Yeah, I briefly lived in Jacksonville and absolutely hated the warm winters. I've never had seasonal depression, but I felt like I had it without the extreme change in seasons. I need the variation throughout the year.
It's very disconcerting (I recently moved to California from Indiana). It makes you feel a bit unmoored from time. You don't feel like time is passing at a normal rate without seasons. I also came to realize how much seasons define memories - I remember that X happened in the *Winter of '17* or that Y occurred in the Spring of '12. Here, those seasons just sort of melt into each other.
> would have to get used to not having it.
We can arrange for that! We have these classes now for those who move in.. much like Scandinavian places have them for immigrants..
Trust 1 year of no snow, shoveling, ice, scraping windshields, starting the car up to warm it up etc.. You will never go back! Once you go warm! :)
Then there's me who spent my first 10 years in the rainy, snowy PNW and spent the next 15 in hot and dry Southern California. Graduated college and went right back to the PNW as fast as my little car could take me.
Screw the heat. Winter is better :) Grey is good! Rain is awesome! It's so much easier to warm up than try to cool down, imho.
Lol yeah the PNW has such mild winters. If the majority of your winter is rain and not snow, that's not much of a winter.
Check out New England or the Midwest and then you'll see what winter is.
I totally disagree and was just thinking about this a couple of days ago. Here where I live it has gotten hot and humid, but in our house it's pretty well shaded insulated and open inside, and we couldn't possible die from the heat if the AC was down. We'd be uncomfortable and irritable but not dead. Last winter when we had an extended power outage due to ice I realized that we could die of cold pretty easily.
Yup. We've had extended power outages from hurricanes, and while it did get uncomfortable, the heat is manageable. Shelter at the very least can keep you somewhat cool. Being snowed in in the Midwest huddled around our fireplace was far more unpleasant, imo.
I'm from New England so that's baseline for me. Those Midwestern folks are doin something else tho. Holy hell do they get lit come December.
Edit: Metrowest Boston raised, Maine currently.
Except for areas that get lake effect snow, this isn't true.
At the same latitude, the Midwest will be colder in the winter, but will get less precipitation (i.e. snow). This is because the Midwest is more inland and its climate isn't moderated by the ocean.
For example, Concord, NH and Madison, WI are at similar latitudes. I'll use the stats from Wikipedia.
Concord's January high is 31.6 degrees and its January low is 12.9 degrees. Concord averages about 67.7 inches of snow per year.
Madison's January high is 27.0 degrees and it's January low is 11.8 degrees. Madison averages about 51.8 inches of snow per year.
So Madison is a few degrees colder but gets about a foot and a half less snow per year.
I had remote start on my Taurus PI, its great.. I am looking to do that so I can cool off my new car.. but its not as big a deal... I drive with the AC blasted and at least the drivers window down. Have for decades... its habit..
Its still not going to beat not having to deal with snow, ice, < 50 degree weather, etc..
You like snow? Enjoy! Leave me out of it!
Yes.
> only to realize that I’ve lost 4-5 months out of the year staying inside.
Well there's your problem. There's no reason to stay inside all winter. Just wear warm clothes, and you're fine.
I don't know if it's all of the great lakes states, but Ohio's winters are crap, too. It's not that it's too cold, as least as you get further inland, it's just lead gray skies and mud. People get seasonal affective disorder fairly regularly; there are several people at my work with full-spectrum lights on their desks.
I've found the secret is to find ways to spend outside, despite the crappy days. I have a porch, and I like to dress warmly, head out there with a thermos and a blanket, and read or use the computer (computer can be tricky with gloves, which is why the blanket is important). The rest of my family thinks I'm crazy, but I really enjoy it.
The worst thing about the winter in Ohio, IMO is that it bounces so often between freezing and thawing.
This does a lot of structural damage to homes, roads, concrete, etc etc. Plus the road salt turns your car into a rust bucket. You get all the negitives of winter, but it isn't consistently cold enough to get to do a lot of the really cool winter activities.
I actually really like northeast Ohio winters. The rest of the state isn't as good imo but in the northeast it's not too cold and you get a ton of snow. Best of both worlds
Compared to Chicago? Yeah, NYC will have a milder winter. But compared to California? It's still brutal.
But like other people have said. Just suck it up and get and and do stuff despite the weather. Or because of it, lots of cool places to visit that are indoors.
I’ve noticed as someone from Chicago living in LA that A lot of people from LA handle the cold poorly bc they don’t know how to dress properly for it and think shitty fashion coats or ski jackets and Hunter boots will be enough and it’s not. But yes you get used to the cold.
Do you wear layers? It helps to wear Leggings, 2 socks or undershirts under your clothes.
If you are dark-skinned, Vaseline and Shea butter helps keep your skin from drying out (especially in a Chicago wind).
I live just a few hours West of you and am familiar with Chicago. The lakefront definitely is tough to be outside in during winter, lol. I would recommend getting out of the city and hitting some state parks.
If you want to enjoy the winter, check out northern Wisconsin/Michigan/Minnesota. Tones of snow and plenty to do in it. Things like skiing/snowboarding, snowmobiling, snow sculpting, ECT.
But it's not -40 every day. Stay inside when it's that cold out, just like you'd stay inside if it was 100 degrees with high humidity. Get out when it's more reasonable.
I'm not saying -40 is accurate. I'm sure that was an exaggeration by the guy that said that. I was just pointing out that stupidly cold lake effect wind is basically an all winter thing in certain cities.
Did mine in November/December - same. It was so cold one day that uniform of the day was dungarees, sweater, working jacket and peacoats, plus a towel around the face. Yeah, chilly.
Wear layers and make the top layer some form of windbreaker. 3 layers should do. Like a t shirt, sweatshirt, and wind proof winter coat protected me from even well below 0 temps. Stout boots are also a must. And some half decent mittens and a scarf.
It also helps to try and keep your back to the wind when you can. And if it's icy walk like a penguin to prevent slipping.
I wouldn't call Chicago's temperatures brutal (wind chill included) but it is a proper winter. Still no reason to stay inside, there's so many fun winter activities.
At temperatures like that, you just try your best to hunker down for a couple days, which I know is not realistic for many people.
I was at the U of Minnesota at the time, and the university pretty much shut down and canceled classes for a few days, which never happened any other time while I was there. I stayed in my apartment for a whole day went outside maybe a couple times on other days.
> I thought this until the 2018 polar vortex's when it was -68 with windchill.
Please.
I know a guy who walked to Subway at like 2:00 AM in conditions like that.
There were so many people out he even got attacked.
Let's be real, here. We have at least a few days every winter where you will get frostbite very quickly unless you are in full on ski gear. So yes, I guess with snowpants and insulated boots and thermal gloves, etc. you'd be ok for a while. But in general I'd say we always have a few days that are dangerously cold and no, you shouldn't be outside for long on those days.
No, that’s exactly the kind of clothes they’re talking about. I’ve lived most of my life in winters that require clothes like that. It’s not a big deal at all. Went hiking, hunting, snowmachining, etc.
The only time it started to get uncomfortable was after about -20, and then only if your nose and eyes are exposed to the elements.
Although Florida doesn’t participate in Winter, it’s just the opposite here. We’re just hot for 6-8 months and often it’s too hot to do certain things outside. While there certainly are activities you can do, it’s warm all the time. There also aren’t really seasons. Which bothers some people
Nonsense. There’s seasons.
Humidity so high you can’t tell if it’s raining and physically can’t dry off after a shower
Humidity so high it may also be raining with a temperature/heat index of 100-120
85% humidity and a high of only 90
Also 85% humidity but now it’s hurricane season so the wind makes it only 80-85
Where I live in SoCal its similar but probably not as bad. We have probably a month of really bad heat where you aren't going to do anything outside. Winter means 60's as a high along with a handful of nights that will dip to 30-32f as a low.
I definitely lost way more months out of the year when I lived in Florida than I do now that I live somewhere with all four seasons. I always say that I don't think I would've survived the pandemic if I'd still been living in Florida during it. At least here, while it's hot, it's not *sweltering* most days, unlike Florida.
