I live in SoCal now (Newport Beach), grew up in
Houston and have lived on the east coast for some 10 years, and I am a boater, so I have some credentials for your question.
If it weren't for the high cost of living, the dysfunctional
government and my interest in cruising I would stay here when we retire next year. But..
Cruising is limited here. Once you have crossed to
Catalina a couple of dozen times, hung out in the Channel Islands, gone down to
San Diego and anchored in Mission Bay or Glorietta Bay, that is it. Unless you want to go down to
Baja and slog back up again or brave Conception Point and others on your way north.
The east coast has the Chesapeake, where we plan to retire next year,
Long Island Sound,
Maine and if you want to go that far, the
Bahamas and the
Carribean.
Living cost are cheaper, sometimes much cheaper if you pick an out of the way place. Governments are iffy-
Florida sucks but Virginia and
Maryland seem ok.
But different strokes....
David