California v. Florida for living

I've lived in Sarasota, south of Tampa for a long time, but also worked for a company based in downtown LA many years ago.

I've got a subjective bias towards FL, but also can also think of some specific reasons:

• I prefer the Gulf of Mexico over the Pacific for OWS training.
• If you have serious aspirations about triathlon, the US National Training Center is closeby in Clermont, FL

There is a strong triathlon culture in the Tampa area, but I'm sure you can find the same in LA.

Don't have any current hard data to back it up, but having spent time in both places, I would think that that cost of living would be significantly less in Tampa vs LA.

HTH,

Mark 

Crazy thought, I think it's "big" in both states, arguably the biggest two tri states out there.   I'm looking for insight from someone who has actually lived in both states and can compare the two based on living there, not based on the number of races I can find on a calendar.  thanks for the insight though

Thanks, Mark.  Good point on the swimming - Pacific is always freezing, and gulf is much more beautiful.  ....and the no state income tax is a wonderful thing too. 

have you gone to the training center in Clermont?

...laughing.  there is that health insurance issue with the shark bites. 

It may seem trivial, but other than this, I think your political views may be a factor as well.  Do you want to live where the state and local government is generally conservative in nature and work to preserve small government, low taxes, etc.  OR live in California where the left is far in control and the tax situation is out of control.

My vote, Florida.

totally on board with this thought process.  I like to visit both areas, but for many many reasons I'd pick Tampa over San Diego.  

Miami 

Our OW is 81F today

FL: Cheapter to live, no state income tax, warm/hot year round, big city atmosphere (but not too big), many events year round, beaches are better

CA: SD is a cool spot, more expensive, nice climate (not too hot), big city atmosphere, many events year round, state income tax

I prefer FL.  CA seems to be distant from the rest of the US for some reason.  Sounds like a win-win situation

No hills in Florida.

That would be a deal breaker for me.

This is where I do my hill workouts, the mile long Ringling Bridge over Sarasota Bay.  Can ride 365 days/year, even while you are watching it snow up north.  Over & back as much as I feel like, and when I'm done I go another mile to get to the beach.

The hard core guys make the trip up to Clermont once a month or so to ride the hills there.  I just do local tri's, so hill training isn't a big priority.  Learning to ride in the wind is however.

Mark

Interesting take. This would never, ever factor in to my decision making. Ever.

The choice posed in the OP is, IMO, no choice at all; San Diego wins. First, last, always.

I would rather swim in the Gulf than the colder Pacific currents, and FLA has no personal income tax, and there are plenty of races year-round.

LOL.  Yes, *this* is what I base my living choices on.

Can't really comment to the OP sicne I was born and raised in Cal (which I love, by the way, I have 60-80 miles of hills and trails outside my backdoor overlooking the pacific.....) and have a friend that just moved to Boca.  She noted that the tri scene is a little less popular there, probably more likely a reflection of the demographics in Boca.  Race season is different, we race year round in Cal, in Florida the summer gets much much hotter.  I guess there are races in August but you better like heat and humidity. 

And sorry, Pacific ocean is where it's at! 

Typical so cal ride:

I have lived in both places. San Diego and 3 locations in Florida (north FL at the beaches in Jax, St. Augustine, and for the longest period Key West, where I still am.) So I had the pleasure of living at the southern most points of both coasts (not by accident.)

I loved San Diego, in particular the weather (no humidity), a real city with a lot to do and a relatively low crime rate for being a big city, interesting topography.

I love Key West because of warm weather all year, no personal income taxes, and warm water for OWS,

If I was in my 30's again and had a good job offer, didn't mind the higher taxes and a bit higher cost of living, and could stand the cold water in the Pacific, I would choose San Diego any day over Florida, including the area you are talking about.

I would go back now myself if it weren't for the taxes and frigid water.

It seems that is a trick question.

The right answer is:

Get a new job in TEXAS!

Though just in case it is not a trick question. Politically Florida is a southern state and California... uhm well more a European state (to put this in nice words).

I personally have Cal and NY at the bottom list of states I would want to live in...

Although I didn't think this was supposed to be a thread about politics, since a couple of people now have gone there, lets me clear about presumed politics in places where you might not have lived. San Diego is one of the most politically conservative places I have ever lived, and as you can see, I have lived all over Florida (also DC, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma (raised there), and Washington.) California is like Florida in the sense that politics is a bit regional. In Florida the further north you go, as a general rule, the more conservative it gets. The southern part of the State though is most definitely not conservative.

In any event, if politics is an issue you are concerned about, better not to rely on anyone who hasn't lived in San Diego or Florida.