jofus wrote:I would rather do without the earthquakes, fires, crime, etc.
After 5 years in SoCal I have yet to be personally impacted by any of these. I have spent time in the midwest and the south, however, where I was impacted
daily by one or more of the following: storm warnings, temperature extremes, unbearably oppressive humidity (accompanied by oppressive haze), torrential rain, hail, freezing rain, snow cover lasting 6+ months, undeterrable mosquitos, fire ants, and, frequently, less-than-sunny dispositions by the resident-folk (customer service in Michigan...AACK!).
But that was probably a unique exerience. I'm sure people are leaving those states in droves for some other reason.