Speaking for myself, the sole reason was cost of living and impracticality of owning a home anywhere within a reasonable drive of an urban center. While I was able to afford renting, I wasn’t getting anywhere with saving and wouldn’t have been able to change that without downsizing to a drafty shoebox of an apartment. That was fine in my 20s but now in my 30s, it felt a bit like I was spinning my wheels.

If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t mind continuing to live in California. There’s a lot to love about it, but it’s just not conducive to my current set of goals unless I manage to land a senior position at Google or something (which comes with its own set of problems).