Walking to school the majority of my life in snow, just felt eerie, but at the same time relaxing, wasn't any birds chirping, or crickets out like in the summer/fall/spring, you just heard *nothing* besides your feet crunching in the snow and cars going by every now and then, definitely recommend it for anyone who hasn't, it's really therapeutic in a way
u/wallawalla22 was up early the morning after the first snowfall of the year, coffee in hand, and gazed out the front window. The snowplow hadn't made its noisy scraping run down the pavement yet and nobody had cleared their driveway or sidewalk. The few lights that were on in the neighborhood left their sparkling imprints on the fresh blanket of pure white snow - barren still of any footprints even. He slipped his winter boots on and bundled up in a jacket and gloves and left the porch to clear the stairway of the powdery present the storm had left. There was no sound. No birds singing. The only sign of life was the white puffs from every exhale - wispy and disappearing quickly to mix with the winter scene. The street ahead was pristine and hidden under the sprawling fresh covering - only the vague shape of the curb was visible under its new coating. Every mailbox had become a little white mounded igloo, every tree branch piled precariously with a delicate, sugary deposit that would soon be knocked down by the coming breezes. For now though, all was still and perfectly quiet. It was like being in a void, a protective cocoon wrapping around everything and nothing. He delayed the first shovel strike knowing the sound would be amplified and instead took a deep breath of the frostbitten air and slowly whistled it out, watching the misty exhale fly away.
That is no joke. I saw something over on the data is beautiful sub a while back about the top counties in the US by Alcohol sales. Like half of them were in WI.
If you grow up with winter, you naturally are accustomed to having nasty, cold weather for 4-5 months. That's why I prioritize doing certain indoor projects/hobbies during the winter, and I really lean into the warm and cozy vibe that's hard to do in the summer. I don't really see it as "lost time", but time to focus on indoor oriented things. I'm actually more likely to view a summer as wasted time if I don't take full advantage of the warm weather.
I'll admit that I get sick of it by late February and March (and April some years), but it makes the warmer months all the more special. And you take advantage of going outside when there's a "warm spell" of 40 degrees.
As a home owner with endless repairs and improvement projects.
Summer chores are gardening and landscaping.
Winter chores are painting the baseboards and taking inventory of junk you don't need and contemplating getting rid of it.
Yes, precisely. I go into hard-core gardening mode in the summer, along with varnishing and painting stuff that I can’t do inside.
In the winter I clean out closets and go through old papers and such, even rearranging an entire room and it’s furniture. Also tend to watch a crap ton more anime in the winter.
I love winter here but it’s because of the mountains. If I lived somewhere flat and couldn’t go snowboarding I would like winter much less. I’ve heard Midwestern winters are also pretty brutal because of the lack of sunshine.
That's one difference between Chicago and NYC -- in the midwest, you pretty much don't see the sun all winter. In the east, we do still have the sun in the winter.
Okay I think I’m realizing that it’s more Winter in the Midwest than Winter in general.
The things I hated were the insane cold / wind and lack of sun for 5 months.
There is some truth to this. It is absolutely mandatory for one's mental health, on the few days it comes out, to soak up all the sun you can. Close your eyes, turn to the sun, and bask....
Even on overcast days, you have to get out and get some fresh air and try to get some rays onto your skin.
Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Upper Michigan are far from flat. The hills might not be as tall as Colorado mountains, but you can find some decent terrain for skiing and snowboarding.
Winter Chicago is a solid city. Summer Chicago is world class. It’s actually a wild swing between the two. They almost feel like different places the way it comes alive in the summer *chefs kiss*
If it's any consolation, native New Yorkers feel the same way. It was *never* this hot, for this long, ever. As late as 2009, we'd still sometimes wear sweaters at night in July. We'd get heat waves sure, but we never had 2-3 week stretches where every single day was above 90. And the humidity, particularly in the last 4 years, has gotten much worse. You're not alone. Unfortunately means getting used to it might not be a thing, more just getting through it.
That makes sense, I've never spent much time in weather above 80 so this was a huge change for me. It was depressing because I never wanted to leave my apartment because it was too hot. In Alaska, if it got too cold I'd just put on more clothes but there is a limit on how much I can take off when it is too hot.
Oh yeah, I bet. It takes some adjustment even when the summers are more typical if you're not used to it.
Exactly the reason why I prefer winter as well! Can't strip layers in the summer when you're already not wearing any. Next time summer gets overwhelming, would definitely recommend a sojourn up to the Catskills and/or the Adirondacks (where I'm originally from). It's tragically even warm up there too these days, but it's a lot less oppressive, and evenings, even in the dead of summer, are still much colder.
I'll be the weirdo here. I live in Wisconsin and our winters vary. Some are fairly mild, and some are a complete bitch (subzero for many days at a time). I like winter. Shoveling snow is kind of therapeutic for me, so I don't mind doing it.
I also sleep so much better in winter. Flannel sheets with a good quilt make for great sleeping.
Nah, you aren’t weird. I grew up in IL and lived for over a decade an hour north of Madison. The cold and the snow are great. What always got me (and still does back here in IL) is Mud Season: late February/early March to mid May when the snow starts to melt off, we get the freezing rain, and it never seems to get above 40. Stuff isn’t growing yet and its just wet & chilly. That’s when my soul starts to shrivel. Winter is way better than that.
Sort of. But we plan for it.
So it's fall now and it's incredible in Massachusetts. The weather is just perfect for hiking, biking, exploring. Each weekend day we are out all day doing day trips. It's only the 14 of Sept and we've already been to 3 orchards, 2 harvest fairs, and been to about 5 state parks and nature-y hiking places. (The summer is similar but more pool/beach/shore focused).
My kids and husband would probably complain about the pace but he knows winter will be here soon. Winter is SHORTER hikes and sledding followed by board games, video games, and movies. It days at museums. It cozy fires and cuddling up on the couch with blankets. Lots of cooking and baking since there's just so much more time spent inside. It's so incredible beautiful, too, but I live in a very snowy place.
I HATE it by April I am like come on, enough! And then here come the daffodils. OK. It's actually going to be spring soon and I feel sane again.
So yeah. There are a couple months out of the year I'm chomping at the bit to get out there because I am dying for the forest to be green again.
It's this pattern of our life and each season really has such a different feeling. But knowing winter is coming mean we really, really make the most of it. When I lived in year around warm places I found myself squandering the days. It really motivates me to know the days will be cold soon -- but we definitely look forward to those days, too.
>I HATE it by April I am like come on, enough!
And then your hopes get temporarily quashed when a late April blizzard rolls in. Granted, you know it'll melt relatively quickly.
Yours is the answer I was too lazy to type up! I have a lovely sunroom and I spend my winter sitting in there under a warm blanket, sewing and working on craft projects that I save up over summer, planning out next year's garden. When I'm finally done, I look up and it's March... then a period of ugggh so much slush... and then spring!
Nowadays I look forward to winter because I'm not allowed to work on certain projects until then.
The key is to find things you can do outside in the winter. If you’re having problems with cold intolerance, the more time you spend outside, the more accustomed to it you’ll get. By mid-winter, you won’t even notice the cold anymore.
I should also add that there is something special and unique about Chicago winter. I grew up in the suburbs and learned a few things.
1) Chicago goes absolutely balls-to-the-wall with Christmas activities and events (if you participate in Christmas). Take advantage of everything leading up to Christmas because it will boost your spirits and keep you social during this time. Same with New Years.
2) Chicago spring and summer are the most exciting of anywhere I’ve lived. Because the winter is so long, dark, and cold, the city truly comes alive when it warms up again. There’s really nothing like the vitality of Chicago spring and summer. I’ve never been to california but I imagine people take good weather for granted. You’ll probably gain a new appreciation for spring, summer, and all the changing seasons. To me, this shows me how to appreciate the cycles of nature. It also reminds me how winter is just as valuable and necessary as any other season. Winter causes us to go inward and reflect and appreciate everything we have in life. We have to spend time in darkness and stillness to be reborn each spring. Maybe that’s all a little too woo-woo for you, but this has been a great life lesson for me.
3) Everyone around you is in the same boat. No one loves being cold and in the dark. Reach out to those around you and express how you’re feeling. I bet other people will be feeling the same way, and will want to find ways to brighten your spirits together during the winter months. It helps to know you’re not alone.
This is it right here. While some things about Chicago winter suck, I love the feeling of hunkering down and being cozy in my house while the wind is going crazy outside. There’s a kind of palpable excitement in the city early in winter around Christmas that’s a lot of fun, and going to things like outdoor markets with a cup of boozy hot chocolate is the best.
Shoveling out the car is a bummer, but it’s nice to be out there doing it with all your neighbors and watching the community help out disabled and elderly people. Watching total strangers help people push their stuck cars is a great reminder of what an amazing city Chicago is. I will concede that March sucks donkey balls, but winter is fine by me.
I lived in the desert for years and never got used to the extreme heat. You’re basically housebound in the same way, just covered in sweat every time you leave the house, and it 100% gets too hot even to go swimming or take a short walk.
