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I think those areas would be my favorite climate in the USA. Would San Rafael and Santa Rosa work as well?
Actually, just about anywhere in the North Bay Area would work better than where I live now, as long as it is far enough from the Pacific to avoid the chill off the water. Both Santa Rosa and San Rafael are a little closer to the Pacific influence (though far better than San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Point Reyes or anywhere in the East Bay) than the other places I have mentioned. The plus side is Santa Rosa and San Rafael have the benefit of slightly milder winters and maybe a lesser likelihood of an unexpected March frost ruining those early blossoms.
What's perfect depends more on the individual than the place. If I were to consider only climate....
I happen to like a dormant season. Without one, many of the fruit crops I can grow in my area or buy locally would be difficult or impossible to grow. So such places as coastal Hawaii or south Florida are out. I would want at least two months (but no more than four) with average temperatures below 50 (10) degrees.
On the summer side of things....Ideally, I would like two to four months of average temperatures passing 70 (~21.5) degrees with no month higher than 77 (25). This way I can grow more varieties of tomatos and peaches; stick in a few almond trees and still avoid the suffocating nonsense that the northern Sacramento valley endures.
So, who fits the bill temperature-wise and is still wet enough that I can actually grow something besides sagebrush and juniper? In the west, where I live, only towns and cities in northern and central Californis meet the criteria.
Ukiah, Healdsburg, Auburn, Placerville, Livermore, Sonoma (barely) and Paso Robles would be candidates - if weather were my only consideration.
So I assume the climate of this area is a little warmer than Monterey? I lived there for a year and it certianly was mild but never...perfect...at least not for more than an hour.
Actually, just about anywhere in the North Bay Area would work better than where I live now, as long as it is far enough from the Pacific to avoid the chill off the water. Both Santa Rosa and San Rafael are a little closer to the Pacific influence (though far better than San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Point Reyes or anywhere in the East Bay) than the other places I have mentioned. The plus side is Santa Rosa and San Rafael have the benefit of slightly milder winters and maybe a lesser likelihood of an unexpected March frost ruining those early blossoms.
I think I'd prefer Santa Rosa / San Rafael. A little ocean influence isn't bad especially if it takes out frosts. The summer highs are still above 80°.
Equatorial highlands (averaging 70-75*F year round) or the windward sides of Indo-Pacific islands in the outer tropics (Reunion, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tonga, Hawaii, etc).
For an actual city, I would say Hilo, Hawaii or Port Vila, Vanuatu.
I got to live in Hawaii for two years and the weather was wonderful year round.
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