Idk where you'll be in AZ, but I really like Phoenix. If you're there, there is a ton of hiking/camping weather is always great and I find beauty in the desert. An hour-90 min away is Flagstaff which has beautiful forests and gets lots of snow! Better skiing is at Sunrise in the Pinetop/Showlow area. Those areas also have lots of lakes for camping/fishing. Summer is obviously very hot, so be aware, but I find the other times of the year extremely comfortable. The cost of living is very reasonable, and if you ever want to get away, PHX isn't the most expensive airport to vacation out of. The traffic/commutes are not bad at all compared to other large cities. Many people in phx have grass/lawns, so you'll still see a lot. There's also a lot of golf courses. Phoenix and Tucson both have a lot of things to do - shows, concerts, theater, museums, symphony, shopping, lots of delicious restaurants, outdoors stuff, etc. You should go to Antelope Canyon, Sedona, Grand Canyon, Saguaro National Monument, and lots of other places!
The ocean is about a 4hr drive away to Rocky Point or 5.5hrs to Los Angeles if you need some saltwater time
Con - public transportation is not great. You can get anywhere if you are willing to ride the bus long enough/bring a bike, and the lightrail is useful if you live near it.
Let me know if you have any questions! I lived out there my whole life and Oregon's rain makes me sad.