I'll throw in my - why - why East TN - family is number 1. We have all 4 seasons, but even with that "winter" is normally fairly mild and seldom much snow. We have "spurts" and occasional issues with really cold weather or big snow storms but not often. When we do get a heavy snowfall, it doesn't usually stick around too long but warnings of such does send everyone off to the store for bread and milk. We have never been so bad that husband couldn't make it (slowly and carefully) to work (because his job means he really has to be there.) We have beautiful springs and falls. Summer can get hot, but then again - usually not that hot for an extended period of time and that is why most everyone and every place has air conditioning. You can see from the temperature "averages" that we run the gamut throughout the year. However, that means that we truly have all 4 seasons. We don't have a 6-9 month winter but about a 2-3 month "mild" winter usually. Often you can go out with no coat, and sometimes short sleeves! (Now we have been unseasonably cold the past week but its suppose to hit about 60 later in the week.) The saying around here is if you don't like the weather, wait a day or two and it will change. We have a number of rivers and lakes and the Great Smokey Mountains in my backyard and within a day's drive of the beach and other areas if you want to go. Most people boat on the water for more than 6 months out of the year probably. We don't have hurricanes we do sometimes get the rains from them and we do have the occasional rare tornado but they are truly rare. We have all the conveniences and stores nearby and I can pretty get anything I need or want locally. Our "rush hour" is not an hour most of the time and I can get to most any place locally within 15-20 minutes and I live outside of the "city". I didn't worry too much about what or where my kids were or them driving when they got their license. Like Tomlee - I'd rather be cold then hot - for the same reason, I can keep adding layers when I'm cold but can only take off so much (without going to jail when you are hot!)
Like Rockytime, Les, noted - home is where the heart is. We have traveled to many places in the USA and in the world, with many places still on my bucket list while many have been beautiful and enjoyable to visit - there is still no place like home. We have been to California a few times, we spent 10 days traveling from San Francisco to Southern Calif. (Laguna Beach) last summer - the traffic alone would keep me from staying very long. Besides, just think how much more crowded California would be if we all wanted to live there.