We did the opposite a couple of years ago, when we retired. We moved up to Seattle from Mobile, AL. We grew up in Texas, and had a beach condo in the Florida Panhandle. We moved to be with our daughter, and to provide babysitting 2-3 days a week.
After a life on the Gulf Coast, the Seattle weather has been pleasant to us. I mean “extreme heat warning” for a high of 75! Also, they call it rain, but it’s more of a mist. I’d like these people to experience the daily afternoon thunderstorms in August, into September, along the southern coast. It did get cold, and snow the first winter, but we have accommodated, and have proper clothing. It helps that we don’t have to get in to work.
My southern boy political views are not in vogue here, bit it’s easy enough to not talk politics, and some of my friends are conservative. Lucky for my daughter we can afford to live here. I don’t drive much. (1 year service on our new, and only, car showed 3.5k miles) Gas prices are insane here.
System wise, I am fairly lucky to have a rather big room, and kept my separates. I built a new rack, and am building new DIY Aleph J monoblocks. I am awaiting my extravagant purchase of some new speakers, due in a month or so. Details later. Back when I was worried about room size, I was considering an integrated amp, the Dartzeel CTH 8550. That concept was crashed by whatever changes are going on at Dartzeel. Currently loving the tubed preamp and solid state amps. Looking forward to trying out the class A amps as the weather cools here.