I live kinda close to AL so am partial to the areas near the FL north border, good folks, close enough but far enough away not to be too close. Lived on the beach for 40 years, that is a mess today, too much, too soon, with little to no prior planning, best to visit the coast now and then. But It was very good to me while I lived there.

If I needed to still make a living, I would still be in the middle of it all.
So where to live depends on need, all is available in Alabama.

“To expect defeat is nine-tenths of defeat itself. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. It is best to plan for all eventualities then believe in success, and only cross the failure bridge if you come to it."
Francis Marion - The Swamp Fox