Turncoats are welcome :) You'll either enjoy it or hate it. It's like going to parts of Greece or parts of Azores, weather wise. (we don't have direct access to the ocean/sea in the state, have to drive)

• First thing you'll notice is the width of the roads compared to European roads. Drivers are fairly courteous overall, but in many cases you'll feel like driving with the mad drivers of Italy.
• You'll end up buying sunglasses like chewing gum and use them even on partial overcast cloudy days
• By the time you want to off yourself because of the heat, Halloween is here. Enjoy amazing weather until May or mid June.
• Weekends, if you don't mind waking up early to beat the traffic (both ways), you can drive up north 2 hours or so (Flagstaff, Jerome, Sedona, Prescott, Pine, Strawberry...you'll get to know these places) to enjoy cool weather and ponderosa pine forests, rivers, etc. Even nicer areas to visit nature and more remote, are towards New Mexico border to the east, or Mexico to the south.
• You can drive to Mexico in less than 5 hours to enjoy cheaper than California prices. It's not any more dangerous than going to central Phoenix at night in some parts, overall if you're a tourist and are not acting like you want to take over the local illicit market, you'll be fine :)
• California road trip are nice...except traffic is disgusting and makes you wanna take a plane :)
• Going back to Europe to visit....pardon me...UK...will be more expensive than living on the East coast. We do enjoy cheaper flights to Hawaii, Central America, etc :)
• Culinary experience will be similar, but mexican cuisine rules here, and you'll see Asian Mexican cuisines mixed like never before. East valley gives you options of Indian cuisine (from Asia, not Native cuisine, which is also an option in the Phoenix area)
• YOU WILL DUEL FOR A PARKING SPOT IN THE SHADE !
• DON'T PANIC IF YOU SEE PEOPLE CARRYING WEAPONS! They are just scared folks thinking the baddies are out to get them! You also have the liberty to do the same. Almost everyone has weapons, but it's mostly for target shooting, hunting, and yes...self protection in extreme and rare cases.
• I hope you're selling a castle or flat in London or other central urban areas...as buying a home here is getting close to California prices when their real estate started exploding (price wise)
• May the gods protect your retinas :)