I started out with a serious post but then it turned in to a condensed form of my repitoire of flying stories. All the stuff is true, too (or at least a convincing rumor), even if I make it sound ridiculous. The green lightening means a tornado is coming, by the way, I forgot to mention that.
I really think that Florida weather stinks and California weather rules, but it costs less to fly in Florida, and if all you are gonna do it build time, the weather doesn't matter as much, since you don't need to go anyplace specific.
One neat thing about Florida is the way they let you fly down the centerline of the runway the Space Shuttle lands at 500 feet (not at the same time the Shuttle is landing, of course). What with 9/11 I dunno if they still let you do that. There is also this neat runway in Florida that we called "Gilligans Island". Its on an island in the St. John's river, north of Orlando/SW of Jacksonville. The river is more of a big lake at this point. A heavily wooded island has a obvious grass runway cleared from the water's edge to the middle. One end is clear, but the other is a wall of trees, as is both sides. I don't recall it being on any sectional (it's definitely private). It's neat because it's like a private "secret hidden airfield" on someone's hidden island.
In Florida I flew at Embry-Riddle's flight school (big 141 school, also a university, sucks ass, don't go there) at Daytona (KDAB), by the way. California was a mid-sized FBO at Concord (KCCR).