Decisions, decisions

So I've been thinking...if I'm soo willing to get myself into a ton of debt going to school in California (where I've lived my whole life) why not get myself into that much debt living some place NEW?

Like, why not live in Paris, or Sydney, or London, or ... Portland? All places I've wanted to at least visit my whole life, if not live.

Paris/Sydney/London (since they have the same pro's/con's):
Pro's:
living outside the country
shorter amount of time [about 6-8 month]
small amounts of world travel would happen based out of where ever I was
Con's:
FAR, FAR away from any family
I don't think I get anything like an associates degree (but does that matter when compared to the benefit of learning outside the US?)
I'd have to figure out visa's and whether or not I could work etc

Portland:
Pro's:
I could check the northwest off of places I wish to live  (I've wanted to live in Washington/Oregon since I was six and we visited WA)
I'd be in the same country and could therefore work while going to school
only a few more hours away than when I was in Provo
Associates (and only 58 weeks)
Potentially less debt than California
Con's:
Still a little far from my family
they only accept 16 people for each class (but I could always go to this school, which would be the same as CA but in Portland)


Sooo, my question for you is: what do you think? 
Don't forget my ardent LOVE for California, or the security that would come with being in the same state as my family again. However, I would love to travel the world and live in random, wonderful places {something I forgot a lot in Provo, but have remembered since leaving}.

I'm young, unattached, and willing to take chances.  I'm afraid living in California is the easy thing to do and increases my prospects of becoming less unattached ... or willing to take chances.  I can always live in the Golden State when I'm old and married, right?