I can't take the Winter much more. (Duluth, Bemidji: movies, living in)

[jambo101]

Originally Posted by MNtoocold

I'm dreading the thought of Winter coming on, and I'm still a young ripe guy in my twenties.



I just feel like Winter comes earlier here, hits harder here, and leaves later here, than it does in the Cities.

Time to move to Florida.. I've heard it referred to as paradise

[audadvnc]

Originally Posted by jambo101

I've heard it referred to as paradise

Yeah - if you're a python.
http://newswatch-media.nationalgeographic.com/files/2011/03/picture-of-python-in-Everglades-22.jpg (broken link)

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by jambo101

Time to move to Florida.. I've heard it referred to as paradise

Originally Posted by audadvnc

Yeah - if you're a python.

you'll get a chance to see what a real mosquito problem is like and while you can't swim in the lakes around Orlando because of the brain eating amoebas in the water, the ever-present, flying cockroaches can be entertaining

[Minnesota Spring]

Originally Posted by MNtoocold

I'm dreading the thought of Winter coming on, and I'm still a young ripe guy in my twenties.

I've lived all over Minnesota, and currently I'm on the Canadian border. I seem to remember Winter not being so bad around the cities, at least compared to how it gets up here. Am I just remembering fondly? The grass is always greener?

I just feel like Winter comes earlier here, hits harder here, and leaves later here, than it does in the Cities.

In general, I guess I don't "mind" winter, but the -40 days are KILLING ME. I hate that painfully cold walk to the car in the morning. Those mornings where it's so cold, that if you forget to start your car early the power steering doesn't want to work, and your vents are still blowing ice cold air after being on the road for ten minutes. Ahhhhhhhh!

I'm not going to lie, I signed up for this forum because I'm thinking about leaving MN. I can't help but be jealous of places that have an extended Fall for Winter (Fall being my favorite time of the year), like Northern Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana.

I love the people in Minnesota, I love the small towns in Minnesota (rural for life!), and I love the fact that we have great schools, and are the home-base for a lot of large corporate players, BUT I cannot take the Winter!!!

I just imagine life being so enjoyable in the small towns of the South, hoping that I'm not just an outcast "yank." I'll probably make it through this Winter and next while I research, but unless the cities are as good as I remember, I'll probably be heading on out.

The winters up by Canada would be too harsh for me also. Southern Minnesota would have a slightly shorter winter and we don't really see anything below -20 even on the coldest nights.
I grew up in Missouri and it has its pros and cons. The winters are more mild, the snow dosn't stick around for too long but it does get some cold snaps, but nothing like northern Minn. The summers though are something else if your not used to them. I know it gets hot and muggy here in Minnesota in the summer, but down there it just feels even worse and does not let up like it does here. So weigh your options.
If it makes you feel any better, New England is supposed to have a big snow storm this weekend and no snow in sight here yet.

[kbaknife]

And to think I'm leaving Illinois at the ripe ol' age of 57 and moving BACK! to Minnesota - around Grand Rapids - after suffering in this Gawd awful heat and muck for 30 years.
I've also lived in Florida, Kentucky, and Georgia and you can have 'em! Just disgustingly hot and humid and, never mind.

I remember one time my Father, who was living in I'Falls at the time sent me a postcard that said:

"We've been up into the single digits for three days in a row now.
We keep hoping and praying that this heat wave will come to an end."

[akronbball]

Denver winter is a pretty good place compared to Minnesota. Sunny and fairly mild and the mountains are so close to enjoy all the great winter activities.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Ghengis

you'll get a chance to see what a real mosquito problem is like and while you can't swim in the lakes around Orlando because of the brain eating amoebas in the water, the ever-present, flying cockroaches can be entertaining

Palmetto bugs. We have them in Atlanta, too. Scary.

[DaninEGF]

Originally Posted by freezengirl

Now Dan, that would make you one of those Southerners I've heard tell of! Both my husband and I are originally from International Falls area-everything is south of there!

Hi

I currently live in East Grand Forks MN....I think most everyone is south of International Falls....except Hallock to Roseau-Warroad-Baudette.

But I grew up in Kentucky and my dream was live in the far north and in the prairie open land. Too many trees get me claustophobic. I forecast weather for northwest Minnesota from the NWS Grand Forks office. Our eastern forecast area goes to Baudette-Bemidji-Park Rapids-Wadena and it is amazing how the trees act to warm it up more on sunny days in the winter than the open prairie and how cold it gets at night as winds go calm quickly in the forests.

My former boss was born/raised in Intl Falls as well....last name Anderson.

Take care

[kbaknife]

Originally Posted by rcsteiner

Palmetto bugs. We have them in Atlanta, too. Scary.

"The Florida woods cockroach (Eurycotis floridana), or palmetto bug is a large species of cockroach, which usually grows to a length of 1½ inch to 2 inches."

[MNtoocold]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I haven't been able to make it back to this site in a while.

I've read every post and I'm taking it all to heart; it would be a bit much to respond to each post individually, so I'm going to be general.

I am going to be moving to the Cities this Spring, and if it happens to be more pleasant, like some of you have mentioned, that will definitely be something I consider for the long term. Another poster hit on it, but where I'm living now is exceptionally cold, and there is NOT much to do here, for the type of person I am. I'm not a fan of ice-fishing or hunting and the last time I used my snowmobile was four years ago. That is to say, there is a lot to do here if you're an outdoors person, but if you're not, there's the bar and sitting at home, and I'm not much of a barfly. I know this wouldn't be an issue for me around the cities.

I don't deny it, and I've admitted it already, but there are a lot of things I love about where I live. I will miss it. The summer time is amazing...just getting out on the lake for a swim, seeing the wildlife, going for runs, barbecues, the smell of burning wood in the Fall/Winter, and the undeniable fact that there are a lot of dimes in Canada, etc.! (Just sayin', it seems like all the Canadian girls are very beautiful, and I spend a lot of time over there.)

Maybe I won't make such a drastic change to the South. I think I'd enjoy the weather, and be intrigued by the different way of life, but maybe I wouldn't. I don't really care about politics right or left, so that wouldn't detour me to another location in the least.

I've been looking into a lot of places, and I'll further inspect locations brought up in this thread. Honestly, besides a milder Winter, I'd like to be about an hour's drive away from a major city. I don't like that if I want to see a show in Minneapolis or St. Paul, that I have to plan on a motel or hotel, that's no fun. I love rural life, but I like being within a reasonable distance of what urban life has to offer, if that makes sense. Then of course, I'd like warmth, so we'll see.

Thanks again everyone!