Agree that many Boomers, and younger people just starting out, will most likely have to leave CA for retirement, employment, housing, and tax purposes, but many, like myself, and just about everyone I know, plans to stay–because (after checking out most of the world), there’s no other place we want to live.
Yes, other less expensive, and more tax-friendly areas such as AZ (where we also have some rentals) and TX, etc., are booming again, and I think they will continue to attract many who are looking for financial relief.
As the current population ages, I think you will see places like those mentioned above continue to flourish. CA, and San Diego in particular, is a tough place to sustain a high standard of living from the working years all the way through the retirement years.
Even those who are making the “big bucks” here today, may not be able to sustain their lifestyles here for the balance of their lives–should they choose to do so. Overall, it will be interesting to see how this all plays out over the years.