Housing Too Expensive

Denise Hamilton’s Feb. 9 article, “Easing the Squeeze,” really hit home.

Our family moved to California from Albuquerque, N.M., 10 years ago. Like the others in your article, my father received a job offer he couldn’t refuse.

My parents sold their home, which was middle-of-the-road but comfortable, to move to California--and not be able to afford a shack. My sister followed. Now our neighbors and friends are selling and moving to Oregon.

My sister can’t raise a family of five in her three-bedroom home and can’t afford to move up. So she’s moving away. I don’t have two incomes to support a house, so I’m renting mine out and moving away also.

My parents are retiring here by themselves, with the family and neighborhood moving away. Is Ventura doomed to become a retirement community?

RICK HOWIE

Ventura