I’m in CA—I agree CA is a paradise for the very wealthy (except in the Fall, now, when the sky is choked with smoke for months which even the wealthy can’t escape other than by leaving the West for a while, like East Coast snowbirds do to FL).
But actually it’s a paradise for lower-middle class (but not poor) Latinos too. I know many, who aren’t particularly wealthy, and yet they know how to live. They enjoy the beaches, the lakes, snow play in the mountains, family outdoor events.
The silver lining of living in CA is being able to enjoy the following, which all can be done affordably actually: Lake Tahoe, Napa wine tasting (share a tasting, go north in the valley), hiking in Yosemite, camping, beaches in SLO, Carmel (hotels outside the town are cheaper), national and state parks, touring San Diego. There really is a lot of beauty in CA.
I’ve been to California three times. It’s a beautiful state, like you said. The last time, I got lost in San Francisco. Back then, in 2014, it was still a somewhat lovely city to get lost in. So I was basically driving around, admiring the old Victorian houses and parks while trying to find my way back to US 101 so I could get to the Golden Gate Bridge.
Unfortunately, the politicians are turning it into a dump. So if you and your family can tolerate soupy humidity in the summertime, come to Florida, where it’s NOT a dump.