PS:
If at all possible, were I a Californian, I'd vote with my feet after this last election cycle. They are going to destroy that state, one liberty and one business at a time. It's going to be like Detroit, x 100. Me, I'd not be there when it happens if I were some of you....
There are lots of states that are way more free. Most western states and most Southern states.
Find the opportunity, salt the earth, retreat.
I hear you. I've been thinking about it a lot more lately. I'm at a point in my life and finances where I can easily take a deferred retirement, sell my home and rental property here, and move somewhere way cheaper and with more freedom, and have a comfortable retirement income with what I get from the .gov and if I pick a good market, what I can get from re-investing in rentals somewhere else.
My big thing holding me back is my parents. It's a self-imposed guilt trip, nothing they're doing, but they're on in years, and my mom is in the early stages of Alzheimer's, which makes things pretty hard on my dad. I'm at their farm at least a couple of times a month helping out. I just feel like I'm hanging them out to dry if I take off now.
I've actually thought a lot about Oregon and Washington, since from what I've seen from albeit short trips there over the years, they have a climate and physical features that are a big draw for me, plus they wouldn't be all that far for still helping out my folks. But it seems like both those states are starting to lean pretty progressive too. Sometimes when I read stuff about Portland, it makes San Fransisco look conservative.
I used to go to Texas a lot, and really like the people and social environment that values independence and freedom, but man, those humid summers always did me in ( I mostly was in the San Antonio region).
I also throw Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Arkansas into the mix when I'm thinking about places, but have again only spent a little time in three of them. They're mostly on the list from seeming to be pretty free, having good fishing and hunting, and from me seeing nice sized pieces of land for sale in small town environments that are in my price range on Realtor.com. :)
But yeah, I've been a "stay and fight" guy, but it may be time for me to admit defeat.