I never found CA hard to live in. Yes it was expensive but there was always a zillion things to do. And I did miss one of the first property run ups so I did pay my dues. But never demanded a 4000 sq ft home. The people I hired scored homes and seemed to do well also. I now spilt time with another state, and I hired several younger CA people to the remote state (homes 60 percent less, great salary) and they went back to CA or to DC!

Waste of time except that it forced me to download an app that kills the YT ads.

Any one block in the bay area has more soul than any three rural counties put together.

From experience.