My worthless two cents...
All of those Eastern, Southern, and Mid-West states have one thing in common: Bugs, mosquitos, humidity, too much rain, floods, tornados, hurricanes, snow (East and Mid West), alligators/sinkholes (South), snakes, snapping turtles, and lastly some odd people. My experience. Its not a bag on those places, just a bit of reality. Florida beaches appeal to me: crystal clear water, and sugar sand. Some day I wish to visit there....on the gulf/west side of the state. Miami, I have no desire. California WAS a great place to be born and raised as a kid back in the 1970s-1980s. The 1990s was the period in time it started to go to hell in a hand basket. Nowadays, it is a pure $hithole. Sad. My fond memories: the beach, cars, the mountains, the beautiful girls, and the industry I worked in (movies and TV), it was a glorious time. I will cherish it in my memories.