Interesting perspective. Have you ever lived in California or is what you are posting what you have read in certain media outlets? On the flip side of your post, we live in a Mediterranean climate, our house has been an appreciating asset that appreciated 7 figures since we bought it, and we can go to Redwood forests, wineries in Napa, an ocean beach or a play in the city for the afternoon. We don't spend a lot on travel as we can take long day trips or overnights to places like Carmel, Mendocino, and Lake Tahoe.
Our property taxes are around .33% of our home value, our kids went to college tuition free thanks to the state grant program, and our state income taxes are pretty low. California has high tax rates on the very wealthy, but Social Security isn't taxed and for middle class families the rates aren't bad.
From Kiplinger's The 10 Most Tax-Friendly States: "Wait, what? California is a tax-
friendly state? Yes…for middle-class families. If you're a rich person, California taxes will cut deep into your earnings. But for other people, the Golden State's tax hit isn't really all that bad.Our hypothetical middle-class family's
income tax bill was the third-lowest among states that impose an income tax......Although property taxes are sky high in Silicon Valley and certain other parts of the states,
property taxes are below average for the state overall. For a $300,000 home in California, the statewide estimated property tax is only $2,187, which is the 16th-lowest amount in the country."
https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/state-tax/601612/most-tax-friendly-states-for-middle-class-families
So there's that.