This is a false dichotomy. There are hundreds of millions of Americans that live in places that are neither the Bay Area nor the boonies.
In any of the 50 biggest metro areas in the US, there are employment choices for programmers.
In any of the 50 biggest metro areas in the US, there are employment choices for programmers.
Everyone I know who took these moves went to places like a large farm out nowhere, or a cabin deep in the forest, or to a small village in the mountains or on a faraway beach. Places which defined paradise to each individual, with wonderful quality of life (but no jobs).
Personally I was very strongly tempted to move to Kona (Hawaii) keeping my full silicon valley salary. Not exactly a hotbed of replacement tech jobs though, so I guess I'm glad I didn't.
I guess there is a tendency to overreact and think, "I want the exact opposite of the Bay Area", when what you really want is cheaper rent and a tad less shit on the sidewalk.