funny you take it so personally.  I wouldn't live in CA year round but unfortunately have to at this moment.  It's called, 6 months and a day OUTSIDE CA is the most obvious way to live here.  Do you want 13.8% State tax added to the 23.8% long term capital gains plus ObamaCare tax?  Now think about it in terms of short terms rates plus the CA state tax.  Not me.  When the time is appropriate, I'll have a less than 6 months location(s) in CA and the 6 months and a day in a more tax friendly location, at a minimum.  Many on my street/neighborhood already do that for that reason alone.  Grew up in CA - Sacramento, San Diego and 20+ years in the SF area.  Enough is enough of the crazies that live here.  Another wonderful spot in CA is Montecito.  Have friends there.  Oprah lives there along with many other celebrities and very fortunate, successful people.  Easy drive into Los Angeles along the coast highway.  Right next to Santa Barbara, which is also very nice, basically the same town.  Go over the mountains and you are in wine country.  Where we are in the Bay Area, at times, you can be in downtown SF in 18 minutes.  Napa Valley, where we were to be with Senator Roberts this weekend but glad to say no as it's over 100 degrees, it's only about 45 minutes away.  During rush hour, when trouble comes, it can take 2 hours plus to get home from San Francisco.  Plus SF is full of loons and in a constant state of construction.  You need a back brace driving in your car because of the pot holes that have been there for years.  But the building continues round the clock.  Personally, I like Palo Alto, Hillsborough area, close to Stanford.  Good to have a spot there.  I will eventually have multiple homes, some potentially overseas.  I like London, Southern Italy along the coast.  The world is big, enjoy it when you can.  Personally, I have had enough hot weather - San Diego is mild in comparison - but who needs to pay the govt. more money than they should be taking from any of us.  Do it legally, enjoy the freedom.  Would like to have a place in DC to visit friends there, something in CA, place in London and one in Southern Italy - that's a pretty good start.