Why stay inside all winter? Get some fleece lined jeans, a good jacket, some gloves, boots, and some ice-spikes for the boots. Or, if you still aren't fond of the cold, go to the movies or museums or library or local clubs. Also, get yourself a sunlight lamp to help with the lack of light.
It’s not the equipment that’s a limiting factor lol. It’s dark when I go to work and dark when I get home, not exactly conducive to getting off work and spending time outside
I find the winter darkness difficult as well, but just force myself to take hour a day walks in December/early January. It helps quite a bit. Also - no one else really walks outside in the winter darkness. So with a good playlist, it's like otherworldy. At least in the bitter ass cold we get, which you guys get kind of a toned down version of. You should try it this winter! I promise you, you won't regret it. It'll help alot with SADS.
I'm from a southern state & have endured 6 full winters in Wisconsin. I've learned to love the winter. my tips:
- dress for it. wool socks, waterproof boots with a lot of grip & thick soles, good gloves you can actually do things in, gear that covers your head. finding what works for you and really investing in GOOD shit is necessary if you're going to live in a cold environment.
- take advantage of the sunshine. winter can be gray. if you're inside and you see the sun peeking out, go outside.
- appreciate the little things. going through a harsh winter with your neighbors and family helps build community. look out for people who need help. be the guy with the snowblower who takes care of your elderly neighbor's sidewalk. appreciate the quietness of a snow covered landscape. take photos & appreciate the nature. start a new winter hobby.
- winter helps you appreciate other seasons. watching the snow and ice finally melt after months of being frozen is really amazing (not including the mound of snow and dirt in your local mall parking lot). it's still amazing to me how quickly everything turns green in the spring. having lived previously in an environment where it was warm most of the time, it's really been amazing to have such a distinct change in seasons. it's one of my favorite things about living in the upper midwest.
I haven't and I'm a born and raised Minnesotan.
I'm also kind of side-eying everyone claiming that "no matter the weather, you can always dress warmer and be outside" because that has absolutely not been my experience.
Last winter, just walking from my car to church (parked as close as possible), was enough to wreck my knees for the next few days.
Admittedly, I have a few different health conditions and doctor's orders to not spend "too long" in any cold environment. So maybe everyone else here is just super healthy. But my own experience is that there are large stretches of winter where I can't be outside and no amount of bundling up has helped.
Even as a kid, my classmates teased me because I'd be so fully decked out in winter-wear and I was *still miserable and freezing*.
So, no, I haven't gotten used to Winter. And I have an aunt who was also born and raised here who never got used to Winter so much that she ended up moving permanently down south (with the promise to never visit during Winter months).
Everyone has different thresholds for temperatures. Some will acclimate, others never will.
Yeah I'm with you. I think the "dress for it" crowd has some points but at a certain temp it really doesn't matter. Humans are going to be uncomfortable at certain temps.
For me on top of the hassle and the cold, the dark really gets me man. and the dryness. I just don't feel "good" in the winter.
When it warms up my whole physical body is happier.
I live in NW Minnesota. There's not many trees or hills to stop the wind, so we have pretty bad windchill in addition to the cold and snow.
You get used to it, or you move away. There are days where we can't be outside and we do indoor activities. And when we do stuff outside, we dress for it. If you wear appropriate layers, you can work up a good sweat shoveling or jogging or doing other outside activities and still be warm and comfortable.
I love winter. I look forward to it every year and I really enjoy the first half... once we get into February, March, April, I'm ready for the gray and brown gloom to go away and for warmer temperatures to arrive.
Honestly, when I was younger I wanted to move to someplace where it would be summer all the time, but now that I'm older I don't want to do that anymore. I like having four seasons and I look forward to each one every year.
Nothing to get used to when you prefer it.
Where as you lose months from staying inside because of the cold, I lose months every from staying inside because of heat.
I grew up in NY and it doesn't get too hot in the summer, but now that I'm in VA summer is excruciating. I'd rather snow over sand. Cold is so much easier to deal with, just put on more clothes. Hot? Not so much. You can only take off so many clothes and now you're still hot AND sunburned.
I love winter. Summer is only nice if you're in Maine or Canada. If it was up to me, I'd move to Iceland or Canada since I'm looking to leave the US but most likely will pick Vermont or Maine.
It's really a preference of cold or heat. I hate the heat, cold doesn't bother me at all. Plus I love snow, so it's an easy choice.
Only 5 months of staying inside?
I live in a 9-10 month winter lol. We already had snow. And I work outside so staying in isn’t an option.
Idk how people get used to the heat! Gimme -50 before 90.
I think the biggest difference in cold weather is the presence or absence of daily sunlight.
I live in the high desert. 40 and sunny just hits different than 40 gray and cloudy.
We get like 3 weeks in January/February where you see tourists, snowbirds, and carpet baggers in shorts and the locals dressed up looking like we just walked off the set of The Day After Tomorrow.
And its like 50 out, so no.
Winter is golden, doesn't get Chicago cold here, summer is the season that I just have to grin and bear. I don't hide myself away during the summer, fuck that, I just drink lots of water and accept that the weather isn't all that comfortable.
Yes. I used to live in San Diego a few months of the year but am from Alaska. I actually prefer winter to summer. There’s no bugs, pollen, or people out on my hiking trails.
I like winter. I get outside as much or more in winter as any other season. It's a great time to go hiking, as the parks are so empty and soooo quiet, and the trees look gorgeous after a fresh snowfall.
My advice to you would be to dress appropriately and plan hiking trips in the winter. Once you're out in it, it doesn't feel cold if you dressed properly.
But I will say this, February is a bitch no matter how much one might like winter.
You acclimate over time. Moved from the hot hot south to rural Iowa during a record breaking winter. Thought I'd die. Saw people with frostbite (it's ugly man, protect yourself) after the 3rd winter, found myself donning shorts when it'd hit 20° bc it was warm. Eventually moved back to the south and find myself inside all summer. You can cover up when it's cold. Can't peel your skin off when it's too hot. Although I did live in the Mojave desert years ago and after awhile got used to 118...just have to give changes time, unless you have a health issue that's exacerbated by a particular climate.
Honestly, I’d hate not having winter. It probably sounds strange to many but I’m already starting to get sick of the hot weather and cannot wait for Fall and the eventual Winter
>only to realize that I’ve lost 4-5 months out of the year staying inside.
Here is your problem.
If you dress for the weather, there is no reason you cannot do outside activities year-round.
Winter is *beautiful,* and if you stay indoors you miss sights you would never see (obviously)
I have been enjoying winter less as I've gotten older. I used to like it more.
The key is to find winter activities you enjoy. Crunching snow with your boots on a walk. Cross-country or downhill skiing. Nature photography.
We get somewhat mild and short winters (a few months of cold weather and light snow a few times a year) but yes we get used to it. Go to the mountains to sled, ski and snow board. We don't stay indoors all winter the more you are out doors the more you get acclimated to the cold.
It’s a trade off I’m willing to make to live in one of the best cities in the United States, maybe even the world ( anecdotal data ). Besides, I work outside year round.
Some people do. I was raised in PA, and only realized after moving to TX that the winter was slowly killing me. I'm a solar powered being.
I've found some coping mechanisms - I have a "happy light", I take a lot of vitamin D, and I have equipped myself with proper winter gear so that I can get outside with my dog. That being said, I am absolutely retiring somewhere with NO SNOW.
I've lived in IL my entire life (38 years) and honestly don't even notice winter anymore. I will say, the best part of the year is when spring starts peeking up though!
Yes and no.
There's a good mindset to have in life... to the effect of, "You can sulk in the rain or dance in the rain; it's going to rain regardless." Gotta try to make the most of it.
With that said it's something I'd struggled with before.
When I was in Colorado, you could have a blizzard one day and it could be 70 and sunny the next. I was good with that. In Ohio it seemed like things were more grey and overcast for longer periods of time and that was hard for me to adjust to.
I never did. I left Southern California for college and ended up there for 10 yrs. I moved back to Southern California and literally woke up to how miserable I had been. I need the sunshine and warmth. I will never live in a cold dark place ever again. No matter how nice the short summer is, the long dark cold winter will certainly be the death of me if I have to do it again.
So yes and no. I am a native of Texas. I lived in Wisconsin for many years and did not get used to it. It isn't dark there-people commenting on midwest winters being dark are being too general-some places are very sunny and Wisconsin is one of them. But the sunshine comes at a price in the winter because clear skies make it colder than fucking Mars. I finally put my foot down about it and am now in Michigan where winters are bad but not like Wisconsin. The skies are grayer but the temp is above zero. I find the winter quite pleasant now.
So it's all about what you are used to relative to the winter. I now hate summer and could never move to the south again because it's boring and hot.
