Where could one live that would be less than a 6-7 hour drive to Southern California that has seasons and is affordable to live? (middle class type neighborhood) Does such a place exist? (good job market, schools etc)

Prescott, Arizona... a mere 100 miles north of Phoenix.

I didn't even finish reading your post and Prescott AZ came into my mind. And really laughed when I saw Kennedy3's post.

I would have moved to Prescott 10 years ago if I hadn't had so many elderly and people who needed me in the Midwest. It looks like a town in Michigan with REAL trees got plunked into the foothills.

Thank you for replying. I'll have to look into that area.

Depending on where in southern California, Carson City/Minden/Gardnerville, NV is also a possibility. It's a very nice area, has a better personal tax situation than Arizona, and is about 420 miles from San Bernardino down US-395. It also has the benefit of being only short drives from Lake Tahoe and from Reno.

The Carson City/Gardnerville area popped into my mind also. I don't know about the job market however. I have known people from the SF/Bay Area that have moved there but they all had grown children so not sure about the school system either. But most of these people had been licensed Realtors and excutives for Developers so I assume they did a lot of investigating before selling and moving. Best wishes with your decision.

Elko, Nevada.