SW is generally going to be good for avoiding most biting insects but just hate living in a brown world. Also, lots of prickery plants. We still have some nasty burrs that will dig into your foot. We picked them up in Arizona and we still find the occasional one in the throw rugs 3 months later.
We like Texas as a nice middle ground (today's weather not withstanding). To a large degree you can pick how brown or green you want it. If you go further west, you get more desert. If you get by the gulf, you get more florida. In the middle, the bugs aren't too bad and you still get some green.