Phoenix AZ is really great. We have lots of shops and many many guilds and sewing groups. We moved here to escape the East Coast. The cost of living is cheaper than MD and jobs are fairly plentiful. Our rent is quite reasonable. If we could afford to buy a house, that is not too bad either. You can drive a couple of hours away in the summer and be in a much cooler moutain area.
We now have a big quilt show coming to our are this winter.