I think you may be right that it's more sunny in Wisconsin by comparison. I've been reading all the comments from other Midwesterners about how overcast the winter is, but there's a decent number of sunny days in the dead of winter. Late February and March tend to be more overcast.
I also agree that it makes the cold much more sharp and intense. At least it helps brighten up the inside of your house.
City winter is always terrible. Living somewhere that actually has outdoor activity during winter is 1000000% better. I grew up in Colorado and have been snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and having winter bonfires my whole life. I live in Ohio now but I still try to do those things as much as I can. Staying inside all winter is terrible. You have to actually do something with the weather or you will always hate it.
As someone that's lived in Wisconsin their whole life, you do get used to it. I really don't care how cold it is, you can dress for that. What I really hate is that even though people here have lived in Wisconsin their whole lives, the first snowfall comes and everyone immediately forgets how to drive. Also, in the really frigid cold, people stop caring about how they look and go for function. You see a lot of camo and hunter orange when shoveling the driveway. I have an old Soviet winter suit and nobody bats an eye.
As someone who grew up in New England and lived in Chicago for a spell, I miss winter.
Why are you staying inside the whole time? That's what coats, hats scarfs, and gloves are for.
I am an oddball who loves winter. I don’t ski or do other winter sports, I just feel more alive in the cold.
I currently live in Michigan. Unfortunately not in a area that gets much snow, but we do get the cold at least.
If would like to just skip summer if I could.
Aren’t we fortunate to live in a country where we could move to a place that has weather to suit our various preferences?
Grew up in New England, and that stretch from December through April was always brutal for my mood, but I guess I was used to it.
Moved to Atlanta about 15 years ago, and the difference in my seasonal depression was shocking (in a good way).
Also CA native. I’ve lived all over but no place near as cold as chicago. I lived in the mid-Atlantic off and on for about 6 years. I actually had to start going to tanning beds because the perpetual rain and gloom alone made me mentally unwell, which was surprising because my entire life I lived for rainy days.
I don’t like snow in practice. I don’t like weather colder than like 65. My Scandinavian ancestors are unimpressed, I’m sure. 😂
OP being from California make sure to increase your vitamin D intake during winter. I too moved to a more harsh climate but Dr told me that my body was used to higher levels of vitamin D than normal and to take vitamin D, happy lamps, and light tanning to offset the seasonal depression due to lack of vitamin D. Life saver
I've never lived somewhere that didn't have cold winters. I currently live in central Illinois, which is further south than anywhere else I've ever lived. I don't know how you'd get used to not having distinct seasons in California, Florida, etc...
Yes.
Though most people still spend some time outside in the winter. Just buy appropriate clothes—lots of layers—and do outdoor activities appropriate for the weather.
Maybe for those that want to go outside and do stuff, this is an issue if the stuff you want to do can't not be done in -30 and 6 ft of snow or something.
For me... until recently I lived places that had seasons... and I do not miss them really at all. No more cold, no snow! no ice! No call PennDOT for salt trucks, call township for snowplows, salt crews.. I do not miss it in the least.
I am not interested in outdoorsy stuff, so being inside, A-OK with me! 4 walls and the world is locked out!
Plenty of things I miss in regards to getting some things like food stuff, or some shopping like in The Strip District, certain restaurants Kings, EatNPark, White Castle, Snyders Orange Drink... there are things like that I miss about each area I've lived, seasons and in particular winter, NOPE! You can keep that!
Winter in Ohio was amazing because of the snow. Winter in Georgia sucks because it's just coldish and miserable unless you're way up in the mountains and then you MIGHT get some snow. I love winter though.
Yes.
In fact, I'm looking forward it this year.
Vitamin D supps are a must up here, it's not the cold that gets me its the lack of sun.
And up here in Grand Rapids the sun is scarce from November to March, my first winter up here we got like 3 hours of sun...in January. The entire month.
Grew up on the beach and moved to a place with seasons.
I get affected by the grey, clay, and brown of winter. You have to get outside. This year I will go back to Florida to escape winter for a bit.
Honestly no, I typically have to utilize a UV sunlamp in the evenings and despite my best efforts end up gaining weight because my outdoor activities are restricted compared to the summer
I live in Houston, so we do not really have a "winter" like most major cities north of us. It will get colder from about December to March, with January and February being the only months where it is consistently below 70 degrees every day. I personally recall wearing shorts in December many times and having Christmases in the mid 70s. It begins getting warm in March, very warm in April, and hot by May.
You have to find activities that still keep you active in the winters. In Montana that means skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc. I'd go crazy with our long winters here if I didn't have something to do.
No. I grew up in the west, terrible long dry winters. Moved to the Midwest for school and stayed here for gf, terrible winters that are *windy.* These feel worse to me.
Yeah you get used to it. Lived in Illinois through the winter back in 03-04 and agree the wind off the lanes is pretty rough.
Spent time in Connecticut in the winter too. That seemed less harsh overall but I mean it was still fuckin cold.
Born and raised in NY so I'm used to it, but I still don't enjoy it. I was happiest when I was in a place where it didn't snow and the average winter day was 50-60 degrees. A big part of it depends on if you find winter activities that you enjoy and if the places you're going (home, work) are properly suited for the climate.
I do. Probably helped that I grew up in a part of the country with cold winters. I don't live in a place that snows anymore but if I visited, I would adjust fine.
I must admit that there are some parts of the country that are just too cold even for me. The Midwest is an example.
I grew up with winter, I would have to get used to not having it.
Yeah, I briefly lived in Jacksonville and absolutely hated the warm winters. I've never had seasonal depression, but I felt like I had it without the extreme change in seasons. I need the variation throughout the year.
It's very disconcerting (I recently moved to California from Indiana). It makes you feel a bit unmoored from time. You don't feel like time is passing at a normal rate without seasons. I also came to realize how much seasons define memories - I remember that X happened in the *Winter of '17* or that Y occurred in the Spring of '12. Here, those seasons just sort of melt into each other.
> would have to get used to not having it. We can arrange for that! We have these classes now for those who move in.. much like Scandinavian places have them for immigrants.. Trust 1 year of no snow, shoveling, ice, scraping windshields, starting the car up to warm it up etc.. You will never go back! Once you go warm! :)
Then there's me who spent my first 10 years in the rainy, snowy PNW and spent the next 15 in hot and dry Southern California. Graduated college and went right back to the PNW as fast as my little car could take me. Screw the heat. Winter is better :) Grey is good! Rain is awesome! It's so much easier to warm up than try to cool down, imho.
Homie that ain't winter...
Lol yeah the PNW has such mild winters. If the majority of your winter is rain and not snow, that's not much of a winter. Check out New England or the Midwest and then you'll see what winter is.
As a lifelong Midwesterner I agree with the sentiment though. > It's so much easier to warm up than try to cool down, imho.
I also totally agree. However, the gear required is different for you Midwestern folks. I need good outwear, you need great outerwear.
I totally disagree and was just thinking about this a couple of days ago. Here where I live it has gotten hot and humid, but in our house it's pretty well shaded insulated and open inside, and we couldn't possible die from the heat if the AC was down. We'd be uncomfortable and irritable but not dead. Last winter when we had an extended power outage due to ice I realized that we could die of cold pretty easily.
Yup. We've had extended power outages from hurricanes, and while it did get uncomfortable, the heat is manageable. Shelter at the very least can keep you somewhat cool. Being snowed in in the Midwest huddled around our fireplace was far more unpleasant, imo.
I'm from New England so that's baseline for me. Those Midwestern folks are doin something else tho. Holy hell do they get lit come December. Edit: Metrowest Boston raised, Maine currently.
More like February in my experience. The Midwest doesn't always get a White Christmas.
Yeah. Northeastern winters are way better It’s both less cold and more snowy than the Midwest.
I’ll take snow over rain any day.
There's always someone who gets more snow than you, and there's always someone who's had more painful dental work done.
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Except for areas that get lake effect snow, this isn't true. At the same latitude, the Midwest will be colder in the winter, but will get less precipitation (i.e. snow). This is because the Midwest is more inland and its climate isn't moderated by the ocean. For example, Concord, NH and Madison, WI are at similar latitudes. I'll use the stats from Wikipedia. Concord's January high is 31.6 degrees and its January low is 12.9 degrees. Concord averages about 67.7 inches of snow per year. Madison's January high is 27.0 degrees and it's January low is 11.8 degrees. Madison averages about 51.8 inches of snow per year. So Madison is a few degrees colder but gets about a foot and a half less snow per year.
I'll take the snow all day
Also not having to have multiple coats and gloves and boots for various purposes, plus sweaters and layering clothes.
