EP, as I’ve said before, the nice thing about your situation is that you did the SoCal thing longer than most people ever will, and now, I’m sure, you can probably live wherever you choose, anytime you choose, just as we can.
Along with many of our business interests, we have family and friends all over CA, and elsewhere, but the majority are in CA, including our kids, so, for us, continuing to live here most of the time makes the most sense.
I talk to people all of the time who, for numerous reasons, admit they are stuck wherever they are, and couldn’t make a change–even if their lives depended on it–even some in CA. Others dreamed of living in CA, but weren’t able to make their dreams a reality for many years, so they feel they missed out on living their dreams when they were young, which is really sad.
None of the above apply to you, so, you’ve already won, and even though SG is different, the fact that you have chosen where you want to be at this time in your life doesn’t need to be defended, but, simply, enjoyed.