There are only about six regions on this planet with Mediterranean style year round weather and the coastal plain of Southern California, is certainly one of them.
In fact, the near perfect year round perfect weather is worth a fortune to us.
I found Bakersfield quite appealing to my tastes both in terms of the weather and the people. My perception is that the region is quite sunny and warm -- applicable to the climate and the personalities of the inhabitants. It's my favorite part of California and beats the cold, clammy Bay Area by far. I also recall seeing more American flags there than any other part of California that I've spent any time in.
The caveat is that fond recollections of Bakersfield were formed some 20-30 years ago. It has more than likely changed over that interval but I would suppose the weather has remained a pleasant constant.