I'm a So Cal transplant too! I'm the third generation born in L.A. . I am so much happier living up here. Most people wonder how I could ever leave L.A., like it's some shiny mecca; I won't move back, heck I'm just biding my time until hubby and I can scrape enough money together to move out into a more rural area. All but 2 of my friends that aren't animal people think I'm nuts for this.
We had to go down for a funeral in December. I could not wait to leave! I have never been a big LA person. The Mexican side of my family has a big house in East LA. That is about as much of LA as I am willing to handle. We live a much slower life than LA or OC can support. Before moving north, we lived in the mountains (between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear) for 7 years. I could do that, if I had to, but I much prefer my space!