[mjlough6]

Currently live in western PA, w/wife and our 6 kids. Our 2 oldest will be in college this time next year, our younger 4 are middle and elementary school. I enjoy winter much more than summer, love hockey, skating, skiing, but winters in Western PA are very depressing. I understand how harsh things can be in U.P., but in WPA we can have 3 days below zero, then it can shoot up to 45-50 degrees-making the whole place a muddy mess. Basically means unless you get a good long cold spell you are dealing with mud and yuck for 6 months of the year. At least up there things stay frozen-you can actually do SOMETHING. Summers here are no better, seems as if it is always 90% humidity, and 85 degrees-unbearable in my opinion. Situation is...I am a pharmacist...am selling my business, and thinking about going somewhere new...Marquette came up, and after researching looks like a great place. I would have to live in town, as running kids around in 200inch snowfall/season winters does not sound possible if you live in the sticks. Given I could land a job up there-how is the life for kids? and stay at home mom's? Would it be too lonely?

[jeeg]

Sounds like Marquette could be a good fit for you all. Your comment about having to live in town due to running kids around in 200 inches of snow made me smile tho. We live in the sticks and drive to town nearly every day. It really is NOT a problem. We only have FWD vehicles as well. The county does a great job of keeping the roads clear, and we've never had a single incident.

This is an absolutely great place to raise kids (the main reason we moved up here). It's like a step back in time IMO. Altho it certainly helps if the kids enjoy the outdoors (especially winter sports). Make sure you buy snowshoes for everyone
I'm not sure what you mean about being to lonely? If you stay in the house all the time and don't go anywhere...... yes you're going to be lonely. But if you get out and get involved in the community and make yourself fit in..... then you won't be lonely. Same as if you live in NYC or a remote Alaskan village.
Marquette has tons of opportunities for getting involved. My family often jokingly calls it "the little metropolitan city in the wilderness". Do you like the arts scene? It's here for you. Are you interested in the natural food movement? There's various clubs for it. Book clubs? Several to choose from. As well as clubs and groups for kayaking/biking/running/climbing/cooking/homesteading/homeschooling/gardening/wine & beer making etc. etc.
There's always classes to take through the community education center or the university.
Between all of the above and everything there is to do in the great outdoors here, I don't see how anyone ever gets bored

Your post makes me curious tho, it's written entirely from your perspective. I would only recommend moving to this extreme of a climate if your wife is 100% on board too. I've noticed some unhappy relationships around me lately where one spouse loves the 5 months of heavy snow and sometimes severe cold.... and the other spouse absolutely hates it and dreams of moving south.
My wife and I absolutely love the winters and snow...... but come the end of February into March.... even we start going a bit stark raving mad But the other 9 months more then make up for it in our opinion.

Anyhow, good luck with your search!

(I've been sitting here thinking before hitting Submit.... I can only think of a dozen pharmacies in the area including the hopsital and two nearby cities. I'm not sure how much of a turnover there is for pharmacists?? I may have overlooked a few.)