Question for you Northerners...

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

Sunlight deprivation is why people in the north yearn for the Spring. Thats a big part of it whether they know it or not - it's a biological thing. Winter in the north gets rid of the bugs!!! I can't stand bugs all year - lived in the Keys for awhile. Spent time in many parts of the country - I love are 4, distinct seasons around the Chesapeake - I'm almost ready for Spring. I would like to see a big snow first.

I will agree with that, but, I do like the "warmth" of the sun when spring is just around the corner. One of my favorite times of the year is when water is running everywhere due to melting snow. Why? Because I know what's coming........ Spring!

Summers in the northern Wisconsin forests are wonderful.

You got that right! I would like to be up north during spring, summer and fall. Head down south for a few months in winter. Best of both worlds. 6 months of winter is just too long. The older I get, the more I dislike the cold.

I'll take Hurricane Season over blizzard season. Both disable the population pretty equally, but hurricanes are fun!

You wouldn't be saying that if your house was flattened. Blizzards "usually" don't do any damage(excluding ice storms) unless the roof caves in from the weight of snow. But, that's why they make shovels.

To answer your question, it's tough to leave because we have a daughter still in school. Not going to make her change schools. Then there is that little thing called selling the house. In todays economy that can be an impossible task w/o taking a huge hit to the wallet. That's not going to happen. Then there's finding a decent job and a new home. Moving isn't a fun process even if it's just across town.....

As far as family, I would probably see them more since they would want to come visit and get a little relief from winter.

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

I am curious, how much time do you fellas up there spend a year shoveling snow

I don't shovel... I blow! We've got this invention called a snowblower that comes in quite handy. Actually makes snow removal sort of fun.

chopping firewood

Don't have a wood stove, but wouldn't mind if I did. Of course pellets and coal fired stoves are nice too, and allot less work than chopping wood. Our condo is heated with gas/baseboards. Don't have to chop gas, but occasionally pass it..

de-icing windshields

A professional northerner can have the thickest layer of ice cleared of their windshield in little more than 3 minutes, using nothing more than an expired credit card as a scraper. You can cheat and use ice melt (like I did this morning) if you are in a hurry. Of course there is something else we have, it's called remote start. You boys probably have it too, but leave your A/C on rather than your heat on. If your savvy enough to hit the button at the right time, chances are the windshield is defrosted and the car is toasty by the time you go out to there.

One of you fellas called us "sissies" down here in the south....well....this sissy is gonna put a cooler beside my hammock kick back and pop the top on another cold beer and swing in my hammock with 70+ degree weather this weekend if I don`t go fishing that is.

Maybe sissy is to strong of a word... Perhaps sensitive is a better choice? You boys are bundled up in heavy jackets and hats when it's 60 degrees outside. Heck that's beach weather in my book. BTW, in the winter we don't need coolers, we have one big fridge outside that keeps the beer colder than any ice filled cooler could do. Course it has to be monitored closely to prevent freezing. We also find that some of the best fishing is when theres ice on the lake...

 

[aspeck]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

FlaCowboy, it depends on the winter how much time we spend shoveling snow, chopping firewood, etc. I keep my vehicles in the garage so there is no de-icing windshields ... takes too much time when there is an emergency call. The shoveling snow and chopping firewood are enjoyable diversions and good exercise. It is like saying, how much time do you spend exercising or swimming? It is not about "getting through the winter, it is about ENJOYING the winter ... skiing, skating, sledding (both with a motor and without), ice fishing, throwing snow balls, making snowmen and snow forts. Things you never get the opportunity to do or experience. (And you don't have to buy ice to keep your beverage cold).

I heard it said that the regions closest to the equator are the least developed because there was always something ripe on the tree and the heat promoted the slower, more laid back lifestyle. They didn't have to plan on food or shelter or warmth for the winter and this created a lifestyle of "tomorrow." I enjoy your lifestyle for vacations, but I will take our lifestyle for daily living. Just saying what my preference is ...

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

....don't worry, its not free (definitely a myth)....I don't know if it ever was actually....its almost $100 per person/month...just for the ol' record.
All Good
BP

I always wondered how much it actually costed....it's still a quarter of my cost.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

I always wondered how much it actually costed....it's still a quarter of my cost.

