As if. Things change and Kalifornia has certainly done so for the worse. When I left LB the neighborhood was running about 1/3 vacancy rates, crime was on the rise and unemployment was skyrocketing. I was very lucky to get the position out here - there certainly weren't any comparable ones out there. Last I looked NH (where I am) was doing pretty well. 4th lowest unemployment in the nation, good schools, business growth, etc. Not too bad. I'd take that over Detroit with nicer weather at this point. Even MA (which is more liberal admittedly and where my current job is based out of) is doing all right. Plenty of work there too.
Yeah the weather is/was nicer in the PRC (depending on where you are I guess) but there are other considerations. Sure there are some things I miss about CA (better coffee, in-n-out, etc) but all-in-all I have to say this has worked out pretty well.
Maybe I'll end up back west in a few years... Or not... If I do I almost certainly wouldn't do CA again - unless it changes DRAMATICALLY - but I've always had a soft spot for AZ and TX... Maybe even NV, but Vegas gets tired pretty fast.
I certainly wouldn't go back to the Midwest either, at least not by choice. Yuk!
I hafta' say life in the "Live Free or Die" state is pretty good right now. I ain't complaining any (although it'd be nice if spring would hurry up so I can get out on my bike again - I'm sick of using the trainer...)
Good luck out there under Jerry's Kids. Y'all are gonna need it methinks.