Get out of Southern California.
I can't find a good reason to live here, can't wait to move to back to Oregon.
Have to fight crowds everywhere, there are no trees, smog, fires, earthquakes, crowds, dust, crowds, scammers and solicitors everywhere, Gray Davis, and of course, huge crowds fighting for anything that could be consdidered enjoyable.
I have simple goals. Get a little 4 bedroom house for the family, have enough land so the kids can play ball and we can have a small garden. Live somewhere with mountains and trees close by. Have a dog.
That kind of simple lifestyle in Southern California would cost more than I can imagine. It's not do able for the average person, yet those are average needs elsewhere.
My $.02 (you got your money's worth).