Just how bad is the weather?

[Parsec]

I moved here 2 years ago from Atlanta, GA so the weather there is pretty comparable to where you're at. We moved in the middle of winter. I was so miserable up here, I just stayed in my apt and blasted the heat. There was no sun outside and no fresh air inside.

The summer was pretty refreshing though -- awesome weather. What Bostonians call "hot and muggy" is nothing compared to Atlanta. We get about 1 week of humid 90 degree weather up here. Just make sure you have a window A/C to get you through that week. I had no A/C this past summer and it wasn't bad except for a week or 2.

My 2nd winter here, I finally got used to the cold and I don't think much about it anymore. The snow is what bothers me, since we only have 1 off-street parking spot and 2 cars. One of our cars is parked on the street and whenever it snows, the snow plower ends up burying my car, and then it freezes into a block of ice so I can't even open the door for a couple days. This winter I'll need my car everyday, so what I'm going to have to do is go out at clean the snow around my car every 2 hours from the time it starts snowing to make sure the plower doesn't trap me. So basically, I think you'll get used to it. It'll take a year or 2 though.

[gamsauer]

Originally Posted by Parsec

My 2nd winter here, I finally got used to the cold and I don't think much about it anymore. The snow is what bothers me, since we only have 1 off-street parking spot and 2 cars. One of our cars is parked on the street and whenever it snows, the snow plower ends up burying my car, and then it freezes into a block of ice so I can't even open the door for a couple days. This winter I'll need my car everyday, so what I'm going to have to do is go out at clean the snow around my car every 2 hours from the time it starts snowing to make sure the plower doesn't trap me. So basically, I think you'll get used to it. It'll take a year or 2 though.

I lived in upstate NY (Dutchess County) for 28 years and in NC for the past 13 years. I think it would only take me one winter to get used to it again. Honestly, weather is the last reason I am looking to move to Boston. I SPEAK ONLY FOR ME when I say that at this point in my life, Boston has more positives than negatives and NC has more negatives than positives.

[gamsauer]

Originally Posted by gamsauer

OMG, yes, yes and YES! This past summer in Raleigh was horrific. I was literally in tears towards the end. I couldn't deal with the heat one more day.

My 2 cents: There is no perfect place. Raleigh summers are like Boston winters in that they last far too long. However; I personally prefer Boston's winters, high cost of living, public transportation system, food, history, beauty, Red Sox, Patriots over Raleigh's lower cost of living and um, um....let me get back to you on this.

p.s. If you were wondering how I can be a Sox and Patriots fan but be originally from upstate NY, it is because I have been dating a life-long Boston fan for the past 8 and 1/2 years. He stole my heart and so did the Red Sox!

[ChunkyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Stockholmaren

What part of Northern Europe are you in right now? It's usually about the same weather as Boston unless you go north of Oslo/Stockholm.

I'm in Uppsala. It seems that Stockholm gets cooler about a month earlier than Boston. Summers are generally much cooler. We've had an unusually cold summer, chilly and rainy, and the fall has been from what I hear, typical, miserable with barely any sun hovering below 5 degree Celsius. We've already had some snow already.

You should not have any trouble adjusting to Boston weather. It seems that most Swedes love snow because they take advantage by going skiing, skating etc. I'm adjusting to the fact that even if it is miserable and rainy you still put on a rain coat and go hiking. If you wait for the perfect weather, you'll never go out and enjoy life. Americans are generally a bunch of whiners when it comes to weather. We need the perfect temps and weather to venture outdoors. In Europe people just accept it and deal with it.

[Stockholmaren]

Originally Posted by ChunkyMonkey

I'm in Uppsala. It seems that Stockholm gets cooler about a month earlier than Boston. Summers are generally much cooler. We've had an unusually cold summer, chilly and rainy, and the fall has been from what I hear, typical, miserable with barely any sun hovering below 5 degree Celsius. We've already had some snow already.

You should not have any trouble adjusting to Boston weather. It seems that most Swedes love snow because they take advantage by going skiing, skating etc. I'm adjusting to the fact that even if it is miserable and rainy you still put on a rain coat and go hiking. If you wait for the perfect weather, you'll never go out and enjoy life. Americans are generally a bunch of whiners when it comes to weather. We need the perfect temps and weather to venture outdoors. In Europe people just accept it and deal with it.

Ah Uppsala, my cousin lives there and I think it is a nice college town. I have probably been in the US too long to remember how short the summers really are in Sweden :-)

I hope you are enjoying your stay in Sweden despite the weather - just remember "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing" (a Swedish proverb).

[ChunkyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Stockholmaren

I hope you are enjoying your stay in Sweden despite the weather - just remember "there is no bad weather, only bad clothing" (a Swedish proverb).

Speaking of weather, it snowed (3 inches) today about a month earlier than I expected. Thanks for reminding me that I need to go shopping