Longtime advocate of bringing top businesses to Texas, Governor Rick Perry could be considering a move to the “Sunshine State” according to a New York Times Magazine story released Tuesday.

Governor Perry has been an outspoken critic of California, speaking out against the state’s high costs and regulations.

“Building a business is tough, but I hear building a business in California is next to impossible,” said Governor Perry in a radio spot that aired last year. “This is Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and I have a message for California businesses: come check out Texas. There are plenty of reasons Texas has been named the best state for doing business for eight years running.”

Still, a partial transcript of the interview with writer Mark Leibovich said that Governor Perry loved California.

“I would live in California if I could afford it,” said Governor Perry in the interview. “Why wouldn’t you want to live out here? Seriously?”

Governor Perry’s spokesman Travis Considine emphasized that the question was rhetorical, and that the Texas governor often referenced the price of living in California as a major drawback for those considering to move there.

“I know sometimes I get a bit of a rap that I only come to California to recruit businesses to come back to Texas,” said Governor Perry in a speech in San Francisco recently, “but the fact is — well, I have done that — but I root for this state.”

Washington Post reports that Governor Perry has decided against re-election in November, but he is still considering another presidential election.