How are Iowa City winters? (Nevada, Henderson: work, house, campus)

[gypsy77]

And to whoever said the whole midwest is cold in the winter...that's true, and maybe that's why the houses are so affordable. Move out west where the weather is good, but pay half a million dollars for a small modest house. It comes down to what's most important to you. Weather? Cost of living? Slow paced vs. fast paced lifestyle...etc..

[katychicago]

I really don't think Iowa is a good place to retire. Most of the old people here are very sad, bored, resentful and seldom smile. If you're leaving Nevada (I used to live in Henderson) and you have to come to Iowa, don't go to a town that is too small. You will not like it. People are NOT friendly, in spite of all the statements heard to the contrary. They are not helpful and I don't think I've ever seen anyone under 40 offer to help a senior citizen carry groceries, cross an icy sidewalk, pick up a prescription, etc. This is not a nice place. Check out Indiana. They have a great respect for senior citizens - older folks are admired and looked up to. Here in Iowa, it seems as though as soon as a person is over 65 their family starts checking out nursing homes or assisted living. People don't do that in most parts of the country. They take care of their older citizens. I think you'd be a lot happier anywhere but here.

[metro223]

Originally Posted by katychicago

I really don't think Iowa is a good place to retire. Most of the old people here are very sad, bored, resentful and seldom smile. If you're leaving Nevada (I used to live in Henderson) and you have to come to Iowa, don't go to a town that is too small. You will not like it. People are NOT friendly, in spite of all the statements heard to the contrary. They are not helpful and I don't think I've ever seen anyone under 40 offer to help a senior citizen carry groceries, cross an icy sidewalk, pick up a prescription, etc. This is not a nice place. Check out Indiana. They have a great respect for senior citizens - older folks are admired and looked up to. Here in Iowa, it seems as though as soon as a person is over 65 their family starts checking out nursing homes or assisted living. People don't do that in most parts of the country. They take care of their older citizens. I think you'd be a lot happier anywhere but here.

You are consistantly insulting the people of our state when you CLEARLY know NOTHING about us. Your help is not appreciated, i guarantee this. have you had any positive feedback yet on your dozens of posts in this past day? Nope. Wow, imagine that. I don't think people are going to be nice to you anywhere you go until YOU change, just look at the way you have presented yourself on here in one day. You need a reallly good doctor IMHO.

[DecayingAngel]

Originally Posted by katychicago

I really don't think Iowa is a good place to retire. Most of the old people here are very sad, bored, resentful and seldom smile. If you're leaving Nevada (I used to live in Henderson) and you have to come to Iowa, don't go to a town that is too small. You will not like it. People are NOT friendly, in spite of all the statements heard to the contrary. They are not helpful and I don't think I've ever seen anyone under 40 offer to help a senior citizen carry groceries, cross an icy sidewalk, pick up a prescription, etc. This is not a nice place. Check out Indiana. They have a great respect for senior citizens - older folks are admired and looked up to. Here in Iowa, it seems as though as soon as a person is over 65 their family starts checking out nursing homes or assisted living. People don't do that in most parts of the country. They take care of their older citizens. I think you'd be a lot happier anywhere but here.

Unfortunately this is so true is many places in this country. We are so youth-oriented now. There is no respect for the elderly.

However, on the other hand here in NJ (and probably a lot of other states as well) there are fine alternatives to nursing homes. Assisted Living Facilities are often fine places which give levels of care according to what the senior citizen needs. They also have a lot of services under one roof or offer transportation to shopping, events etc. There is 24 hour security and care. Plus socialization with others in their own age group.

But on the whole, our society is no longer geared toward respecting the elderly. Heck, our government seems not to care if they starve or can't afford their higher priced medications. And that is really sad.

[katychicago]

Sorry Metro - but you are the perfect example of what I'm talking about. Look at your post - you have written negatively about me personally - I have not done that to anyone on here - Isn't that against the rules???? In answer to your question about feedback, yes, I have, check out =34 by Decaying Angel.

Actually if you read back through the thread there are more negative aspects of Iowa mentioned than positive.

Your reaction is so typical of an Iowan - grrrrrrrr, let's tell them off, let's "get 'em" "let's take our ball and go home," or, "Let's just get rid of her." Listen to yourself. Simple solution for you: If you don't want to read my comments, don't click on them. It sounds like I really hit a nerve.

[gypsy77]

I agree with katychicago. And yes it's typical for everyone to get defensive and start personally insulting you if you dare something negative. This forum is for us to share our opinions, correct? People were rude and unfriendly to me in Iowa and the weather was absolutely horrible and depressing. That is my opinion. You can't say that I'm wrong, and you can't say it was MY fault. It's just my opinion. But fortunately, I moved back to California, so don't bother responding with the typical, "If you don't like it, then why don't you leave, we don't want you here anyway...." comments.

[WoodwardGirl]

One of the problems with this thread is that there isn't a "typical" Iowa winter -- at least, not after this one! According to the local paper, it has snowed half the days since Thanksgiving, and we're to get another half foot of "light fluffy" snow tonight. (Apparently, we have taken to naming it, now, like the Eskimoes allegedly do )

For those who find winter in Iowa "horrible and depressing," one piece of advice is to make sure you are getting lots of Vitamin D. If you google "Vitamin D," you'll come up with lots of articles about how we generally don't get enough Vitamin D because we're not outside much -- besides supplements, one can get Vitamin D from the sun. If you take a multivitamin, it probably has 300-400mg of D in it. You should probably take twice that amount (800-1000mg daily for an adult), so an extra D or Calcium with D supplement would be good. It can't hurt you but it sure can help; if part of your "attitude problem" is lack of Vitamin D, you'll notice improvement within as little as a few days.

I'm not a doctor or some kind of holistic shaman, just a country gal whose doctor told her to increase Vitamin D in order to improve absorption of calcium and who was really (really!) surprised at the difference it made in everything from aches and pains to temperament. It's always a good idea to check with your doctor before taking the medical advice of anyone you find on the internet and I'd encourage you to do that; there are also blood tests you can take to determine whether you are low in Vitamin D.

If you hate Iowa winter, this isn't going to "cure" you, but it could make you less miserable, and that's good, right?? It can't hurt to give your doctor a call and ask, and it could really help.

[metro223]

Thanks woodward girl, I think you're right and I realllly need to start taking my vitamins again.

[Chicago60614]

^ yeah, this winter has SUCKED. I don't remember one this bad in years, but I guess that's what happens after we had the mild winters the past few years.


As far as the elderly comments, I noticed people bending over backwards MUCH more when I lived in Iowa than I ever see in Chicago or other larger cities in the United States. Maybe that's just because I was so close to my grandparents, but I have great respect for the elderly, and always give up a seat on the train/bus, or help people with doors, etc.

[LPerkins33]

Originally Posted by Robarooney

This year, the winter has been very mild, so far. A record LOW amount of snow for December in Des Moines (0.1 inch for the month). The snow, when it does fall, isn't too deep usually. However, the temps can really go down and the wind makes the wind chill index scary. Seems like January and February are the really cold months. I do remember a snowstorm on Thanksgiving Day, 1985 or 1986 but usually we don't have any snow until March.

Mild?! Maybe in Des Moines, we've had several feet of snow this winter in Iowa City. Its been a record winter here. Awesome stuff.

But right now its cold as balls. Single digits with wind pushing it below 0. But it doesn't last for more than a few days.