Craig......if you want to surf (not SUP) then you'll be on the WRONG coast of Florida!
You should look into my town...New Smyrna Beach.
While NSB is not the quaint coastal community it used to be.......it's still a pretty cool place to live - especially if you surf. We have some of the best surf on the East coast (of the US). Granted, it's not always perfection....but most days you can ride at least something to keep your zen intact and there are many days that you can have a dang good surf session.
For me - the key is to live within' walking distance of the Inlet. We allow driving on the beach with some restrictions but it seems like the day will come when the PTB will take that away from us. I'm a 15 minute walk to the most consistent break in the area and that's where you want to be. The barrier island.
We have pretty much everything you would want for social and recreation activities. Churches, schools, shopping centers and plazas, tons of awesome restaurants, golf courses, lots of parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and an airport - plus airports nearby in Daytona Beach, Sanford, and Orlando.
Plus "Rocketland" aka Cape Canaveral is just down the road which is cool if you are into space and rockets and stuff like that.
Lots of great fishing here as well of course.
But getting back to Cape Coral - I lived in the area (Ft. Myers & Lehigh Acres) in the early 90's and really loved it there - except for the surf situation. When I had an opportunity for a lateral move within' the company I was working for at the time - I jumped on it.
Just food for thought....
You know, it's funny to see someone say they want to leave the Ventura area. I love California and except for the cold water....seems like Ventura would be an awesome place to live.