I have a couple very good friends that have tumbled down from Canada and love it here!! of course they got married eventually to make it all "legal'
Personally I think socal would eat you alive if you tried to settle in there first, your best best would be the SF area as its more accepting and laid back than the greater LA area.
SF is quite expensive but if you share costs with roomates its not so awful bad for what you get in return
some teaser pics for you

These were New years Eve a few years ago


