I understand. I did love living there, but found, even with two good incomes, it was tough to make ends meet. Just moved east of California and life is much easier. We love to drive over for a visit, but I am relieved that I no longer have to sweat the end of the month.
I hear ya.
Luckily, I worked in a high paying industry. And, I began saving in my teens. Yet, when I knew I was going to buy my last house, the real estate market took off with a roar.
I set a top limit. The guy who owned my place was a well known baseball player in North Korea and had never seen it. He set the price high. I turned it down and looked elsewhere. Hey contacted me then and lowered the price twice.
I still think I overpaid but I have it, a semi-rustic location in LA, a handful of neighbors. Prices are now coming back down.
Thank god I was born here ... all the CA badmouthing would have scared me away .... yet I have seen dozens of people visit ... and the come back permanently. I just NEVER talk politics with anyone. A few weeks ago I said something nice about Trump and everyone in the room froze and looked at me. Awkward. :o)