I have a question, Floridians -- Spouse and i are thinking of buying a house in Florida

[TheNutcracker]

51. West Coast! Beaches like Hawaii white sugar sand, while east cost beaches brown like Jersey shore

The east coast of the US is hot brown sand. Bigger waves if you're a surfer.

The west coast beaches are more calm, and has cool, white sugary sand. Very few beach communities are liberal, as that is where the money resides. In town it's different. ST. Petersburg is a very up and coming liberal, urban city...to live, walk, play, theater, museums, beaches, parks, and so much to do. All coastal cities are like that, but conservative. Miami is awful. It's like living in S. America. Ft. Lauderdale and Palm Beach are expensive. Sarasota is great...but conservative. New Port Richey on west coast is getting to be real nice too.
Where ever you buy, if it's a stand alone home, make sure it's on high ground that requires NO flood insurance.

The most progressive/liberal city on west coast in Fla is DUNEDIN.

Great little town on the water. Just above Clearwater.
I vote for ST. Petersburg or Dunedin, for a smaller town. These two cities are in Pinellas County, home of the Pinellas Trail for biking, etc through the entire county! Great place. Just buy on high ground.