It might be low in cost but it seems we get all the left over doctors. The health care here, in my side of the world really sucks. People get misdiagnosed all the time, it's horrible. Hours and hours are spent sitting emergency rooms. I can tell pages of stories that happens here. I would pay for good medicare anyday.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

It might be low in cost but it seems we get all the left over doctors. The health care here, in my side of the world really sucks. People get misdiagnosed all the time, it's horrible. Hours and hours are spent sitting emergency rooms. I can tell pages of stories that happens here. I would pay for good medicare anyday.

...good point TC. I'm not sure where you are located out there in New Scotland but the more rural you are the less likely you are to cash in on good care, unfortunately. Ours frikkin' rocks here...but hey, we are in the Provincial Capital and you can't shake a stick for people (Doctors, etc) wanting to move here and create the 'supply'.
Trying not to hijack the thread.....we could probably do a separate one...maybe, but its a challenge coast to coast to get any Doctors or medical professionals to 'go rural' in Canada when there is more money to be made with less hours in the major cities.

Back to Weather/lifestyle thing.....we finally got a load of snow here in Victoria!!!!....and believe it or not, I've turned down an offer to go to Southern Arizona for a week or two in early February to go to....Ottawa! to visit some buddies and skate on the Canal and catch a bit of the snow carnival ('Carnival Le Neige') and hoist a few cool brews.
All Good
BP

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

I live in Michigan and absolutely love it! The 4 seasons are all welcome and provide the changes that keep things interesting. You couldn't pay me to live in all that sweaty nasty southern heat. It would get really old really quick. I view the south as a nice place to visit, but the 4 seasons we get up here are so much better The fall colors are awesome, and my favorite, the Michigan summers cant be beat IMO, and I always look forward to winter, Christmas would be wrong without cold and snow. I guess we are lucky, we get the changes that many don't and I feel sorry for the ones who miss out on what we have. Heading up to northern Michigan right after work, we will snowmobile, and chill out in the cabin in the woods. May even fire up the hot tub, which just rocks when it's cold out, even better when it's snowing. Not everyone complains.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

I enjoy the winter, not as much as I used to, but enjoy it I do.

Summers in the northern Wisconsin forests are wonderful.

We have :
cold water lakes (14,000), non deadly snakes, no gators, no hurricanes, less drug trafficking, very few - if any - living homeless drug addicts ( it's -9* right now), on average only 10 or 15 hot humid days over 85*, only have insect pests for a few months a year, have lots of good clean fresh water, electric bill is under $700 a year, get to breathe fresh non air-conditioned air, our car and boat batteries last longer, as do the boats and motors. We have hills, and bluffs, and valleys and ravines. In addition to boating, we can rock climb, snowmobile, ice fish, and we have all 3 kinds of skiing here. And just 100 miles north of me, they get over 200 inches of snow a year.

I would prefer the extra 6 weeks of summer that southwestern Wisconsin has, but then I would be too far from Lambeau Field.

Nicely put. How is GB going to do SUN?

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

Wait 6 months, and it'll be complaints about how its too hot or too dry in the south.


IMO, you can always put another layer on to stay warm, but you can only take so much off. I've never owned an air conditioner in my life, just sleep with teh windows open. In the winter, I put on a jacket, and go about my business.

Doesn't matter where you are, somebody will be complaining about something. I just try to complain about things that carry a little more gravity than the weather.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

I saw this on a history channel show:
in the 40's before we had AC, the 10 largest cities were all north of Baltimore. Baltimore was like the southern most big city. And that's because it was just too unbearable to live any further south of there. We always had heat, but we just recently invented AC.
So when AC came around, the southern cities boomed. That's why Houston because so large.

Its like now you can have your cake and eat it too. the only issue preventing you from living down south has just been resolved.
But whining and moaning about hating where you live is just a ritual we have here in the northeast. Everyone i know swears up and down they are going to move out of MD. But they never do.

I think i would eventually get tired of summer, living in Fl.

And the red ants, gators, snakes, bugs,Illegals.

 

[rbh]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

Up to a week ago I could go down town and there was no "SNOW" (not usually this way), but the begining of this week we got our yearly cold snap -25c+- and the snows about to dump around 30-40cm tonight (THANKS BP!!!! )

House is here, freinds are here, wifes work is here, and I work all over but we based the businness out of here.
As OOPS said just a little whinning, better get some cheese to go along with that!

