We just moved to Gulf Breeze, FL (northeast FL) outside of Pensacola last month and just have to comment. Previously, we lived in Newfoundland, mainland Japan, southern Japan (Okinawa several tours)), Germany (several tours), and Iowa where we retired in 2006. As someone mentioned, home is where you make it. My husband loves the heat, I love the cold - hence our choice of Northwest FL since it does have a seasonal change. We will head north for the summers (his concession to my needing cooler climate) and head back here in Sep (my concession to him needing more warmth), but it really doesn't matter where we live, we made our HOME everywhere and our kids are now living in Newfoundland, Michigan and Kentucky and all love to come to FL any chance they can, so we may see more of them in FL than we did in IA.
I love the people here, really outgoing and friendly. Everyone, and I mean everyone, we have met so far has been courteous and kind and outgoing. We have been exhausted at the amount of events going on in our area and have signed up the the opera season, have toured SOME of the museums, are looking forward to spending more time on the beaches and seeing those lovely porpoises playing around in the water, taking in some of the lectures at the various colleges. Will be attending a gallery night in downtown Pensacola tonight where all the galleries and events are open til midnight, Tri State Fair going on right now. Big and Rich are at the Naval Air Station tonight. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this area!!!!! In IA we were about 100 miles RT from any town with more than 2 stores, now we're 5 to 15 miles from anything we need or want. Plus we're only 1 hour from Mobile, AL, 3 hrs from New Orleans, LA or 6 hours from Atlanta, GA. How cool is that! Life is what you make of it, try it with a positive attitude and open yourself to the local customs and habits and you will enjoy it. Separation from family is not easy, military members have known that for centuries, yet they have adapted and become stronger for it.
Sorry for the long post, but relocation is something close to my heart and something I've experienced so often.