I was born in Washington, DC, but my parents actually lived in Maryland. When I was 1.5 years old my parents moved back to NY. When I was 9 they moved back to Maryland a little further outside of DC. Being near DC was great in that it was very diverse, good restaurants, and where I happen to live after the age of 9 was one of the first master planned communities in America. Walking paths everywhere, tunnels under streets that led to schools and community pools, basket ball courts, and tennis courts so kids didn’t have to dodge traffic. Green spaces for football and picnics. When I go back I am still struck by the beauty there. Unfortunately, that area has gone a little down hill (more crime and schools are not as good as they were) as many neighborhoods do over time, but it still is very nice visually and it still is a very convenient place to live.
For college I moved to Michigan, after that to Florida, after that NC, then back to Florida, then to Tennessee, and now back to Florida again.
Funny, with Facebook I have been able to find some of my classmates from elementary school in NY, and when I see what they are interested in and their take on life I feel like I am most like them. It seems to me the town I lived in in NY as a very young girl still has a very strong community feel, the schools appear to still be very good and creative, and lately I have wanted to go back and visit. I hope to soon. They still have events at the large park in town/village. Easter egg hunts and Maypole and the ice cream man used to drive by during the day in the summer. You can get into NYC in 30–40 minutes by train or car. Many things are within walking distance if you live near the village center. The library, train stop, stores and restaurants, a grocery store, the park I mentioned and even the elementary school were all walking distance from where I lived.
Having said all of that I love living in Florida. I love the weather. Now we are in the Tampa area so it is a little cooler than when I lived in southeast FL and so our windows are open often, which I very much enjoy. Although, I do miss some things about the east coast of Florida. I feel most at home here, but I would move back to any of the places I have lived. My least favorite was probably NC, and if I was raising children I would be reluctant to live in TN or NC past the 3rd grade.