Living in snow country

[LostDog]

reggierees, 6 years ago, I did just what you are thinking about doing, and I have never looked back. I spent my life in So. Calif., and I had the same concerns as you when I was thinking of moving here. If you will be retired, then winters are a piece of cake. As said before by someone, it isn't like it snows all winter long. Maybe an inch or 2, then melts.....week or 2 later another inch or 3. When it does snow heavy, you just stock up the house (weather reports are a way of life here, and quite accurate) and don't go anywhere for a few days if the roads are bad. The first 4 years I lived here, I was semi-retired, and winters were a piece of cake. This past winter I was working, and I bet there were only a handful of days where I had to pay attention to the roads and my driving. Winter heating bills are tolerable if you can get on a budget plan, then you pay the same all year long (even in summer), so you never have a huge gas bill in winter....you have built up a reserve, so to speak. I never do anything special to get ready for the winter except buy salt for the slick sidewalks. (say THAT 3 times fast!) A garage is a GOOD thing. As far as dodging the maniacs on the freeway in Ca., I would rather do that than dodge the deer here. I don't drive at dusk or at night here if I don't have to due to all the dumb kamikaze deer that are here. One last thing, I absolutely hate the humidity here....but that too is only a few days long...then the weather changes and it's nice...then it's back again. When it's humid...it is BAD.....but again, it's not a solid summer of humidity...there are breaks. The only thing I might have done differently is move closer to a big city....I am really in a tiny town...but even that's not so bad. Good luck on whatever you decide to do!

[reggierees]

Thanks for that advice. It is comforting to know that a Californian is able to survive the weather in Iowa. It gives me courage. When I am retired I will have the choice of leaving the house or not. Working folks don't have a choice. I have been watching the weather reports for Iowa everyday since we returned from there last month. The weather is certainly not boring like it is here in the San Joaquin Valley!

[LostDog]

The thunderstorms here are spectacular....I love them!

[mjbslb]

WE moved here from Florida 6 years ago and we have thoroughly enjoyed living in Iowa. The seasons are what appeal to us. You get the 4 definite seasons which we never knew anything about in Florida. The people are friendly and Des Moines is just big enough without feeling like a big city. I like the fact that it is July 1st and it is 78 degrees and very little humidity! Yay!