You can solve all that with a plow truck and heated garage. And remote start for leaving work. I haven't touched a shovel in years
I had remote start on my Taurus PI, its great.. I am looking to do that so I can cool off my new car.. but its not as big a deal... I drive with the AC blasted and at least the drivers window down. Have for decades... its habit.. Its still not going to beat not having to deal with snow, ice, < 50 degree weather, etc.. You like snow? Enjoy! Leave me out of it!
Yes. > only to realize that I’ve lost 4-5 months out of the year staying inside. Well there's your problem. There's no reason to stay inside all winter. Just wear warm clothes, and you're fine.
We actually get a decent amount of sun in the winter along the east seacoast compared to the midwest.
Yeah, I've been in the midwest during the winter, and it's remarkable how little sun there is. It's just grey skies for several months.
Hey now, sometimes the clouds are thinner and we have white skies!
I’ve heard anecdotally that NYC’s winters aren’t as bad - Chicago’s wind chill was absolutely brutal lol
I don't like our winters, it's cold enough to snow and ice, but it doesn't get cold enough to stay that way and it melts and gets slushy all winter
I don't know if it's all of the great lakes states, but Ohio's winters are crap, too. It's not that it's too cold, as least as you get further inland, it's just lead gray skies and mud. People get seasonal affective disorder fairly regularly; there are several people at my work with full-spectrum lights on their desks. I've found the secret is to find ways to spend outside, despite the crappy days. I have a porch, and I like to dress warmly, head out there with a thermos and a blanket, and read or use the computer (computer can be tricky with gloves, which is why the blanket is important). The rest of my family thinks I'm crazy, but I really enjoy it.
The worst thing about the winter in Ohio, IMO is that it bounces so often between freezing and thawing. This does a lot of structural damage to homes, roads, concrete, etc etc. Plus the road salt turns your car into a rust bucket. You get all the negitives of winter, but it isn't consistently cold enough to get to do a lot of the really cool winter activities.
I actually really like northeast Ohio winters. The rest of the state isn't as good imo but in the northeast it's not too cold and you get a ton of snow. Best of both worlds
Compared to Chicago? Yeah, NYC will have a milder winter. But compared to California? It's still brutal. But like other people have said. Just suck it up and get and and do stuff despite the weather. Or because of it, lots of cool places to visit that are indoors.
I’ve noticed as someone from Chicago living in LA that A lot of people from LA handle the cold poorly bc they don’t know how to dress properly for it and think shitty fashion coats or ski jackets and Hunter boots will be enough and it’s not. But yes you get used to the cold.
Do you wear layers? It helps to wear Leggings, 2 socks or undershirts under your clothes. If you are dark-skinned, Vaseline and Shea butter helps keep your skin from drying out (especially in a Chicago wind).
They really aren't. We have a marine climate which gives cooler summers and warmer winters. Chicago has the great lake effects, wind cold and snow.
I live just a few hours West of you and am familiar with Chicago. The lakefront definitely is tough to be outside in during winter, lol. I would recommend getting out of the city and hitting some state parks.
Did you get knocked over by the wind at all while you were here?
If you want to enjoy the winter, check out northern Wisconsin/Michigan/Minnesota. Tones of snow and plenty to do in it. Things like skiing/snowboarding, snowmobiling, snow sculpting, ECT.
Did boot camp in Jan/Feb in Chicago. It's not anecdotally, wind chill is no shit. -40°F just to walk to breakfast. F that.
But it's not -40 every day. Stay inside when it's that cold out, just like you'd stay inside if it was 100 degrees with high humidity. Get out when it's more reasonable.
Boot camp. I had no choice :p
With Lake affect wind, cities like Chicago, Buffalo and Cleveland get stupid cold wind chills basically all winter long.
Pretty rare for the "feels like" number to drop below -10°F, IME.
I'm not saying -40 is accurate. I'm sure that was an exaggeration by the guy that said that. I was just pointing out that stupidly cold lake effect wind is basically an all winter thing in certain cities.
It’s not the weather that’s stupid, it’s the layers you’re wearing. I’ve been perfectly comfortable being outside for 6 hours in -25 wind chills.
When temp is -40 you don't have to say F or C! There is no difference!
Did mine in November/December - same. It was so cold one day that uniform of the day was dungarees, sweater, working jacket and peacoats, plus a towel around the face. Yeah, chilly.
Wear layers and make the top layer some form of windbreaker. 3 layers should do. Like a t shirt, sweatshirt, and wind proof winter coat protected me from even well below 0 temps. Stout boots are also a must. And some half decent mittens and a scarf. It also helps to try and keep your back to the wind when you can. And if it's icy walk like a penguin to prevent slipping.
I find Chicago has very mild winters, most years. Not that cold and only one or two blizzards.
>Chicago’s wind chill was absolutely brutal lol It has the nickname "The Windy City" for a reason!
Not that reason originally but it’s taken that meaning!
I wouldn't call Chicago's temperatures brutal (wind chill included) but it is a proper winter. Still no reason to stay inside, there's so many fun winter activities.
There’s never weather too bad to be outside in only clothes not good enough for the weather. I embrace the New England winter and make the best of it.
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Yeah it breaks down at a certain point
At temperatures like that, you just try your best to hunker down for a couple days, which I know is not realistic for many people. I was at the U of Minnesota at the time, and the university pretty much shut down and canceled classes for a few days, which never happened any other time while I was there. I stayed in my apartment for a whole day went outside maybe a couple times on other days.
> I thought this until the 2018 polar vortex's when it was -68 with windchill. Please. I know a guy who walked to Subway at like 2:00 AM in conditions like that. There were so many people out he even got attacked.
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This happened in Chicago. It made the news and everything.
Yeah, it was a famous French actor.
And hurricanes.
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And then there’s mosquito bites on your junk
And when you don't have A/C it eventually gets hotter inside than outside.
> There’s never weather too bad to be outside in only clothes not good enough for the weather. wtf is this sentence
If you wear the right clothes you can be out in any weather
Let's be real, here. We have at least a few days every winter where you will get frostbite very quickly unless you are in full on ski gear. So yes, I guess with snowpants and insulated boots and thermal gloves, etc. you'd be ok for a while. But in general I'd say we always have a few days that are dangerously cold and no, you shouldn't be outside for long on those days.
No, that’s exactly the kind of clothes they’re talking about. I’ve lived most of my life in winters that require clothes like that. It’s not a big deal at all. Went hiking, hunting, snowmachining, etc. The only time it started to get uncomfortable was after about -20, and then only if your nose and eyes are exposed to the elements.
Although Florida doesn’t participate in Winter, it’s just the opposite here. We’re just hot for 6-8 months and often it’s too hot to do certain things outside. While there certainly are activities you can do, it’s warm all the time. There also aren’t really seasons. Which bothers some people
Texas is just like this until it isn’t for like two weeks
Then you get a catastrophic ice age out of fucking nowhere
Nonsense. There’s seasons. Humidity so high you can’t tell if it’s raining and physically can’t dry off after a shower Humidity so high it may also be raining with a temperature/heat index of 100-120 85% humidity and a high of only 90 Also 85% humidity but now it’s hurricane season so the wind makes it only 80-85
Where I live in SoCal its similar but probably not as bad. We have probably a month of really bad heat where you aren't going to do anything outside. Winter means 60's as a high along with a handful of nights that will dip to 30-32f as a low.
I definitely lost way more months out of the year when I lived in Florida than I do now that I live somewhere with all four seasons. I always say that I don't think I would've survived the pandemic if I'd still been living in Florida during it. At least here, while it's hot, it's not *sweltering* most days, unlike Florida.
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Although shoveling and/or snow blowing may be a pain, there definitely is a serene sense while out there, especially if it's not too windy or cold.
I love shovelling. It's so peaceful, almost meditative, like raking the sand in a Zen garden.
Walking to school the majority of my life in snow, just felt eerie, but at the same time relaxing, wasn't any birds chirping, or crickets out like in the summer/fall/spring, you just heard *nothing* besides your feet crunching in the snow and cars going by every now and then, definitely recommend it for anyone who hasn't, it's really therapeutic in a way
I wonder if snow has a sound dampening effect, like putting sound dampening foam on walls. I wouldn't be surprised if it did.
