[R K T]

The weather is what brought people to California back in the 30s and 40s. That hasn't changed. I loved living in SoCal when I was a teenager/20s, but I had nothing to compare it to. In my 30s and 40s, I made a lot of money that I may or may not have made if I were living somewhere else. Driving from San Pedro to Beverly Hills (23 miles) took around 1 1/2 hours each way, but I did it for the $.
Now that California is 20 billion+ in debt they have raised every tax imaginable. Car registration has tripled. Fines for any kind of moving violation are astronomical. They just passed a new Estate tax going in effect Jan 2011.....50%!!!! So my wifes parents that have worked and saved all their lives will have half of their assests taken by the state when they pass, so the state can hand out more welfare and food stamps.
Gas prices, utilty costs, higher insurance, on and on. Is it worth the weather? Maybe for some, not me.