get the renters out--not a big problem. Winters are pretty mild here, summers are hot and humid, not for the weak that's for sure! The scenery is beautiful if you're into being a flatlander. Not much to do for local activities around here, the big cities are all 4 hours away or more (New Orleans, Atlanta, Orlando)--and we kind of got spoiled by having alot to do in Youtaw.
The only thing we really miss about not being out West is access to clean, rust free cars, massive amounts of car shows and happenings, and of course, mountains to explore with the deuce.
So, after this long diatribe (actually sounding out whether we are ready to move back west, pretty sure we are), I'd recommend staying in the west--Arizona or Texas (and I can't really endorse going to Texas!).
As for the EMT gig--my buddy is a paramedic/firefighter in Phoenix, if you're serious, you need to make that transition as the pay difference is incredible, not to mention benefits. He paid his dues going thru school and lived poor for several years but it's all come back to him now as he's now also an engineer driving the 100 foot ladder truck.
Good luck with your choice!

 

[Kyle]

If you move to texas i will have you become my supplier of round rock donuts! :thumbs: :wink:

 

[alrock]

AZ does have income tax but property taxes are reasonable. As for EMT, I agree that moving up to firefighter is a strong option for Phoenix since I believe firefighters have a lot more work here.

 

[Green 1]

Dallas is a great area and there are many small towns around the area where taxes are even lower. In Dallas county the crown Vic would be emission tested but based on what I see driving around south Dallas don't think you would have a problem

 

[Bigunit]

Yeah, Dallas area is nice...except for one thing...doesn't Gunner live there?

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[3Hummers]

Lets face it, it would be hard for you to pick a place that wasn't better than CA.

 

[Expendable]

as for becoming it is definitely something I have thought about. even considered becoming a LEO. I know some agencies like EMT experience.

Thank you everyone for all the help, got lots of researchin to do!

Lets face it, it would be hard for you to pick a place that wasn't better than CA.

too true

 

[Bigunit]

as for becoming it is definitely something I have thought about. even considered becoming a LEO.

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