Are Chicago winters survivable? (Hartford: vacation, sick, move)

[preppyboyofIL]

These were all taken around Chicago around Christmas time... Look at how horrible the weather is... I think some people are actually wearing winter coats!!! Brace yourselves for this.. It was raining here, how awful. Rush hour on State Street, look at those people who are freezing to death out there so much that they thought they would go shopping. And finally since yes it does snow here, lets look at all this discusting mushy stuff a whole 4 inches worth! Rather picturesque in my opinion. After all it is winter. These are all images of an average winter day in Chicago, if this is so awful for you and you cannot deal with the changeability of the weather then don't live here unless you have to, but overall what did you notice? Does it really look all that bad? True, its not sunny and 80 degrees, but then again it isn't 40 below like people have a tendency to make it sound like how it is here all winter long.

[preppyboyofIL]

This is what it look like to wake up to in the morning. Awful? More like bla and boring to look at in my opinion. And very occasionally you might wake up to this, but not too often.

[Chi2NYC?]

again, i generally agree with your last *comment*, so i don't know what this biased selection of photos adds to anything. i notice you have only one photo taken after 5 pm, when it gets dark outside in the winter!!! that's another crappy thing to mention about winter. thanks for reminding us.

what's next? are you going to head to the florida forums, start a thread about how horrible the weather is there, and then post several pics of a florida city with a hurricane heading through it?

[preppyboyofIL]

Instead of dwelling on all the bad and trying to scare the heck out of everyone about how Chicago can get bad weather during the winter, we should be showing all the good that our city has to offer for the other 8 months of the year!

True winters have shorter days, and it can snow from time to time or give us cold snaps here and there, but this is what we wait for days like this... OR or those nice days where you can cruise Ontario St. with the windows down, hear the sounds of the city, smell the flowers and buds in the air, feel the warm sun in your face! Come on now, Chicago isn't that bad. We have nice springs, beautiful summers, and unbelievable falls.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Chi2NYC?

agree, but i honestly have yet to meet someone who truly *enjoys* sub-30 temps more than above-30 temps.

Then you haven't met me. I find Chicago winters to be too mild. I end up going up to Wisconsin to take in some of my winter hobbies because there often isn't enough snow or ice to do them down here. I like cold winters. I relish the challenge of staring a -10 degree day in the face and saying "eff you." My only complaint about winters around here is that they are about one month too long. But I rather enjoy a couple months of good solid cold winter.

[preppyboyofIL]

You know for someone never experiencing a "real" winter or at least one where it can get cold, Chicago's winters can be somewhat exciting. I'm sure that cold weather is not often looked forward to, but lets look at the positives here.

To kids, a snow day of which native Chicagoans have probably all experienced as children, remain with us for the rest of our lives as memories of snow ball fights, building snowmen, snow angels, and building forts of ice and snow. If you have kids, winters in Chicago are great! There is sledding, ice skating, skiing, hockey, and lets not forget just the thrill and excitement of being able to go outside and play in the snow.

As for the cold, again lets look at the possitives here. On nights where the temps drop to 10 outside, the sky will usually be totally clear and the air will be crisp and clean often with the smell of burning wood from people's fireplaces filling the air. The air is so clean in fact, that you can actually taste freshness in your mouth when you take a big deep breath. The stars appear brighter and it is so calm and quiet outside you can hear a pin drop. You can get a couple of movies and you and your significant other can cuddle up together on the sofa in front of the fireplace and sip your hot cocoa feeling all warm and cozy.

I mean seriously, instead of everyone dwelling on the fact that it can get cold here, and yes it can snow, try to look at all the positives. Try to view winter as a time of year to better yourself. Go to the gym more, remodel/paint the inside of your house, go shopping, stay at the office later and impress your boss. There are a million things you can alter in your life to make up for the fact that the weather will be less than perfect outside.

[deegers]

Originally Posted by preppyboyofIL

You know for someone never experiencing a "real" winter or at least one where it can get cold, Chicago's winters can be somewhat exciting. I'm sure that cold weather is not often looked forward to, but lets look at the positives here.

To kids, a snow day of which native Chicagoans have probably all experienced as children, remain with us for the rest of our lives as memories of snow ball fights, building snowmen, snow angels, and building forts of ice and snow. If you have kids, winters in Chicago are great! There is sledding, ice skating, skiing, hockey, and lets not forget just the thrill and excitement of being able to go outside and play in the snow.

As for the cold, again lets look at the possitives here. On nights where the temps drop to 10 outside, the sky will usually be totally clear and the air will be crisp and clean often with the smell of burning wood from people's fireplaces filling the air. The air is so clean in fact, that you can actually taste freshness in your mouth when you take a big deep breath. The stars appear brighter and it is so calm and quiet outside you can hear a pin drop. You can get a couple of movies and you and your significant other can cuddle up together on the sofa in front of the fireplace and sip your hot cocoa feeling all warm and cozy.

I mean seriously, instead of everyone dwelling on the fact that it can get cold here, and yes it can snow, try to look at all the positives. Try to view winter as a time of year to better yourself. Go to the gym more, remodel/paint the inside of your house, go shopping, stay at the office later and impress your boss. There are a million things you can alter in your life to make up for the fact that the weather will be less than perfect outside.

Now that's something I think we Midwesterners can all agree with. I was a native Chicago suburbanite of 25 years and moved to Las Vegas for three years. It sucks! In the spirit of weather, We have heat and cold. Neither of them can you do much activity. Especially if you have the drought the West is having. So, yes everyone, I am one of those people who actually longs for a cloudy day. (A sunny day is nice, but not when you can't see because of the glaring sun...The glaring sun out here reflects off of every surface, even desert rocks. ) I guess the humdrum days of gray gave rise to a better appreciation of what I had when it was a good day. Oh, to snuggle up on the couch in a big blanket because it's biting cold outside. man, I had great naps then. And if I remember, Chicago winters have been milder the last few years....
Good times.

[Chi2NYC?]

you people are all freaks of nature.

[preppyboyofIL]

LOL! More like true Chicagoans at best. I just try to look at the possitives that each season has to offer. Afterall if you dwell on the fact that the winter is so cold and you want it to be June again, you will drive yourself crazy.

Not to mention that also on the bright side is you don't have to drive very far away from Chicago to be in nice weather again. I went to St. Louis many times in Feb. to get away from the cold because I have had enough and needed a break from it so I left Chicago with it being cloudy and about 30 degrees with 6 inches of snow on the ground and got down there where temps were in the mid 60s and the sun was splitting the trees. That big of a change in a 3.5 hour ride making it ideal for a "weekend getaway"

[nanannie]

To my 11 yr old son,,,Snow days = Answered prayers