I've done a fair amount of traveling in unknown corners of the country this summer. When folks find out I'm a Californian (it's far too complicated to explain that I am actually a Nebraskan), generally the response indicates that they don't like the idea of Californians moving into their sacred state (I'm talking to you, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Oregon, et al...). They may claim that California used to be nice, before so darn many people moved in. They may tell you about the big houses being built in the mountains by the ostentatious jerks from the Golden State, or they may cleverly tell you that they don't want their state to be Californicated.
My kneejerk reaction is to tell them to shut the fuck up, because this is America and if someone wants to move from one place to to another, it's their right to do so. If you don't want big houses in the hills, you're going to have to get involved in local politics and change the zoning laws. If you don't want lots of traffic on your city streets, you're going to have to become a proponent of public transit. And if you don't want someone else fishing in your favorite stream, you're going to have to get up early. Who are you to tell me where to spend my money and make my home? What makes you think you own the local culture? You are a part of the culture, you can work to affect it, but you do not own it, and if you want the culture of your hometown to be one way or another, you're going to have to work for it.
When I first moved to California, Teddy said something which is one of my favorite, uh, witticisms. He said "You know, people in other places are always afraid of Californians moving in and messing things up. Californians just say, 'Of course you should move here. It's great.'"
California is beautiful. We got it all, weather, cities, food, wilderness, jobs, and yeah, people. We have all kinds of people from all over. They come here because there's still some good life left and they want a slice. And for the most part, they are welcome. I welcome them, anyway. Come out to California. Life is great out here.