I grew up in California (north, south and central). I highly doubt I will ever move back. California, in my experience, was filled with hatred and intolerance

I grew up in California (north, south and central). I highly doubt I will ever move back. California, in my experience, was filled with hatred and intolerance. Not on the surface, but dig a little deeper, disagree with the hivemind just a little bit and you'll find its friendly veneer quickly fades away to a grim reality. Beyond its never-ending bureaucracy is a politics of the personal that becomes inescapable. All that was left was to leave.