[darstar]

The talk always turns to the memorable winters in the UP , one year 200 inches , another year 300 or more, its as if we up here are bragging or something ?...... fact is , if you live along the big lake , it won't get nearly as cold as it does downstate , or anywhere in Wisconsin. The cold is very dry , getting used to cooler temps year round Does have its rewards. No AC needed for the most part , so many winter sports available at your doorstep that before you know it , winter will be a welcome site that October morn when all things turn white...........May and June is bug season......that I could live without !

One word of caution however , be prepared for expensive shopping trips to Chicago twice a year. Also , those late winter vacations to somewhere warm will have a special meaning again. ( nearly everyone I know around Marquette takes a get a way now and then )........Yes , the UP can be the land of extremes , we are proud of it ! Come on up , jump in , the waters fine . Its not just a lifestyle the UP , its a way of life......worth living.

[Bluefly]

I hate how people use the phrase "winters are much worse here".

I could just as easily say, "Winters are much better in the UP! Rather than a couple inches here or there of wet snow that melt into dirt the UP gets big, fluffy flakes that last from November until April!"

This notion that more winter = worse is just a product of the new Roman Empire that has created a very sedate population unable to deal with anything but excessive physical comfort. We're the living manifestation of the Wall-E movie. Just look at Scandinavian countries and mountain cultures around the world - some of the highest quality of life you'll find anywhere.

When I first moved to the UP people scared the hell out of me. I moved in summer and everybody would ask, "Have you survived a winter yet?" By mid-September I was swimming as much as I could for fear that a winter gale was going to whip up the next day. But, winter is winter and the cold is not nearly as cold as it is downstate / Ohio because of the lake's moderating effect. In the end, people live normal lives there. Elderly people, young families, college students, whatever. But, that said, if you're retiring it's different than if you're young. It is a solid 5 months of legitimate winter.

On another note - I'm personally not a big fan of people buying up land, building their home, and taking away another piece of the wilderness that makes the UP unique, and many others aren't as well. So, perhaps heading toward a more welcoming culture for that kind of lifestyle would be more fitting or finding a property already developed. The cold and distance has protected the UP so far from too much of this, but as the climate changes who knows what the future will hold.

[weedlady]

I want to thank you all for your responses. And I'm glad to see that not everyone says "no, don't move there"., lol. although most do.

I don't mind snow, what I hate about the Ohio winter is cold drizzly, muddy rainy times. And as someone mentioned. I'll be retired, if I want to head south, I will be able to (although I would have to figure out who would take care of the chickens).

Bluefly, you have a valid point about people buying up the wilderness. We have considered that very thing. That is why we will not even look at any property that is part of a subdivision, or developement, or the like. The ideal spot would be an old "homeplace".

Still lot's to consider, and we haven't found the ideal spot yet anyway, but I am keeping an open mind.
thanks again,and I will be avidly reading all threads that have to do with the UP.
Martha

[jeanniepep]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

I could just as easily say, "Winters are much better in the UP! Rather than a couple inches here or there of wet snow that melt into dirt the UP gets big, fluffy flakes that last from November until April!"

That's a good point, it's all a matter of your definition of "bad!" I do hate winter but one of the main reasons is that everyone here downstate figures that you better be hardy enough to get your butt to work no matter how awful the roads get. I seriously can't imagine what job is worth risking my life on an icy road, and I don't have any interest in buying a large AWD gas-guzzler just to allow me to do so. So I've often wondered if I might actually LIKE winter if I were allowed to stay indoors and sip cocoa because everyone realizes that nobody's going anywhere in 200 inches of snow.

[timeofseasons]

Winters in the UP are usually some of the worst in the region, though a place to consider for retirement.

[UpperPeninsulaRon]

Originally Posted by bc008

And yes, UP Winters are awful.. one weekend my moms friends and I went up to Kewadin (I swam they gambled) and We got snowed in (Bridge was actually closed) and I had to miss 2 days of school!

You must be thinking about the fudge bridge. The real one (to Copper Country) doesn't close.

[weedlady]

The winters are long and cold with lot's of snow. Other than the weather, what can you tell me about everyday life in the UP?

[YAZ]

I look forward to "bug" season in May-June.

The best fly fishing in the world....

As a kid, my grandfather asked me to take a couple of "blokes" fishin' on his property.

Ya see, he had a 'lil creek running through his property that ran into Waiska (Whiskey) Bay.

That's near Brimley, for those "not in the know".

Brook trout galore, but these guys from the U.K. were fishin' for suckers.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by weedlady

The winters are long and cold with lot's of snow. Other than the weather, what can you tell me about everyday life in the UP?

The folks are like family.

Your neighbors will treat you like gold.

No pretentious ones; cucumbers on your doorstep, driveway will be plowed. You'll wake up and say: "Who plowed my driveway?"

Lots of venison will be shared; do you like ice fishing?

Good sport.

[Bluefly]

Originally Posted by jeanniepep

That's a good point, it's all a matter of your definition of "bad!" I do hate winter but one of the main reasons is that everyone here downstate figures that you better be hardy enough to get your butt to work no matter how awful the roads get. I seriously can't imagine what job is worth risking my life on an icy road, and I don't have any interest in buying a large AWD gas-guzzler just to allow me to do so. So I've often wondered if I might actually LIKE winter if I were allowed to stay indoors and sip cocoa because everyone realizes that nobody's going anywhere in 200 inches of snow.

That's the beauty of the UP winters, though. They're not icy. You can plow through many inches of snow in a truck because the air and snow are so dry.

And people don't sit inside in the winter. They get out cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice climbing, ice skating, playing hockey, ice fishing, snow-mobiling.... Good, invigorating life with a wonderful quirky culture of artists, thespians, and musicians...