Baja, I've lived in Stockton, Rescue (last Pony Express stop before Sacto), and a whole bunch of Texas towns. California has more dry, parched areas than Texas. All those Hollywood movies about Texas were shot in California.
We do have one California like city. It's the People's Republic of Austin. It's better to avoid it.
In most of the state, you can by a 3500 square foot home with a pool in an affluent community for less than $300K. The property taxes are higher, but the top marginal income tax rate is 0%. Gas is less because gas taxes are less. Electricity's about the same because we've got a bunch of stupid, senseless windmills in West Texas that work to line Boone Pickens' pockets, but do nothing for peak power generation (i.e., we need peak electricity when it's hot and air conditioners are running and the wind isn't blowing).
As a business owner and serial entrepreneur, I can say without doubt that the state is more business friendly than California. However, that's like saying Death Valley in August is a cooler environment than Hell. To be honest, we're over taxed here. And while we only have to worry about the legislature when they're in session, the unfortunate truth is they do meet from time to time.
Lessee, what else? You've got better artichokes, sourdough, and Calimari. You've got better wine (though we're making strides) and you've got better beer (specifically, Stone Breweries in San Diego and Sierra Nevada in Chico). You've got better snow skiing and surfing. We've got better Mexican food (really), beef, and chili. Our beaches (excepting Galveston) are better. Our customer service is better. We're friendlier. We can buy your best beer and wine for less than you pay, plus we get smoking prices on Chilean wine, French wine, and Belgian Trappist beer.
You pretend to have been a republic (e.g., your state flag). We actually were an independent republic and reserve the right to become one again.
I believe we've now got more Fortune 500 companies. We've got the Dallas Cowboys (unfortunately that includes their owner, though he's really an Arkansas carpetbagger).
I could go on. Texas isn't perfect and it's less perfect than it was. However, it's far better than the once golden state.
You can always tell a Texan, ‘cuz half of what he posts is B.S.
Yes, please stay away.