The thing about California is, a lot of the people who move out there, eventually move back. I'm not privy to everyone's finances but I never got the feeling most of them were coming back with pockets filled with gold.

I'd be tempted to make the commute from Indiana to Chicago. Isn't there a train for it and everything? The commute's no worse than many in CA, although I suspect for a native it's viewed as a little extreme. (and of course, there's a lot to be said for actually living in Chicago)