Don't know about manageable summers, Kim, seems like you'd be trading hot and dry for not quite so hot but humid, humid, humid with almost daily afternoon thunderstorms. Lot's of lightning. And then there's the fact that the proximity to all that water means a proximity to all those hurricanes. Still, the winters are absolutely fabulous with no shoveling of the white stuff. I'm in a place that's not too touristy either, which suits me just fine, though it is a mecca for the retirees which can get tiresome. I'm among those who'd like to visit Australia & New Zealand too, but doubt if that'll ever happen. Haven't been to Texas either though my daughter's in Conroe so I'll probably make it that far one of these days. Never been to the Northwest either, though it looks fabulous and my son in Tacome really likes it, not Tacoma but the surrounding beauty.