- Melting pot: I am a foreigner. I have lived in fly over states and did not appreciate the "you aren't from around here, are you?" attitude I experienced. This is especially important if you raise a bilingual family. The melting pot also is a great place to work in - I enjoy the diversity at work.
- Climate: When the sun shines I am happy. I grew up far north in latitude with a lot of winter darkness, snow, fog and rain. Here in CA the sun shines a lot.
- Hobby value: Climate allows year round wrenching and outdoor activity. Some of the nicest race tracks are within a few hours. The ocean is less than an hour (I like to dive and fish). The mountains are close by for snow fun, hunting, hiking and trout fishing.
The population density is high, which on one hand istn't a lot of fun, but on the other hand you will always find like minded people, no matter what hobby you get yourself into. I can write on this board today "need help dropping the engine on Saturday - free pizza" and there will be half a dozen people showing up.
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- Opportunity: I work in high tech. There aren't many high tech jobs in fly over country. CA is a hotbed for high tech and venture capital. Chances are that there will always be work around here - even if the buck doesn't go as far.
George