Nice discussion on the DMV. I've lived here all my life (except college) and all my family is here. My wife's from here too. But we want out and I have just a couple years left. One thing this winter and other recent snowless winters have showed me is I do not want to live in a climate that has months of forlorn bare trees and brown ground, but no snow. That means the Carolinas and Tennessee are out.
I'd rather have a warm climate with a long gardening season and travel once a year for snow. We are contemplating Florida, but those damn hurricanes (and not the sucky football team down there ). One area that might be a little less risk for hurricanes seems like the northeast FL area like St. Augustine. Lots to think about.