Has anyone here moved to Boston from a warm climate?

[LeavingMA]

Originally Posted by joebloe

If so, how did you get used to the weather?


Was there an adjustment period for you, were you miserable?

No. If you have no friends or relatives here, looking at the falling snow do make you feel miserable and yearning for warmer climate.

Probably one of the most accurate statements on this forum.

[holden125]

I didn't but my fiancee lived in the Carribbean until the age of 22. Here's her take:

Originally Posted by Pear Martini

If so, how did you get used to the weather? It was strange to experience real cold and snow for the first time, but personally I preferred it to the extreme heat back home.

Was there an adjustment period for you, were you miserable? Not miserable, happy to be here in spite of (and sometimes because of) the weather. Snow, sledding, hockey. It's really pretty when the snow first falls. Only issue was that by March or April I'd had enough.

Is it mandatory to fly somewhere tropical a few times a year to preserve mental health? More of an issue for the New England native than for me! We went in November and I was too hot there. He wants to go someplace warm every winter.

Can one drive a honda civic in the snow? Sure but the driver matters as much as the car. Learn how to react in some snow situations and it should be OK.

Can you drive at a normal speed on the highways in the winter or it it too dangerous? 95% of the time there's no snow or it's clear, so you can do normal speed. You have to go slower if serious snow is actually in your lane, but they generally clear major roads really well.

I would like to be able to take a road trip in the middle of winter to Florida. Long drive! It's a lot faster to fly. Long road trips can be fun but don't drive if you only have a few days, you'll spend as much time on the road as you will there. It's really tough to do without devoting 2 days to the drive, each way.

Did you get really sick because of the weather change? Not really, but in the beginning I bundled up a lot. By the second winter I'd gone native. 25 and under was "cold," 25 to 35 was "OK," over 35 between December and February seemed "pretty warm," and anything over 50 seemed balmy. At home they were shocked to hear I walked without a jacket on a 50-degree day but after two months of winter it seemed really warm.

How do you keep from catching colds? Don't know. I'm sick a lot but I was always sick at home too.

Did you meet new people easily? Not really, I have to say. My BF knew some people already but it took me a while to make any friends. I had the same issue in New York, but eventually I met some friends. It's easier if you're in college, there are built-in ways to make friends in that setting.

[Pear Martini]

Thanks Holden, Mojo, and Champs! Its comforting knowing others have taken the plunge. The reason I ask about the road trip is because I hate flying. I get really nervous when I fly, and because of my work I'm able to take time off for the drive. I'm hoping I'll get over my fear soon, but its too stressful of a situation for me to get into right now.

[miu]

Originally Posted by Pear Martini

Thanks Holden, Mojo, and Champs! Its comforting knowing others have taken the plunge. The reason I ask about the road trip is because I hate flying. I get really nervous when I fly, and because of my work I'm able to take time off for the drive. I'm hoping I'll get over my fear soon, but its too stressful of a situation for me to get into right now.

I used to drive down to Miami in my Honda Civic every January to do the big antique shows there. I never had any issues on the road.

And I'd say that driving in snowstorm is about the same hassle as driving in Florida during a heavy rainfall. You just have to drive slower and keep more of a distance between cars. And when it's really bad, don't drive. The storm will pass soon enough plus we have good public transportation coverage to use instead.

[Pear Martini]

Thanks, miu! BTW, its a little off topic but where would you stop along the way? Would you spend the night anywhere or just drive non-stop? Any good hotels worth checking out?

[miu]

I used to do the trip in two days. I'd stop about halfway. I'd stop at those state-run welcome centers and pick up a coupon book of hotels and motels. Then depending on my energy level, I would choose a budget chain motel to sleep at. Many times I've stopped around the Rocky Mount, NC area.

Also, I'm good at driving at night. As I hate the heavy traffic on I-95 around CT, NY, DE, MD and Washington, DC, I would try to time my passing through at night. I pack snacks that I enjoy. Many times I will start my journey with a whole pizza. Cold pizza is a favorite breakfast food of mine.

[cjbos]

I just moved to Boston from Fort Lauderdale about 7 months ago and I love it here. It was one of the best things I did. I hated all of the severe thunderstorms, heat, crime, and generally the rudeness of people when I didn't speak Spanish. I am now going through my first winter and it hasn't been too bad really. I have been told that this year was pretty rough compared to others, so I am hoping the next winter will be easier. I have noticed that I am sick here more than I was in Florida but I am lucky to have an internet business so I work at my own speed. I don't drive because I use the T for everything. I really hated the dependency on a car in Florida and I love the fact that I can just jump on the T and be anywhere I need to be. There is just so much more here than Florida. It is a walking oriented city with so much to see and do all close to each other. You can get to other major cities very easily and the beaches are close as well as the mountains. There are art galleries, great restaurants, Broadway theater, museums, sporting events and so much more. Making friends is pretty hard here If you don't go to school or have a job outside of the home. I have only met a few neighbors in my building but they are really nice people. It just takes time and there are lots of free events especially in the Summer where you can meet people. In Florida I didn't walk much because it was too hot, I didn't go to many restaurants, theaters... because I hated to drive. I also didn't travel too much because there is not many different cities close to Fort Lauderdale. But here in Boston, I go out to eat once a week, I walk everywhere, I have been to several art galleries and museums and I have been to New York and The Cape. I love just walking around Boston and sitting in the Common and enjoying the fact that I now live in a world class city. I don't even think about going back to Florida to visit.