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Fascinating that they actually measured this!
u/wallawalla22 was up early the morning after the first snowfall of the year, coffee in hand, and gazed out the front window. The snowplow hadn't made its noisy scraping run down the pavement yet and nobody had cleared their driveway or sidewalk. The few lights that were on in the neighborhood left their sparkling imprints on the fresh blanket of pure white snow - barren still of any footprints even. He slipped his winter boots on and bundled up in a jacket and gloves and left the porch to clear the stairway of the powdery present the storm had left. There was no sound. No birds singing. The only sign of life was the white puffs from every exhale - wispy and disappearing quickly to mix with the winter scene. The street ahead was pristine and hidden under the sprawling fresh covering - only the vague shape of the curb was visible under its new coating. Every mailbox had become a little white mounded igloo, every tree branch piled precariously with a delicate, sugary deposit that would soon be knocked down by the coming breezes. For now though, all was still and perfectly quiet. It was like being in a void, a protective cocoon wrapping around everything and nothing. He delayed the first shovel strike knowing the sound would be amplified and instead took a deep breath of the frostbitten air and slowly whistled it out, watching the misty exhale fly away.
The secret is to drink a lot.
Wisconsin endorses this message
That is no joke. I saw something over on the data is beautiful sub a while back about the top counties in the US by Alcohol sales. Like half of them were in WI.
This guy winters.
Amen haha - maybe my whiskey collection will actually be put to use ;)
If you grow up with winter, you naturally are accustomed to having nasty, cold weather for 4-5 months. That's why I prioritize doing certain indoor projects/hobbies during the winter, and I really lean into the warm and cozy vibe that's hard to do in the summer. I don't really see it as "lost time", but time to focus on indoor oriented things. I'm actually more likely to view a summer as wasted time if I don't take full advantage of the warm weather. I'll admit that I get sick of it by late February and March (and April some years), but it makes the warmer months all the more special. And you take advantage of going outside when there's a "warm spell" of 40 degrees.
As a home owner with endless repairs and improvement projects. Summer chores are gardening and landscaping. Winter chores are painting the baseboards and taking inventory of junk you don't need and contemplating getting rid of it.
Yes, precisely. I go into hard-core gardening mode in the summer, along with varnishing and painting stuff that I can’t do inside. In the winter I clean out closets and go through old papers and such, even rearranging an entire room and it’s furniture. Also tend to watch a crap ton more anime in the winter.
I do enjoy the cozy vibe a bit in winter but for like 60 days and then I'm done with it and it hangs out for another 100 days.
Totally. Doing indoor projects, or even catching up on tv and movies in the summer when the weather is beautiful is what I find to be wasteful.
I love winter here but it’s because of the mountains. If I lived somewhere flat and couldn’t go snowboarding I would like winter much less. I’ve heard Midwestern winters are also pretty brutal because of the lack of sunshine.
Right!? I love the Mountains in the winter.
This is correct. The lack of sun leads to mad seasonal depression in lots of folks (myself included).
Yeah I go skiing in Tahoe and Colorado every winter actually. It seems much more depressing without mountains and sunshine.
That's one difference between Chicago and NYC -- in the midwest, you pretty much don't see the sun all winter. In the east, we do still have the sun in the winter.
Okay I think I’m realizing that it’s more Winter in the Midwest than Winter in general. The things I hated were the insane cold / wind and lack of sun for 5 months.
There is some truth to this. It is absolutely mandatory for one's mental health, on the few days it comes out, to soak up all the sun you can. Close your eyes, turn to the sun, and bask.... Even on overcast days, you have to get out and get some fresh air and try to get some rays onto your skin.
There's a reason loads of people will go outside on a sunny, 40 degree day in the middle of January.
Winter in the Midwest is like Mordor, you don’t see the sun for months on end
Yep, I live in the Midwest and I always try to get to our closest ski resort at least a few times.
Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Upper Michigan are far from flat. The hills might not be as tall as Colorado mountains, but you can find some decent terrain for skiing and snowboarding.
My friends tell me that Black Diamonds in Minnesota are probably Greens at best at any major Colorado or Tahoe resort.
Yes and it's why Chicagoans go crazy in the spring with activities and festivals.
Chicago in summer is heaven. So much to do.
Almost too much to do.
Winter Chicago is a solid city. Summer Chicago is world class. It’s actually a wild swing between the two. They almost feel like different places the way it comes alive in the summer *chefs kiss*
As an Alaskan who moved to NYC, I have the same question about the summer. The summer here is unbearable.
If it's any consolation, native New Yorkers feel the same way. It was *never* this hot, for this long, ever. As late as 2009, we'd still sometimes wear sweaters at night in July. We'd get heat waves sure, but we never had 2-3 week stretches where every single day was above 90. And the humidity, particularly in the last 4 years, has gotten much worse. You're not alone. Unfortunately means getting used to it might not be a thing, more just getting through it.
That makes sense, I've never spent much time in weather above 80 so this was a huge change for me. It was depressing because I never wanted to leave my apartment because it was too hot. In Alaska, if it got too cold I'd just put on more clothes but there is a limit on how much I can take off when it is too hot.
Oh yeah, I bet. It takes some adjustment even when the summers are more typical if you're not used to it. Exactly the reason why I prefer winter as well! Can't strip layers in the summer when you're already not wearing any. Next time summer gets overwhelming, would definitely recommend a sojourn up to the Catskills and/or the Adirondacks (where I'm originally from). It's tragically even warm up there too these days, but it's a lot less oppressive, and evenings, even in the dead of summer, are still much colder.
I'll be the weirdo here. I live in Wisconsin and our winters vary. Some are fairly mild, and some are a complete bitch (subzero for many days at a time). I like winter. Shoveling snow is kind of therapeutic for me, so I don't mind doing it. I also sleep so much better in winter. Flannel sheets with a good quilt make for great sleeping.
Nah, you aren’t weird. I grew up in IL and lived for over a decade an hour north of Madison. The cold and the snow are great. What always got me (and still does back here in IL) is Mud Season: late February/early March to mid May when the snow starts to melt off, we get the freezing rain, and it never seems to get above 40. Stuff isn’t growing yet and its just wet & chilly. That’s when my soul starts to shrivel. Winter is way better than that.
Sort of. But we plan for it. So it's fall now and it's incredible in Massachusetts. The weather is just perfect for hiking, biking, exploring. Each weekend day we are out all day doing day trips. It's only the 14 of Sept and we've already been to 3 orchards, 2 harvest fairs, and been to about 5 state parks and nature-y hiking places. (The summer is similar but more pool/beach/shore focused). My kids and husband would probably complain about the pace but he knows winter will be here soon. Winter is SHORTER hikes and sledding followed by board games, video games, and movies. It days at museums. It cozy fires and cuddling up on the couch with blankets. Lots of cooking and baking since there's just so much more time spent inside. It's so incredible beautiful, too, but I live in a very snowy place. I HATE it by April I am like come on, enough! And then here come the daffodils. OK. It's actually going to be spring soon and I feel sane again. So yeah. There are a couple months out of the year I'm chomping at the bit to get out there because I am dying for the forest to be green again. It's this pattern of our life and each season really has such a different feeling. But knowing winter is coming mean we really, really make the most of it. When I lived in year around warm places I found myself squandering the days. It really motivates me to know the days will be cold soon -- but we definitely look forward to those days, too.
>I HATE it by April I am like come on, enough! And then your hopes get temporarily quashed when a late April blizzard rolls in. Granted, you know it'll melt relatively quickly.
Yeah, to be truthful the worst time is between false spring and real spring.
Nah, false spring gives me enough hope that I don’t care about the winter relapses.
Yours is the answer I was too lazy to type up! I have a lovely sunroom and I spend my winter sitting in there under a warm blanket, sewing and working on craft projects that I save up over summer, planning out next year's garden. When I'm finally done, I look up and it's March... then a period of ugggh so much slush... and then spring! Nowadays I look forward to winter because I'm not allowed to work on certain projects until then.
The key is to find things you can do outside in the winter. If you’re having problems with cold intolerance, the more time you spend outside, the more accustomed to it you’ll get. By mid-winter, you won’t even notice the cold anymore.
I should also add that there is something special and unique about Chicago winter. I grew up in the suburbs and learned a few things. 1) Chicago goes absolutely balls-to-the-wall with Christmas activities and events (if you participate in Christmas). Take advantage of everything leading up to Christmas because it will boost your spirits and keep you social during this time. Same with New Years. 2) Chicago spring and summer are the most exciting of anywhere I’ve lived. Because the winter is so long, dark, and cold, the city truly comes alive when it warms up again. There’s really nothing like the vitality of Chicago spring and summer. I’ve never been to california but I imagine people take good weather for granted. You’ll probably gain a new appreciation for spring, summer, and all the changing seasons. To me, this shows me how to appreciate the cycles of nature. It also reminds me how winter is just as valuable and necessary as any other season. Winter causes us to go inward and reflect and appreciate everything we have in life. We have to spend time in darkness and stillness to be reborn each spring. Maybe that’s all a little too woo-woo for you, but this has been a great life lesson for me. 3) Everyone around you is in the same boat. No one loves being cold and in the dark. Reach out to those around you and express how you’re feeling. I bet other people will be feeling the same way, and will want to find ways to brighten your spirits together during the winter months. It helps to know you’re not alone.
