I just moved down last August (it isn't really baptized by fire, just way too humid to be fire!) My comparisons are Oregon, California, and Tennessee. My wife and I are here because this is where we chose to be. I live in Brandon (Tampa). Take tour of Florida and see what you like.
The one big plus to the gilf side is the hurricanes are much less of a worry. I was doing some research before we moved, and found that Tampa rarely gets hit by majot hurricanes. (that said, 2 months after I moved here we got hit with one, but it was a little one, barely a catagoty 1.)
I love it here, so much to do, and you can call all your friends up north and gloat every January when the weather is in the 70's and the fresh strawberries have just arrived.