Where are we going?

Where are we going? 

So we started with researching Greenville SC, we learned that the area is in a Bible belt (we like that) and that there are a lot of families that homeschool.  We even have FB friends out there now that we know through the grapevine of family- BUT we also learned that some of the areas have pretty heavy drug circles and the "good" areas that we think we would want to live aren't quite the prices we were hoping to pay... so I said COAST and we found ourselves looking at Mrytle Beach area.. ruling out the actual city of Mrytle Beach pretty quickly we found that Surfside Beach had a very simliar feel (on the internet at least) to San Clemente.  I was sold on the idea of getting a very large beach house/duplex and living in it short term until we found something with a bit more land and then renting it out.  I starting fantasizing about decorating it and setting out towel animals for guest.  That was short lived though since there weren't many jobs in that area and - though I had been pestering Josh to just do remote work with me- he insisted on a backup plan being a nearby city with alot of industry.  He pushed for Raleigh NC and I pushed us to culture in Charleston.  Neither won.  Then I started thinking that we should go even further south- but GA sounded like "the" south and Florida sounded much more appealing.  Why?  What in my life has influenced me to think that Florida is a tropical beautiful palm tree paradise and that GA is porches, gospel singers, sweet people but slower paced and full of rocking chair?  My stereotypes run deep I guess... media... I blame the media.  Either which way I was originally convinced of moving before we even conceived our 4th little angel.  Space for the kids to run, a room per kid, or close to, an office, a mother-in-law quarters, our own laundry, a dining room again... and all for the price we currently are paying for our 2 bedroom apartment with not a patch of grass in sight?  It sounded amazing.  Josh was sure he could make more out there too- so income going up and costs going down might mean I don't have to work so much.  I LOVE Southern California.  I really don't want to leave.  I grew up moving and I finally found a place I have history with... the weather is phenomenal, the family activities are great, I don't even mind the "Orange County Culture" since I don't think we really fall into it anyway.  My biggest up-heave is that the cost of living is so high that we can not really ENJOY the above mentioned things.  I rarely bring the kids to the park, or the zoo (though we have memberships) or do the family activities because I am working so much to be able to afford just to live here.  We don't want to just survive- we hope to thrive and have a legacy left for our children's children.  We just don't see being able to do that well in SC.  We are in our 30s and Josh is nearing 40, we have no plans for retirement, no assets of value and I am ready to change that because... I want to stay here BUT its not about me anymore- its about THEM and now there are 4 of them... phew.  So moving somewhere is definitely happening but the where has been a tough call.   Seattle was on the table for awhile, as was Temecula, Lake Elsinore, even Hawaii- but we just feel we can't decide until we see it, feel it, live it and fall in love.  Till this day we have NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE GOING... but we have to go.

Here is a pic of all the places we have seriously considered in order- nothing has been ruled out but instead we decided to visit each and then discuss- why not right?  :
Greenville SC
Mrytle Beach and Surfside Beach SC
Charleston SC
Hilton Head SC

Marys Island, GA
Northern Coastal, FL
Raleigh NC
Sequim, WA
Wildomar/ Murrieta/ Temecula and Lake Elsinore CA
Mukilteo, WA
Outerbanks (KittyHawk) NC
Hilo, HA

Pensacola, FL
Cape Canaveral, FL (our most recent possibility)

Big factors for us:
Weather
Safety
Local thriving Economy (we are Accountants so- that kind of work)
Laws (smoking laws, vaccination laws, homeschooling laws etc)
Affordability (anything LESS than San Clemente prices- especially home prices)