California just has that promise man. Not only in the 60s did it bring the promise, but also in the 1800s. Who knows why.
well, I grew up in Jersey. Three of my cousins moved out to Cali a few years ago (all in their late 20s) and they all love it and don't think they'll ever come back. I went there for the first time in September... and eh, I thought it was cool. I prefer the east coast though and personally really enjoy NY. maybe you could try relocating somewhere a little less drastic.. like boston, philly, brooklyn.. ? somewhere where you'd still be 'away' from your town but still driving distance if you needed anything where in ny do you live anyway? if you don't mind me asking
i've lived here almost all of my life. what i can tell you is that california is just a place. a whole lot of different kinds of places actually. most of what people who live far away hear about it tends to get exaggerated, and then most of that is about only one part of the state that is one kind of a place. the rest of the state is every other kind of place imaginable. the place where i started kindergarten of example, has more in common with buffalo new york weather wise, then with l.a. or even san francisco. and as for social and political attitudes, each locality and region is 'all over the map.' and while not kansas or misouri, many if not most, are far more conservative then the myth and legend of california would have people to believe. if anything, oregon comes closer to it then california does. (yes, i lived in oregon for ten years too. the longest i've lived in any one place outside of california in my life)