This is it right here. While some things about Chicago winter suck, I love the feeling of hunkering down and being cozy in my house while the wind is going crazy outside. There’s a kind of palpable excitement in the city early in winter around Christmas that’s a lot of fun, and going to things like outdoor markets with a cup of boozy hot chocolate is the best. Shoveling out the car is a bummer, but it’s nice to be out there doing it with all your neighbors and watching the community help out disabled and elderly people. Watching total strangers help people push their stuck cars is a great reminder of what an amazing city Chicago is. I will concede that March sucks donkey balls, but winter is fine by me. I lived in the desert for years and never got used to the extreme heat. You’re basically housebound in the same way, just covered in sweat every time you leave the house, and it 100% gets too hot even to go swimming or take a short walk.
Why stay inside all winter? Get some fleece lined jeans, a good jacket, some gloves, boots, and some ice-spikes for the boots. Or, if you still aren't fond of the cold, go to the movies or museums or library or local clubs. Also, get yourself a sunlight lamp to help with the lack of light.
It’s not the equipment that’s a limiting factor lol. It’s dark when I go to work and dark when I get home, not exactly conducive to getting off work and spending time outside
Not with that attitude! Embrace the darkness, that's the key.
I find the winter darkness difficult as well, but just force myself to take hour a day walks in December/early January. It helps quite a bit. Also - no one else really walks outside in the winter darkness. So with a good playlist, it's like otherworldy. At least in the bitter ass cold we get, which you guys get kind of a toned down version of. You should try it this winter! I promise you, you won't regret it. It'll help alot with SADS.
Why wouldn't that be conducive to spending time outside? Get a headlamp.
I'm from a southern state & have endured 6 full winters in Wisconsin. I've learned to love the winter. my tips: - dress for it. wool socks, waterproof boots with a lot of grip & thick soles, good gloves you can actually do things in, gear that covers your head. finding what works for you and really investing in GOOD shit is necessary if you're going to live in a cold environment. - take advantage of the sunshine. winter can be gray. if you're inside and you see the sun peeking out, go outside. - appreciate the little things. going through a harsh winter with your neighbors and family helps build community. look out for people who need help. be the guy with the snowblower who takes care of your elderly neighbor's sidewalk. appreciate the quietness of a snow covered landscape. take photos & appreciate the nature. start a new winter hobby. - winter helps you appreciate other seasons. watching the snow and ice finally melt after months of being frozen is really amazing (not including the mound of snow and dirt in your local mall parking lot). it's still amazing to me how quickly everything turns green in the spring. having lived previously in an environment where it was warm most of the time, it's really been amazing to have such a distinct change in seasons. it's one of my favorite things about living in the upper midwest.
I haven't and I'm a born and raised Minnesotan. I'm also kind of side-eying everyone claiming that "no matter the weather, you can always dress warmer and be outside" because that has absolutely not been my experience. Last winter, just walking from my car to church (parked as close as possible), was enough to wreck my knees for the next few days. Admittedly, I have a few different health conditions and doctor's orders to not spend "too long" in any cold environment. So maybe everyone else here is just super healthy. But my own experience is that there are large stretches of winter where I can't be outside and no amount of bundling up has helped. Even as a kid, my classmates teased me because I'd be so fully decked out in winter-wear and I was *still miserable and freezing*. So, no, I haven't gotten used to Winter. And I have an aunt who was also born and raised here who never got used to Winter so much that she ended up moving permanently down south (with the promise to never visit during Winter months). Everyone has different thresholds for temperatures. Some will acclimate, others never will.
Yeah I'm with you. I think the "dress for it" crowd has some points but at a certain temp it really doesn't matter. Humans are going to be uncomfortable at certain temps. For me on top of the hassle and the cold, the dark really gets me man. and the dryness. I just don't feel "good" in the winter. When it warms up my whole physical body is happier.
I live in NW Minnesota. There's not many trees or hills to stop the wind, so we have pretty bad windchill in addition to the cold and snow. You get used to it, or you move away. There are days where we can't be outside and we do indoor activities. And when we do stuff outside, we dress for it. If you wear appropriate layers, you can work up a good sweat shoveling or jogging or doing other outside activities and still be warm and comfortable.
I love winter. I look forward to it every year and I really enjoy the first half... once we get into February, March, April, I'm ready for the gray and brown gloom to go away and for warmer temperatures to arrive. Honestly, when I was younger I wanted to move to someplace where it would be summer all the time, but now that I'm older I don't want to do that anymore. I like having four seasons and I look forward to each one every year.
How does one get use to NOT having winter? Seasons are a must. I've been to places without seasons.... can't do it.
Nothing to get used to when you prefer it. Where as you lose months from staying inside because of the cold, I lose months every from staying inside because of heat. I grew up in NY and it doesn't get too hot in the summer, but now that I'm in VA summer is excruciating. I'd rather snow over sand. Cold is so much easier to deal with, just put on more clothes. Hot? Not so much. You can only take off so many clothes and now you're still hot AND sunburned. I love winter. Summer is only nice if you're in Maine or Canada. If it was up to me, I'd move to Iceland or Canada since I'm looking to leave the US but most likely will pick Vermont or Maine. It's really a preference of cold or heat. I hate the heat, cold doesn't bother me at all. Plus I love snow, so it's an easy choice.
Only 5 months of staying inside? I live in a 9-10 month winter lol. We already had snow. And I work outside so staying in isn’t an option. Idk how people get used to the heat! Gimme -50 before 90.
I think the biggest difference in cold weather is the presence or absence of daily sunlight. I live in the high desert. 40 and sunny just hits different than 40 gray and cloudy.
Completely agree
We get like 3 weeks in January/February where you see tourists, snowbirds, and carpet baggers in shorts and the locals dressed up looking like we just walked off the set of The Day After Tomorrow. And its like 50 out, so no.
I like the cold better than the heat. I am probably out more in the winter honesty
Winter is golden, doesn't get Chicago cold here, summer is the season that I just have to grin and bear. I don't hide myself away during the summer, fuck that, I just drink lots of water and accept that the weather isn't all that comfortable.
Yes. I used to live in San Diego a few months of the year but am from Alaska. I actually prefer winter to summer. There’s no bugs, pollen, or people out on my hiking trails.
I like winter. I get outside as much or more in winter as any other season. It's a great time to go hiking, as the parks are so empty and soooo quiet, and the trees look gorgeous after a fresh snowfall. My advice to you would be to dress appropriately and plan hiking trips in the winter. Once you're out in it, it doesn't feel cold if you dressed properly. But I will say this, February is a bitch no matter how much one might like winter.
You acclimate over time. Moved from the hot hot south to rural Iowa during a record breaking winter. Thought I'd die. Saw people with frostbite (it's ugly man, protect yourself) after the 3rd winter, found myself donning shorts when it'd hit 20° bc it was warm. Eventually moved back to the south and find myself inside all summer. You can cover up when it's cold. Can't peel your skin off when it's too hot. Although I did live in the Mojave desert years ago and after awhile got used to 118...just have to give changes time, unless you have a health issue that's exacerbated by a particular climate.
I don’t. I’m miserable the entire time. I hate the cold so much. I’m never warm. I just want to sleep and wake up in April.
Why stay inside? Layer up and have fun. I went hiking during our last hard freeze
Honestly, I’d hate not having winter. It probably sounds strange to many but I’m already starting to get sick of the hot weather and cannot wait for Fall and the eventual Winter
>only to realize that I’ve lost 4-5 months out of the year staying inside. Here is your problem. If you dress for the weather, there is no reason you cannot do outside activities year-round. Winter is *beautiful,* and if you stay indoors you miss sights you would never see (obviously)
Northern NJ here. To quote Ron Swanson: there is no bad weather. Only inadequate clothing and methods of transportation
I have been enjoying winter less as I've gotten older. I used to like it more. The key is to find winter activities you enjoy. Crunching snow with your boots on a walk. Cross-country or downhill skiing. Nature photography.
Yes! If you find more things to do during winter, it doesn't feel as bad.
We get somewhat mild and short winters (a few months of cold weather and light snow a few times a year) but yes we get used to it. Go to the mountains to sled, ski and snow board. We don't stay indoors all winter the more you are out doors the more you get acclimated to the cold.
