Living in California is almost like living anywhere else in the United States but with an added ray of sunshine. It is sunny in California and energetic too. The vibes are great. Chances are good that you'll meet a celebrity or two also. You can go to the beach or the mountains or even to the desert. Expect to pay more though.
There is traffic, that's for sure. You will note things are done at a faster pace and people sometimes seem preoccupied and not so friendly. You'll need to go out of your way to get into subgroups or to do things to meet people because they probably won't just come to you. California is a great place to live but it's up to you to make it that way.