Yup, the local Cali's have posted facts, tho you might not get a disease everytime you get brushed against by a stranger (LOL) at McD's...but what they've said is mostly true. Housing whether you rent or buy in any areas where there are decent jobs (didn't say there are any openings tho) is rifuckingdiculous.....even if you buy a foreclosed home here, usually it will be $100,000. + for something the previous owners may have ripped out every cupboard, sink, toilet, flooring etc from. I got my house for a steal at nearly $250,000 (I'm in San Bernardino County-nations largest & prolly poorest county). Rent is scewing peeps too, my friend just moved into a 2 bed 1.5 bath 980 sq ft duplex (for her, hubby & their 3 teenaged kids!!) & pays $1250./mo with no utilities except trash paid by the landlord. Car insurance here is a MUST & costs a pretty penny...I don't know how groceries & organic produce prices are elsewhere but here, they gouge ya. Anywhere near the larger cities is the same, really. Nor Cal (not the bay area) is a bit better overall, when I visit my fam in Weed (yeah, that's the name of the town! hilarious, huh?) it's pretty laid back, life seems like it flows slower & has so much better weather in the summer time, but bbrrrrrr bitches it's cold as shiz up there in the winter! So Cal, once you get about 20 miles inland from the ocean, the summer heat is pretty bad, the smog isn't as bad as it used to be, but it's there, fuckin up the skyline views mostly daily, then the santa ana winds make you crazy (scientific fact! maybe lol) then we have fire season (started a week ago, lasts till mid-November) then there's mudflow when we get a storm (anywhere else it's considered a rain shower) cause our hills are always loaded with dead dry ugly brush. The so Cal news is hilarious whenever we get wet weather they go on "Storm Watch" & act like we've got hurricanes coming. As long as you got the fat roll o'money supply, patience for traffic & assholes, then come on over to Cali...otherwise, check out Colorado....it's awesome & where I'm heading to in the next 7-10 years. Good luck whatever you decide!
