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I like a place that has 4 seasons but where the winter is shorter. For example Georgia and North Carolina still has 4 seasons and it still gets cold in the winter, it just doesn't have to be as cold as Minnesota. Places like Ohio and Pennsylvania are too cold for my liking but I can still understand why people don't mind living there.
But when I meet people from places as cold as Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota or Alaska I do wonder what keeps them there. I wonder whats in Minneapolis that can't be found in a warmer city.
When I graduated high school is when I started hating snow. Even in college classes were still open when public schools were closed. I lived in Maryland where public schools close very easily for snow.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh are the coldest cities I would live in and not be completely miserable. Though honestly I hate snow MORE than I hate the cold itself because once its below 40 degrees I am cooped up indoors anyway. So I'd prefer 20 degrees with no snow than 30 degrees with accumulating snow that I have to shovel and drive in. I also prefer living in more rural areas on rural roads that typically don't get shoveled that quickly if at all because I can't stand high densities or city life. And I also prefer places where I drive everywhere vs take mass transit too.
But when I meet people from places as cold as Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota or Alaska I do wonder what keeps them there. I wonder whats in Minneapolis that can't be found in a warmer city.
Southerners will never get it.....they are (in general) wusses when it comes to cold weather. You get shut in at 20 degrees? grow a pair, learn to layer......
I like a place that has 4 seasons but where the winter is shorter. For example Georgia and North Carolina still has 4 seasons and it still gets cold in the winter, it just doesn't have to be as cold as Minnesota. Places like Ohio and Pennsylvania are too cold for my liking but I can still understand why people don't mind living there.
But when I meet people from places as cold as Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota or Alaska I do wonder what keeps them there. I wonder whats in Minneapolis that can't be found in a warmer city.
In my experience, the quality of living there (including winter) is outstanding. You just feel good about yourself and there's a lot to do. In terms of being unique or different from other cities, one thing you can do there that you can't do in any other major U.S. city (that I know of) is play pick-up hockey at the nearest outdoor park. Similarly, you can go sledding, skating, skiing (cross country OR alpine), ice fishing, etc. Since there is ice and snow throughout most of winter you can count on it and it's easier to organize winter sports outside as a result, which sounds like a pathetic amenity until you've shut yourself inside all winter and realize just how badly you want an excuse to leave the house!
There are many other intangible and subjective measures of quality for the area but since those are the most hotly debated I won't mention them here (like niceness, education or progressiveness).
When I graduated high school is when I started hating snow. Even in college classes were still open when public schools were closed. I lived in Maryland where public schools close very easily for snow.
Baltimore and Pittsburgh are the coldest cities I would live in and not be completely miserable. Though honestly I hate snow MORE than I hate the cold itself because once its below 40 degrees I am cooped up indoors anyway. So I'd prefer 20 degrees with no snow than 30 degrees with accumulating snow that I have to shovel and drive in. I also prefer living in more rural areas on rural roads that typically don't get shoveled that quickly if at all because I can't stand high densities or city life. And I also prefer places where I drive everywhere vs take mass transit too.
It's very hard to explain or believe unless you've lived it, but a cold winter WITHOUT snow and not taking advantage of the things to do in snow is so much more miserable than one with snow! I also am getting very jaded by snow and ice as I get older but anytime I put myself in the elements and play something fun with my kids or friends I feel like a kid all over again. Without that activity though the cold, snow and ice are only a nuisance.
Sincerely though, I really wouldn't expect those who did not grow up in that environment to understand it at all. It's not intuitive whatsoever! It's like saying in order to get out of that cave you have to dig deeper.
What? We can't just like snow and winter activities?
It would take extrodinary conditions for me to live anywhere that doesn't see snow reliably in the winter.
My two and four year olds received skis for Christmas this year. We play hockey outside every week. We go snowshoeing and ice fishing. Snow and cold weather does not equal sitting on the couch inside all day.
I am not from a place with a cold climate, but even before I saw the results of the poll, I figured they stay for many of the same reasons why people stay in climates that have a very hot summer, like where I live (Texas).
Close family proximity
Where the job is
They like the weather
Makes sense to me. Those are the same reasons I love living in the South.
I havea Hummer H3 and love tearing up snowpacked roads with it, and I also enjoy snowblowing.
Snow blowing is a blast. Spent 45 minutes today "moving" some snowdrifts with mine. It was about 10 degrees with a gentle breeze. Crisp, refreshing air at its best. I was dressed properly, of course.
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