Taxes and high living expenses suck, but if you're making enough money (which you absolutely would be in this position) the Bay Area is actually a really nice place to live.
I live on 20 acres in Oregon with fiber to the house, my quality of life here is MUCH higher.
I also live in a state that hasn't yet tried to turn me into a criminal because I owned an object that was purchased legally.
The fact that the bay area also lives at the expense of the valley (stealing water). That and the general regulatory environment pisses me off (I consider myself an Anarcho-capitalist).
I've spent approximately 5 years of my life in the bay area, and grew up in California. I've been gone for 10 years now and I refuse to move back until property values drop to 1999 levels (adjusted for inflation), the state has the ability to live with in its means, and also a complete 180 on certain laws.
Taxes and high living expenses suck, but if you're making enough money (which you absolutely would be in this position) the Bay Area is actually a really nice place to live.