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I wouldn't consider a great deal of the US to be livable throghout the entire year due to freezing winters or hot, sticky summers. Europe in general does better in terms of moderation, although it definitely has its own extremes, particularly in the far north and east.
The problem with eastern US climates in general is that if you want milder winters than where I live, you get hotter and more humid summers. And the summer here has a July mean of like 79F. A summer like that is warmer than the majority of Europe. To get a winter with a mean temp over 50F, like Charleston SC, you also have to deal with summer mean temp of 81F and high dewpoints. I think you have to go to southern Greece for that. Even Malaga has cooler summers than Charleston.
ehh maybe once and a blue moon they do. The Med's SST's aren't anything near the Gulf Coast though. I swim comfortably in South Beach in March on spring break.
My favorite place in Europe is well of course the place where I was born. Kefallonia Greece.
My favorite climate in the US is South Dakota for it's extreme variety, though I wouldn't move there because there is simply nothing to do... Plus, I figure my tastes in climate will change by the time I'm 60.. Old bones don't do well in extreme changes in temp as seen on the Great Plains. Florida or South Texas are places I am considering retiring to in 15+ years. Already own a house in San Antonio, considering buying around Tampa
Oh and don't forget Puerto Rico is part of the US too. Some of the best beaches that I have even been too.
Didn't you just say your favorite temperatures in summer was in the 60's and 70's? That you couldn't stand heat?
The United States is more to my liking. More hot summer/cold winter climates there. In Europe, it seems you either get one or the other, which sucks IMO.
Southeastern Europe is not well represented on this forum, but a place like Plovdiv get decently cold in winter and warmer summers. Baltimore type winters with NYC type summers. Just less rainy and humid in summer.
Seems the tendency of many of us on this forum is to focus on the milder climates of Western Europe and act like that is representative of all of Europe. Many areas of Central and Eastern Europe have cold winters.
USA by a mile because it has more locales with climates that fit my needs than Europe. Except for a few locales in East Europe, none of Europe's climates satisfy both requirements I have for a good climate which are a cold winter and a hot summer.
The waters of the Med are nice and clear and blue. Oligotrophic for sure.
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