It's the classic battle of East Coast versus West Coast, namely Florida versus California. Both states bring in quite a bit of revenue from tourism, have world-famous beaches, and take pride in staple restaurant chains. The glitz and the glamour of California may catch people's attention, but there's plenty of reasons myself and many others will choose to stay in Florida for this part of our lives:

1. The lower cost of living.

As Silicon Valley and cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles draw in bigger and bigger crowds, down in Florida, paying rent and utilities does not feel like giving up an arm and a leg. Commodities here remain affordable, and even the older population of the United States chooses to retire in South Florida over the Pacific coast.

2. White sand over brown.

Florida beaches are truly astounding, along with the other states on the Gulf Coast. The scientific processes that gave us our brilliant white sand did not work out the same for our West Coast friends. You win some, you lose some.

3. Not having to shovel snow in winter.

Floridians are spared from the back-breaking work of clearing driveways and roads in winter. This is especially great news for the elderly population who come to Florida to, you know, not have to physically exert themselves with strenuous tasks anymore.

4. Disney World > Disneyland.

EPCOT, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom!

5. Our proximity to the Caribbean.

Haiti. Cuba. Jamaica. Puerto Rico. The Dominican Republic. The U.S. Virgin Islands. The influence of countries further south than South Florida leads to fantastic cuisine options in cities like Miami, where Cuban coffee is the drug of choice. Being in such a multicultural area gives citizens a sense of just how big the world is, even when they're in the place they call home.

6. But we're still part of "the south."

Let's not forget about North Florida! California can boast about its In-N-Out, but at least we've got Whataburger and Cracker Barrel. We are close enough to states like Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and Louisiana to enjoy Mardi Gras, biscuits and gravy, and sweet tea. If we want to mix up our diet, it's just a five or six hour drive south to get some Pollo Tropical.

7. Traffic doesn't dictate our day-to-day lives.

Major accidents are widespread and often avoidable in Florida. With apps like Waze, you can easily figure out what your commute to work will entail before you even leave the house. In California, however, you may already be expecting every major interstate and highway to be slow, regardless of the presence of an accident. That's just a hopeless feeling, I'm sure.

8. One word: Publix

Chicken tender pub subs for $5.99. Need I say more?

9. Three more words: Key lime pie

Apple pie is not that American when you think about the strudels and pastries that preceded it in Europe. But key lime pie, that's 100 percent Made in America. Many people may be turned off by such a tart dessert, but if you're a margarita kind of person, this dessert is just right for you.

10. No income tax and lower sales tax.

This means you have a higher net income, and you spend less when you go shopping. California is cool and all, but saving money is even cooler.

11. College football is life here.

In North/Central Florida, you've got the rivalry between Florida State University and The University of Florida. Even further south, UCF, USF and "The U" (Miami) rep their sports teams hard. I mean, shoutout to UCLA for doing big things, but how about the rest of the UC or Cal State system? Where ya at?

12. Clean air and abundant water.

I'm sure NorCal is not suffering in the same way as SoCal is from the California drought, but Florida is in no way having a water crisis. Not to mention there's not a single city here that produces the kind of air pollution seen in Los Angeles. If there's any word that encapsulates all the reasons Florida is better than California, it'd be "fresh."

Look, I'm not saying California does not deserve recognition for everything it's got going for it as a state, but let's be real, Florida is a great time for tourists and newcomers alike. In fact, I hope Venice Beach and Malibu got some of the spring breakers who were discouraged by Panama City Beach's decisions this year. Hey, Florida isn't perfect, but it's home.