Used to live in central and south Ca. Weather is perfect but traffic and cost is bad.
Have lived in AZ for many years. To hot in the desert areas and to expensive in Prescott.
I live in Clay Springs AZ which is 17 miles outside Show Low. Pine tree country but not much snow. In fact the forrest is very dry for the last couple of years.
It is windy a lot but love it here. It gets cold in the winter but not a lot of snow so no problems getting in and out to the highway.