I moved to California from Texas and you couldn’t pay me to move back. I have lived in several states, and have never had the quality of life I have here anywhere else. Yes, the cost of living is higher, but so is the income and opportunities to make money if you are self employed. People are friendlier here than anywhere else I have lived. The state parks and outdoor activities are better here than anywhere else. We have snow, mountains, redwood forests, oceans, bays, rivers, and deserts to choose from. And the universities are the best. The UC system contributes to over 10% of all the published studies in the US. This is the place to be.