At what age do cold/snowy winters become too arduous to enjoy? (buying, luxury)

[ca_north]

Originally Posted by ForYourLungsOnly

cold weather is much safer than extreme heat..so technically no certain 'age' is designated to determine ones enjoyment or hatred of winters. it's all in personal preference. I personally can't stand extreme heat, so I'll always stay north.

I'd dispute the claim of "much safer." Cold weather vs. hot weather mortality seems like a wash, according to this:

Climate Change and Heat Mortality | Weather Underground

I have never lived in a place with heat and high humidity, though, which I know from brief experience can be suffocating. The southern coastal states seem like places to avoid.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by ca_north

Actually, I'm barely 40 now. Just wondering whether to make a permanent home of a place that could be potentially lethal if the heating fails, and considering future rising heating costs with Peak Oil in the picture now.

You would rather live in an area that is potentially lethal if the AC quits in the summer? You are tossing out the most extreme circumstances as if they happen on a regular basis. A person can die if it is either too hot OR too cold for to long of a period. It sounds like you already have your answer in your mind and I don't see where this is a real question for you. You don't want other peoples opinions or answers, just justification for your own opinions.

Like the vast majority of posters in this thread have already answered to your original question... there is no set age where a person HAS to move South due to the cold. Every person is different, some will go South for a couple months because they don't like the cold, some will go because they hate shoveling snow, but don't mind the cold (my 93 year old neighbor on the other side of me is one... loves the cold, hates the shovel; and she refuses to let others shovel her walkways because that is part of staying independent she thinks.) Others will stay in the North and not even consider going South. The last group is the majority by the way, most stay year around and do NOT go South. A lot do of course, but the majority stay in the North during the winter.

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Fair question....it's not the age, per se, but rather whether or not you are still involved in winter sports or outdoor activities. When that ends, winter becomes a much bigger hassle! My advice to avoid that issue (which I need for myself) is to get involved outdoors!

[Min-Chi-Cbus]

Originally Posted by Bydand

You would rather live in an area that is potentially lethal if the AC quits in the summer? You are tossing out the most extreme circumstances as if they happen on a regular basis. A person can die if it is either too hot OR too cold for to long of a period. It sounds like you already have your answer in your mind and I don't see where this is a real question for you. You don't want other peoples opinions or answers, just justification for your own opinions.

Like the vast majority of posters in this thread have already answered to your original question... there is no set age where a person HAS to move South due to the cold. Every person is different, some will go South for a couple months because they don't like the cold, some will go because they hate shoveling snow, but don't mind the cold (my 93 year old neighbor on the other side of me is one... loves the cold, hates the shovel; and she refuses to let others shovel her walkways because that is part of staying independent she thinks.) Others will stay in the North and not even consider going South. The last group is the majority by the way, most stay year around and do NOT go South. A lot do of course, but the majority stay in the North during the winter.

More than 10X as many people die from heat than cold in the U.S.A....if someone wants to challenge that claim I'll back it up with a source.

[Southern man]

I made up my mind at about age 20 after spending a winter in Korea. That was my first experience with very cold weather.

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by jm02

After working in Houston all my professional life, we moved north after retirement specifically to enjoy cold winters. What's not to enjoy:

What city is that? Snow is so pretty.

[jm02]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

What city is that? Snow is so pretty.

Yea - I'm a snow lover too. The shot is from Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.

[ja1myn]

I've hated the northeast winters since I was 13.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by ca_north

Actually, I'm barely 40 now. Just wondering whether to make a permanent home of a place that could be potentially lethal if the heating fails, and considering future rising heating costs with Peak Oil in the picture now.

Ok, thanks for clarifying things. In terms of heating sources, most people in the north supplement with wood, gas, or pellets. Main heating sources are usually heating oil or propane. In my experience, I've known people with a higher electricity bill for AC use in the South compared to overall heating bill cost in the North. ALSO, the sqft of the dwelling makes a big difference in cost. If the house is well insulated and constructed it won't cost that much to heat. Networking with people who will sell cord wood will save big dollars. I've lived further south and I wouldn't move back because the duration of the heat seems to be getting much worse down there these days.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by ja1myn

I've hated the northeast winters since I was 13.

A southern summer is much worse.