California has, historically, been a highly desirable place to live.
I live in a “gentlemans ranch ” community an hour out of the state capitol in Sacramento.
My area is very diverse, old timers that have held large family properties since the goldrush era, city transplants from So. Cal and the Bay area, bohemian types like myself, good ol’ boys etc. lol
People up here think nothing of commuting an hour or more to work in the city and inspite of the bubble bursting and a good amount of homes and properties up for sale, this remains a highly desirable area to live and raise a family and for those like myself that like living in a beautiful, natural and pastoral setting with peace, safety and solitude.
I got pretty serious about buying some out of state investment property in 2006— 7, but, honestly, other than several resort areas in the Rockies, N.M. & Colorado, possibly Utah, no other state holds the appeal for me like the good ol’ Golden State.
It’s hard to find such diversity in other states, miles and miles of awesome coastline, one of the most amazing mountain ranges anywhere, The Sierra Nevadas where I live in the high foothills Deserts to beaches to mountains to subtropic eco systems….hard to find any comparable places, along with parts of the Pacific NW.