OH, heath care (not dental) is $119 per month total for both me and the wifey (was $112 up till the begining of 2012)
Back in the early 90's it was $46 per month for me.

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

Why would I move?
I love it here. I have 4 seasons here...4. I was stationed in SoCal for 6 years and hated every day of it. In that time it rained about 6 times. Here we may have to deal with a lil cold and snow but personally, I love it. I hate heat. Sweating my brains out is not my idea of a good time. My ideal temperature is between 30? and 65?.
Now don't get me wrong, I like my sunshine and summertime, but I look forward to winter every year.
I don't snowmobile, ski, or ice fish. I also Don't have to cut my grass, swat mosquitos, or sweat my brains out in the winter.
You won't ever hear me complaining about the cold and snow.

 

[cribber]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

Tomorrow we're supposed to get up to 79 and Sunday we'll hit 80 here in central Florida. Sunday we're headed out for a day of fun and sunshine out on the Harris Chain since the Bass Masters Southern Open is being hosted out on our lakes thru Saturday. I've spent my time above the tree line working microwave and satellite sites around the globe... I don' like the cold. These 50+ year old bones need the heat and if it's too hot we go from AC'd house to AC'd car, to AC'd store, and back. I prefer my AC out on the water cruising at 25 knots around the Harris Chain!!

 

[FlaCowboy]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

It sounds like you northeners like your cold as much as us southeners like our summers. It also sounds like you use your Heaters like we use our A/C`s....however....you don`t get to use your boats like we get to use ours sorry....had to throw that out there

As for the red ants...we have learned to avoid them...LOL
For the gators and snakes...heck...we eat them.
And as for the "illegals"...well...we got a ways to go with them still :facepalm:

Keep in mind...there is Always something to do "Outside" All Year Long down here...All types of Festivals

You Folks up North Stay Warm and Be Careful on those Icy Roads

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

It sounds like you northeners like your cold as much as us southeners like our summers. It also sounds like you use your Heaters like we use our A/C`s....however....you don`t get to use your boats like we get to use ours sorry....had to throw that out there

As for the red ants...we have learned to avoid them...LOL
For the gators and snakes...heck...we eat them.
And as for the "illegals"...well...we got a ways to go with them still :facepalm:

Keep in mind...there is Always something to do "Outside" All Year Long down here...All types of Festivals
You Folks up North Stay Warm and Be Careful on those Icy Roads

As there is up north. X-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing just to name a few. Festivals? Winter Fest! Ice sculpters, snow sculpters, turkey bowling..........

It's funny, most of the responses are from people who love the northern winters(or at least don't hate them), I think the OP's target audience was supposed to be the winter haters..... I guess it boils down to what you get use to..............

 

[sasto]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

Warm climates are for sissies. . .

Sissies?....Are you kidding?....I'll have you know Pee Wee Herman lived down the road from me here in Florida. :facepalm:

And don't forget Carrot Top!

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

As there is up north. X-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing just to name a few. Festivals? Winter Fest! Ice sculpters, snow sculpters, turkey bowling..........

It's funny, most of the responses are from people who love the northern winters(or at least don't hate them), I think the OP's target audience was supposed to be the winter haters..... I guess it boils down to what you get use to..............

Turkey bowling! I almost forgot about that!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

I lived both in Wisconsin and Florida. do I like the winters here depends - Love the ice fishing, hate the cold. However try finding a job in Florida that requires the skill set of a professional engineer with heavy mobile equipment background.

I had to move myself back to the rust belt to find a job. Do I love boating in Florida - yes. do I love the beaches and warmth - yes. when the temp is 95 degrees, could either jump into the pool, or take the boat out.

I will become a snow bird eventually, most likely charles kuralting it every year. then I will get the best boating of two worlds. Door County and lake michigan in the summers, the ICW and Florida in the winter.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

Warm climates are for sissies. . .

Sissies?....Are you kidding?....I'll have you know Pee Wee Herman lived down the road from me here in Florida. :facepalm:

And don't forget Carrot Top!

And I've got Hulk Hogan in my area!

 

[soggy_feet]

Re: Question for you Northerners...

All the talk about too hot or too cold, anyone ever realize the number of people who would complain about a 65? house being too cold in the winter, but then intentionally cool it to 65? in the summer?

Same temp, just different scenery, but 65 in the winter is a world apart from 65 in the summer apparently.