My husband and I have come to the conclusion that weather has a huge effect on overall quality of life. We moved from Colorado to Utah for job reasons, and find the hot summers intolerable. It has rained just twice that I can think of since the beginning of June. The second rain was in the evening, and I remember my husand coming to get me out of my office, saying, "Come over here...I want you to smell something". I thought that was funny, but we sat out on our giant verandah just enjoying the look and smell of actual rain.
I know it sounds strange, but I'd even say that super hot summers not just negative on the overall quality of life, but also on health and fitness. I *love* to walk for hours/miles. I don't do this when it's 100+ degrees all the time.
More convincing arguments for your husband IK:
1. Quality of life
2. Health and Fitness - when I lived in Vancouver, I walked everywhere, took transit occasionally - hardly ever drove my car.
3. How about "nature deficit disorder" - where you don't spend much time outside in nature because it's way too hot, and you're going from air conditioned place to air conditioned place in your car all the time.
4. You'd never need to join a gym - hence saving money...because of walking everywhere.
5. I don't know about you, but I *love* the rain. Much better than snow, imo.
6. You spend more money in malls when it's too hot outside - seriously - it's true! You don't get to "shop local" as easily, because it's too hot for walking around from place to place. All the interesting little boutiques, shops and so on are not in air conditioned malls - they're on fun streets...but like I said, it's too hot to spend an afternoon meandering around. I know I'm totally reaching on this one, but I have a feeling it "fits" for your husband, since he's strikes me as someone who is all about sustainability/environment. Because it's hot outside, you end up going to an air conditioned MALL to get the majority of your shopping done. Car gas, big box stores, chain stores etc. Likewise - would you go to the farmer's market when it's 105F outside? I sure don't.
Will these help?
Portland might be just fab.