California is prohibitvely expensive. I live in SoCal, and I just paid $4.09/ gal at Costco. Gas at the neighboring gas station was $4.59. Rent is high. Groceries are high; when I travel home to the Midwest, I don't even look at prices because whatever it is, they are cheaper than what I am used to.
The medical system is difficult to navigate, and the dentists here are like the car dealers. They sell you the upgrade without telling you they are upgrading you. I learned that the hard way because a friend of mine used to be a dentist. When I tell him what each new dentist I try is suggesting, he tells me what part of the treatment is inflated. I keep changing dentists, trying to find someone I can trust. No success yet.
Crime is high and homeless people are all over, including elderly in wheelchairs. Beware, you could be next.
Car insurance is high. It almost doubled when I moved here.
I moved here 8 years ago and would have moved away, except my partner lives here. If it wasn't for him, I could never survive. When I was preparing to move here, I thought, "Well, the cost of living is high, but the income will be higher. " Unfortunately, the jobs I see here pay the same range as they did back home in the Midwest.
California has beautiful weather and nice people, but there is a reason we are losing population to other states. Based on your concerns, I am not sure it will meet your needs.