[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by detshen

I was surprised to learn that SoCal actually gets less daylight (actual light, not just a time zone difference) something to do with where it's located on the earth.

That is something you never hear about Southern California, but it's so true. It gets dark REALLY early there. I told people how odd it was that it was so dark by 7 p.m. and they were confused. They thought everybody lived with short days.

In northern Michigan, one of the best parts is that it's not dark until after 11 p.m. in the summer. Long evenings by bonfires on beaches at 10 at night when the sun's just going down are so nice.

I guess the whole getting out on cloudy days thing gets back to my suggestion that Michiganians grew comfortable with the sedentary life. I guess I find myself out skiing or snowshoing or at least walking around all winter. Not to stave off depression, but just to do it. I notice the snow on the branches and the animals... I don't know. I'm sad now b/c I'll probably start noticing the grey skies like you all do.

[Michigansnowflake]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

That is something you never hear about Southern California, but it's so true. It gets dark REALLY early there. I told people how odd it was that it was so dark by 7 p.m. and they were confused. They thought everybody lived with short days.

In northern Michigan, one of the best parts is that it's not dark until after 11 p.m. in the summer. Long evenings by bonfires on beaches at 10 at night when the sun's just going down are so nice.

I guess the whole getting out on cloudy days thing gets back to my suggestion that Michiganians grew comfortable with the sedentary life. I guess I find myself out skiing or snowshoing or at least walking around all winter. Not to stave off depression, but just to do it. I notice the snow on the branches and the animals... I don't know. I'm sad now b/c I'll probably start noticing the grey skies like you all do.

No you wont, us Winter lovers are immune to them!

[Sparrow_temp]

The length of the day is not that much different -- Michigan just happens to be at the western-most portion of the timezone so the sun sets later -- it also rises later. In summer, the days will be somewhat longer the farther north you are but in the winter this is the opposite so it evens out.

And for those of you who don't think that Michigan has a lot of cloudy days -- check out City Data's city profiles (Seattle and Lansing are about the same but Seattle is warmer).

[detshen]

Originally Posted by Sparrow_temp

The length of the day is not that much different -- Michigan just happens to be at the western-most portion of the timezone so the sun sets later -- it also rises later. In summer, the days will be somewhat longer the farther north you are but in the winter this is the opposite so it evens out.

And for those of you who don't think that Michigan has a lot of cloudy days -- check out City Data's city profiles (Seattle and Lansing are about the same but Seattle is warmer).

There are a lot of days when I would check the sunrise to sunset amount of time and MI had at least 45 minutes more daylight. It never seemed to me that it evened out in the winter. The days in San Diego always felt shorter. I don't think anyone is arguing that MI is cloudy in the winter, but some of us don't mind it as long as we get some time outside. I got sick of always being sunburned in CA, many days I just didn't want to go out and risk it because I'm very pale. I love cloudy days because I can go outside freely and not worry about being burned. I'm of English descent, I'm meant for cloudy Britain, not sunny areas that were originally inhabited by much darker people whose skin had adapted to the constant sunshine.

[mofromcheboygankalamazoo]

Originally Posted by Sparrow_temp

The length of the day is not that much different -- Michigan just happens to be at the western-most portion of the timezone so the sun sets later -- it also rises later. In summer, the days will be somewhat longer the farther north you are but in the winter this is the opposite so it evens out.

And for those of you who don't think that Michigan has a lot of cloudy days -- check out City Data's city profiles (Seattle and Lansing are about the same but Seattle is warmer).

It does not have to do with the time zone...it has everything to do with being at a more northern latitude we do get more sunlight in the summer and less in the winter due to the tilt of the earth........k back to cloudy days discussion i never noticed the cloudy days either in michigan-i notice here in philly esp this past winter when we had NO snow-got depressing with clouds, cold but no snow to play in!

[malamute]

Originally Posted by mofromcheboygankalamazoo

It does not have to do with the time zone...it has everything to do with being at a more northern latitude we do get more sunlight in the summer and less in the winter due to the tilt of the earth........k back to cloudy days discussion i never noticed the cloudy days either in michigan-i notice here in philly esp this past winter when we had NO snow-got depressing with clouds, cold but no snow to play in!

Yes, that's what it is. In Michigan, especially further north, you start hearing birds out at 4 or 5 am making a ruckus. The closer one gets to the north pole the longer the days are in the summer until they approach 24 hours daylight. The reverse happens in the winter, close to the equator day and night stay near 12 hours year round.

[Michigansnowflake]

I LOVE being North of the 45th parallel!

45th parallel north - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[GinaJ]

I have lived in MI,Ca,and Fl. I think all have pros and cons. A huge con for a person can be financial. When I moved to Ca I really didn't take serious when people told me how expensive it is. I thought how much really more. Well my apt was 1100 for a 1 bedroom,groceries are more etc. People who are working class there are used to working long hours and commuting far. There is rush hour at every time and 5 miles can take 30 minutes. It is lovely there and a happy environment if you can afford it. Florida has more affordable areas imo but the humidity is unreal to me and I love hot but that is not just hot.I am a lost sole so can't offer much. Just be realistic on what you can afford and give it time. It made me laugh about the comment on the bugs and bug like reptiles. Yuck I do agree.

[Wulf67]

I have lived in Michigan since 1994. I moved to SoCal about 3 years ago and moved back to northen Michigan last year. The weather was nice but boring. After a while, I really couldn't stand always having the sun in your face and stepping into a roasting car. I really missed cloudy days with crappy weather in Michigan. Nothing is better to have a fire going and a blizzard is blowing outside.

But in February, the cold weather gets old and I decide to move to a warmer climate again. A short vacation mid-winter down south usually does the trick. No place is perfect when it comes to weather.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by Wulf67

I have lived in Michigan since 1994. I moved to SoCal about 3 years ago and moved back to northen Michigan last year. The weather was nice but boring. After a while, I really couldn't stand always having the sun in your face and stepping into a roasting car. I really missed cloudy days with crappy weather in Michigan. Nothing is better to have a fire going and a blizzard is blowing outside.

But in February, the cold weather gets old and I decide to move to a warmer climate again. A short vacation mid-winter down south usually does the trick. No place is perfect when it comes to weather.

It's always a good idea to schedule a mid-winter trip South once a year in February, if you can afford it. There are a lot of good deals right now, probably due to the economy, if you go before March.