There is always scuba travel to warm exotic destinations!
If you are going to store your gear for several months however, everything that has been said so far is good.
Here are some other thoughts.
Soak your reg(s) in faucet-hot water in your tub to dissolve all the salt, then air dry them and take them to your scuba store for annual maintenance. This is when I check everything closely for knicks and cuts, and then I tell the store to replace what needs it. Mouthpieces do not last forever, neither do hoses, neither do nylon ties, hose protectors, etc.
I store my regs flat out in a drawer in my bedroom, not hanging.
Wash your suit(s) inside and out, then hang dry them, and store them in a closet when completely dry. I check these for knicks and cuts as well, and take them to the store for repairs if needed. Seals on drysuits and stitching on wetsuits is what you mainly need to check.
Boots and gloves wear out fast, so this is a good time to trash them and look for an end of season store sale to buy new ones.
Now is a good time to vis and O2 clean your tanks, and tell the store to fill them with clean dry air to about 100 psi as well. That way they will not charge you for an air fill, which you wont need until spring anyway. It is not a good idea to store nitrox in your tanks, at any pressure, whether steel or aluminum.
Soak and dry your fins, mask, snorkel, and dive computer as well. I store them in a drawer too. If you have a spear or speargun, soak and dry it and take it apart and inspect it.
Soak your knives, slates, jonlines, ropes, etc and dry them.
Hose off your dive float inside and out, then let it dry in the garage as well.
Once each year at the end of the season I like to take my B/C completely apart, and then inspect everything. I make sure I have rinsed out the inside with hot water. You are right, that partially inflated is the best way to store the B/C after it is rinsed. I put mine into a closet, hanging upside down.
Sunlight is the main culprit that will degrade your scuba gear, so storing everying in the dark is best. A closet dedicated to scuba gear or a drawer is darkest. Salt is the next most adverse factor for degrading gear, so thorough rinsing is quite important.
In the game of scuba toys, winter is a good time to clean and inspect all of your gear and get it ready for the coming season. If you concentrate on one piece of gear at a time, this game can last you all winter long, and keep you busy until the springtime returns. And this way, you will become better acquainted with how your gear works as well.
