Aussie thinking about buying real estate in USA

My daughter went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Beautiful area. Pass Robles has a huge car show, in the summer, I think. You’re three or so hours from the SF Bay Area and closer to LA. Beaches and mountains within a drive, too. Huge brewer, Firestone Brewery, in Paso Robles, as are lots of wineries.
Geographically and culturally, weather wise, it is hard to find a better place to live.

However...

Properties are expensive. Taxes are high, probably one of the top three highest states in the U.S. The politics are horrible. A liberal government anxious to redistribute the citizens wealth is deeply entrenched, and freely welcoming and protecting illegal immigrants. The citizens too stupid to figure it out and keep voting them to stay in office.

Traffic sucks and statewide, the freeways suck. I don’t think traffic is a big issue in Paso Robles, however.

We sometimes have droughts. Awful fires last year (sorry Aussie brothers and sisters about your fires this season). Mr. Sinister is correct, the law is leaning toward cracking down on our hobby, but for now, we are able to enjoy it.

I have lived in California for almost 60 years and getting close to retirement. The wife and I are considering other places to move: Arizona, Nevada, Oregon,... But for now, we feel the pros outweigh the cons to stay in California.

Ask me next year, we might have changed our minds.