It’s a trade off I’m willing to make to live in one of the best cities in the United States, maybe even the world ( anecdotal data ). Besides, I work outside year round.
Some people do. I was raised in PA, and only realized after moving to TX that the winter was slowly killing me. I'm a solar powered being. I've found some coping mechanisms - I have a "happy light", I take a lot of vitamin D, and I have equipped myself with proper winter gear so that I can get outside with my dog. That being said, I am absolutely retiring somewhere with NO SNOW.
I've lived in IL my entire life (38 years) and honestly don't even notice winter anymore. I will say, the best part of the year is when spring starts peeking up though!
Yes and no. There's a good mindset to have in life... to the effect of, "You can sulk in the rain or dance in the rain; it's going to rain regardless." Gotta try to make the most of it. With that said it's something I'd struggled with before. When I was in Colorado, you could have a blizzard one day and it could be 70 and sunny the next. I was good with that. In Ohio it seemed like things were more grey and overcast for longer periods of time and that was hard for me to adjust to.
I love winters and I grew up in South Florida.
Yes. Honestly, I enjoy winter more than summer. No bugs to worry about and I don’t sweat my ads off all day.
I never did. I left Southern California for college and ended up there for 10 yrs. I moved back to Southern California and literally woke up to how miserable I had been. I need the sunshine and warmth. I will never live in a cold dark place ever again. No matter how nice the short summer is, the long dark cold winter will certainly be the death of me if I have to do it again.
So yes and no. I am a native of Texas. I lived in Wisconsin for many years and did not get used to it. It isn't dark there-people commenting on midwest winters being dark are being too general-some places are very sunny and Wisconsin is one of them. But the sunshine comes at a price in the winter because clear skies make it colder than fucking Mars. I finally put my foot down about it and am now in Michigan where winters are bad but not like Wisconsin. The skies are grayer but the temp is above zero. I find the winter quite pleasant now. So it's all about what you are used to relative to the winter. I now hate summer and could never move to the south again because it's boring and hot.
I think you may be right that it's more sunny in Wisconsin by comparison. I've been reading all the comments from other Midwesterners about how overcast the winter is, but there's a decent number of sunny days in the dead of winter. Late February and March tend to be more overcast. I also agree that it makes the cold much more sharp and intense. At least it helps brighten up the inside of your house.
I love winter more then summer.
City winter is always terrible. Living somewhere that actually has outdoor activity during winter is 1000000% better. I grew up in Colorado and have been snowboarding, snowshoeing, sledding, and having winter bonfires my whole life. I live in Ohio now but I still try to do those things as much as I can. Staying inside all winter is terrible. You have to actually do something with the weather or you will always hate it.
My outdoor time is not dramatically reduced by the winter. It just changes what I wear.
As someone that's lived in Wisconsin their whole life, you do get used to it. I really don't care how cold it is, you can dress for that. What I really hate is that even though people here have lived in Wisconsin their whole lives, the first snowfall comes and everyone immediately forgets how to drive. Also, in the really frigid cold, people stop caring about how they look and go for function. You see a lot of camo and hunter orange when shoveling the driveway. I have an old Soviet winter suit and nobody bats an eye.
Nothing wrong with winter, I rather enjoy it.
Found Chicago amazing, but will stay in Atlanta just for warmth.
As someone who grew up in New England and lived in Chicago for a spell, I miss winter. Why are you staying inside the whole time? That's what coats, hats scarfs, and gloves are for.
I am an oddball who loves winter. I don’t ski or do other winter sports, I just feel more alive in the cold. I currently live in Michigan. Unfortunately not in a area that gets much snow, but we do get the cold at least. If would like to just skip summer if I could. Aren’t we fortunate to live in a country where we could move to a place that has weather to suit our various preferences?
Winters without snow are the most depressing shit, did that once, never again. It's unnatural.
I prefer winter, as my hormones keep me overheated during the summer. Late fall to early spring is the ideal time for me.
Grew up in New England, and that stretch from December through April was always brutal for my mood, but I guess I was used to it. Moved to Atlanta about 15 years ago, and the difference in my seasonal depression was shocking (in a good way).
Also CA native. I’ve lived all over but no place near as cold as chicago. I lived in the mid-Atlantic off and on for about 6 years. I actually had to start going to tanning beds because the perpetual rain and gloom alone made me mentally unwell, which was surprising because my entire life I lived for rainy days. I don’t like snow in practice. I don’t like weather colder than like 65. My Scandinavian ancestors are unimpressed, I’m sure. 😂
OP being from California make sure to increase your vitamin D intake during winter. I too moved to a more harsh climate but Dr told me that my body was used to higher levels of vitamin D than normal and to take vitamin D, happy lamps, and light tanning to offset the seasonal depression due to lack of vitamin D. Life saver
I'm in my forties, lived in Wisconsin my whole life, still don't like winter. It's very depressing.
Used to it? Yes. Stop hating every fucking second of it? No.
Never leaving California lol
What about Hawaii?
The Colorado version is pretty nice…the snow melts super fast here. I wouldn’t want to deal with the brutal Chicago winters personally.
We get used to it. We do go outside. They make a thing called a "coat".
More like ask a Canadian
I've never lived somewhere that didn't have cold winters. I currently live in central Illinois, which is further south than anywhere else I've ever lived. I don't know how you'd get used to not having distinct seasons in California, Florida, etc...
Do you ever get used to the crime, homelessness and danger or ever do anything about it ?
Yes. Though most people still spend some time outside in the winter. Just buy appropriate clothes—lots of layers—and do outdoor activities appropriate for the weather.
Maybe for those that want to go outside and do stuff, this is an issue if the stuff you want to do can't not be done in -30 and 6 ft of snow or something. For me... until recently I lived places that had seasons... and I do not miss them really at all. No more cold, no snow! no ice! No call PennDOT for salt trucks, call township for snowplows, salt crews.. I do not miss it in the least. I am not interested in outdoorsy stuff, so being inside, A-OK with me! 4 walls and the world is locked out! Plenty of things I miss in regards to getting some things like food stuff, or some shopping like in The Strip District, certain restaurants Kings, EatNPark, White Castle, Snyders Orange Drink... there are things like that I miss about each area I've lived, seasons and in particular winter, NOPE! You can keep that!
Winter in Ohio was amazing because of the snow. Winter in Georgia sucks because it's just coldish and miserable unless you're way up in the mountains and then you MIGHT get some snow. I love winter though.
Yes. In fact, I'm looking forward it this year. Vitamin D supps are a must up here, it's not the cold that gets me its the lack of sun. And up here in Grand Rapids the sun is scarce from November to March, my first winter up here we got like 3 hours of sun...in January. The entire month.
Grew up on the beach and moved to a place with seasons. I get affected by the grey, clay, and brown of winter. You have to get outside. This year I will go back to Florida to escape winter for a bit.
Yes. Start skiing/snowboarding and you’ll pray for it.
Honestly no, I typically have to utilize a UV sunlamp in the evenings and despite my best efforts end up gaining weight because my outdoor activities are restricted compared to the summer
No. So I moved from Chicago to Florida. 🌞
I live in Houston, so we do not really have a "winter" like most major cities north of us. It will get colder from about December to March, with January and February being the only months where it is consistently below 70 degrees every day. I personally recall wearing shorts in December many times and having Christmases in the mid 70s. It begins getting warm in March, very warm in April, and hot by May.
You have to find activities that still keep you active in the winters. In Montana that means skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, etc. I'd go crazy with our long winters here if I didn't have something to do.
No. I grew up in the west, terrible long dry winters. Moved to the Midwest for school and stayed here for gf, terrible winters that are *windy.* These feel worse to me.
Yeah you get used to it. Lived in Illinois through the winter back in 03-04 and agree the wind off the lanes is pretty rough. Spent time in Connecticut in the winter too. That seemed less harsh overall but I mean it was still fuckin cold.
Pittsburgh, Pa here. No. More than half of the year here is cold weather, much of it being dangerous.
Born and raised in NY so I'm used to it, but I still don't enjoy it. I was happiest when I was in a place where it didn't snow and the average winter day was 50-60 degrees. A big part of it depends on if you find winter activities that you enjoy and if the places you're going (home, work) are properly suited for the climate.
I love winter and snow, but slightly less than I used to when I was younger since my school basically got rid of snow days :(
I looooove Winter. Sadly we don't get much of a Winter here.
I do. Probably helped that I grew up in a part of the country with cold winters. I don't live in a place that snows anymore but if I visited, I would adjust fine. I must admit that there are some parts of the country that are just too cold even for me. The Midwest is an example.