Do you love cold weather? (Kent: how much, home, living in)

[crystalblue]

Just trying to figure out how people can live up north...

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

Just trying to figure out how people can live up north...

I live up in far northwest Minnesota...where it make the temperature in the cities during the winter seem like a heat wave.... seriously though always funny to watch the weather channel have someone in the cities talking about how cold it is and meanwhile we are about 20 degrees colder!

But I know it takes all kinds. I run into people all the time up here who hate/dispise the length of our cold season...not so much that hate the cold...but dislike 4 months of it (where I live is quite different temps than southern Minnesota usually). But I for one grew up in Kentucky and hated the length of their summers and the heat/humidity and my dream was to move up north as I love the cold and dislike sunny/warm weather. So I am in my element. This time of year is not my favorite season...though I know now the days are getting shorter so winter is fast approaching. Something about a cold morning with the snow crunching under your feet and the cold numbing your face makes me happy hope that doesnt make me too odd! but I know others feel the same about the heat and sweat and that they love it. I was born on the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year....so maybe that explains it.

But like any climate where you live....most people adjust to it. If I had to live in Florida I wouldnt be happy with the weather, but I would adjust to it. Same here....as usually the case it isnt nearly as bad as you think.

Dan

[fashionguy]

I think most people don't like cold. They just make up for it by something else. Most people I meet in MN just tell me that it does not bother them as much as one from elsewhere would suggest, but they wouldn't say they love it. There are several on this forum though saying that they actually love the cold. I don't know whether they are trying to persuade others or to persuade themselves though. I can perfectly understand that people love winter activities, but the cold itself is a difficult sell. More cold weather does not mean more winter activities.

Originally Posted by crystalblue

Just trying to figure out how people can live up north...

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by fashionguy

I think most people don't like cold. They just make up for it by something else. Most people I meet in MN just tell me that it does not bother them as much as one from elsewhere would suggest, but they wouldn't say they love it. There are several on this forum though saying that they actually love the cold. I don't know whether they are trying to persuade others or to persuade themselves though. I can perfectly understand that people love winter activities, but the cold itself is a difficult sell. More cold weather does not mean more winter activities.

Well for me cold weather makes me feel better....I just like being out in it...with all the coats/hats etc on. In the summer I am miserable most of the time if it is over 75F as I sweat a lot. I am not a winter weather outdoor enthusiast per se...I dont own snow mobiles or go ice fishing....but just living in in area with snow on the ground and below zero outside makes me happy...so I guess more psychological.

That said...it must be pointed out I do not have a job that is outdoors during the winter. I am sure if I did I may well sing a different tune.

Dan

[MN2CO]

I find that around Nov I'm ready for a break from certain outdoor chores (lawn, leaves, etc...) and ready to get in the hybernating mode (I was a bear in my former life). BUT, after 2 months I'm ready for no more coats, boots, gloves and other winter "stuff". So, I love 4 seasons but would add an extra month to spring and another to fall. Winter is more doable now that I'm retired and don't have to be somewhere early in the a.m.

[fashionguy]

Well if they hate the length of the cold season, it means they don't like the cold. If they love it, they would prefer the season to last forever.

Originally Posted by DaninEGF

I run into people all the time up here who hate/dispise the length of our cold season...not so much that hate the cold...but dislike 4 months of it (where I live is quite different temps than southern Minnesota usually). Dan

[uptown_urbanist]

I like cold weather in small doses. I don't like hot weather, either, for that matter. I would not choose to live somewhere where it was cold all year, but keep in mind that MN does get all four seasons. I am willing to put up with the cold and the snow for months because MN offers many other benefits in return.

[Clifford63]

For me, there are parts of winter that I love and parts that I hate. There are winter days that are truly amazing like when we get a fresh coat of snow followed by brillant sunshine, but cold temps. If the temp wind is not blowing and the temp is in the 15-30 degree range, I will go out and enjoy it. There is something about being outside in the cold that can be very awesome when the conditions are good. The air seems more fresh even though it isn't. Maybe seening your breath has something to do with that. The short hours of light can wear as winter goes on too. I don't like going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark too. Winter storms can be entertaining, but it can really snarly up traffic and make getting around a big hassle.

March is probably the hardest month for me because the days are getting longer, the snow is melting and after a few months of winter, spring is a very welcome arrival that can be a bit of a tease. It can be nice one day, and then you get another foot of snow which can be a drag.

Fall is my favorte season by far. My perfect day would have a low between 45 and 50 so you can leave the windows open, and a bright sunny day that gets up into the 60s or low 70s.

I really don't like the summer days where the humidity gets up over 70 percent and temps get into the 90s. We don't get a lot of those, but I often wonder how people in the south can live with that for most of the summer too. The long summer days with around 16 hours of light are special.

I like the seasons and watching things change. There is good in all of them for me. It is probaby fair to say that I do not love winter and cold days, but there are some things about winter that are pretty nice too.

At some point, I would like to spend Feb, March and April in another location. I don't want to completly miss winter, but a little less of it would be great.

My wife grew up in SW Florida and has been here about 10 years now. She often comments on how much people in the North get outside every change they can in the spring, summer and winter. Winter does tend to make you apprciate the warmer months.

[lesleeannc]

I love the cold and snow! I could never imagine living anywhere that did not have such a pronounced winter season. I also adore fall and Minnesota falls are absolutely breathtaking!

[jasper1372]

Originally Posted by MN2CO

I find that around Nov I'm ready for a break from certain outdoor chores (lawn, leaves, etc...) and ready to get in the hybernating mode (I was a bear in my former life). BUT, after 2 months I'm ready for no more coats, boots, gloves and other winter "stuff". So, I love 4 seasons but would add an extra month to spring and another to fall. Winter is more doable now that I'm retired and don't have to be somewhere early in the a.m.

I agree totally with MN2Co. I hate cold weather....and the colder it is the more I hate it. That being said I do enjoy the break from doing all the summer chores, but after about two months of cold weather I'm would be more than ready to dive back into summer....which unfortunately in Northern Minnesota we're still 6 months from summer actitvities.

This always drives me nuts. Many people up here will tell you how much they love the four distinct seasons and how they don't really mind the cold....but when the vacation schedule goes up at work guess when it's hard to get time off ???? Ya just take a wild guess. Yup, it's June, July and August. I'm always jabbing at them about how come you love all fours seasons and love cold so much but yet you all want to take your time off in the warm months ? How can this be ???

Well I think 99 percent of those who say they love cold weather are liers all the way through. They just have to find a way of justifying the fact that they live here so for all their life they keep telling themselves that the cold weather ain't so bad.

Ok....I've vented now :-)