What is it really like to live in Chicago? (Atlanta: move to, best time)

[ChiTownBurbs]

Although, you can't have the upside without the down.

To be straightforward, the Winter sucks. It is godawful. december is usually very tolerable. but January through early March are a living hell. LOTS of bitter cold, dark, and windy days accentuated by brief periods of insane snow.

But once you reach about this time of year you insantly forget Winter ever happened and its all worth it!

[Lucky Clover]

Originally Posted by ChiTownBurbs

Although, you can't have the upside without the down.

To be straightforward, the Winter sucks. It is godawful. december is usually very tolerable. but January through early March are a living hell. LOTS of bitter cold, dark, and windy days accentuated by brief periods of insane snow.

But once you reach about this time of year you insantly forget Winter ever happened and its all worth it!

As bad as it seems, I think you just adjust to it eventually (at least that was the case with me). Going through winter is a small price to pay IMO for what summer offers here, that's just me though.

[IEnjoyBeer]

Non stop sunny days from May-August?

[chet everett]

Same goofy people that can stick their head in the sand with regard to serious issues also tend to forget that we get a fair amount of rain ( we are after all a top producing state of soybeans and corn should anyone need reminding...)

That non-stop sunshine is why Chicago is one those high growth "sun belt" places, right?

[IEnjoyBeer]

Climate of Chicago - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Chicago does have much higher % of possible sunshine than NYC, Philly, DC, Boston, etc. from April-October though..


54-62-68-69-66-60-56


Thats pretty insane that from June-August its almost 70%. Thats approaching SoCal territory.

[It'sAutomatic]

Chicago is a place where you can live almost any kind of life you want. The upper limit to you happiness here is within yourself.

[Lucky Clover]

Originally Posted by chet everett

Same goofy people that can stick their head in the sand with regard to serious issues also tend to forget that we get a fair amount of rain ( we are after all a top producing state of soybeans and corn should anyone need reminding...)

That non-stop sunshine is why Chicago is one those high growth "sun belt" places, right?

Chicago summers are better than most of those sunbelt cities. The only ones that I'd say have it better are the California cities (SF, LA and SD). I'm not really sure Charlotte. The rest, from MY experience, are worse in the summer.

[jmims]

I'm glad people are responding to my post. I'm not scared of winter because I'm from Minneapolis but what I hated was the strong winds from the lake. They almost knocked me down! As far as cost of living I would be perfectly happy in a studio apartment in one the city's famous neighborhoods.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by jmims

I'm glad people are responding to my post. I'm not scared of winter because I'm from Minneapolis but what I hated was the strong winds from the lake. They almost knocked me down! As far as cost of living I would be perfectly happy in a studio apartment in one the city's famous neighborhoods.

The wind is no joke here. It's not constant, but it's consistent. It's really what makes the winters bad.

And frankly, for me anyway, winter is only the downside to living here.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by jmims

I'm glad people are responding to my post. I'm not scared of winter because I'm from Minneapolis but what I hated was the strong winds from the lake. They almost knocked me down! As far as cost of living I would be perfectly happy in a studio apartment in one the city's famous neighborhoods.

Then don't live by the lake. Problem solved.

I recently moved from a lakefront neighborhood (a half block east of Lake Shore Drive) to one that is further west. The difference is amazing. I work downtown, but the wind patterns there are largely determined by the tall buildings, and you can usually find shelter if you know what you're doing.