Wanting to move from florida to Minot, ND ... (Fargo, Grand Forks: military, housing)

[elfyum]

Either wear alot of layers, as in thermals, long sleeve shirt, sweater, maybe a vest & then coat. Or you can maybe skip the vest & get a REAL WINTER COAT! I don't believe they sell them in FL, but you can go online. I advise against leather!!! Not only cause I'm vegan , but back when I wasn't, I made the mistake of wearing a leather jacket - it's not even warm enough for 40's!!! It just gets COLD! Like sitting on a leather couch in a room with mega ac! And I advise against down too. Again ,not just cause I'm vegan , but I had a down coat in NY & found the nice plush winter coat I bought as my next coat to be MUCH warmer! It had a lined hood. Ahhh nice & cozy! But yeah, just thermals, sweaters and or fleece, scarf, gloves, hat or hood, earmuffs & waterproof boots. Obviously this isn't for 40's! Although I break out my thermals down here & crank my electric blanket when its 40's! But this is for 20's on down. Which I can pretty well assume you'll get a hell of a lot of in ND! Good luck!

[Blue Ribbon]

Hello Florida,
Been reading some of the replies to your question about moving to Minot. I can give you some real answers, having moved from south of New Orleans 3 1/2 years ago.
For the winter months, October till March........

1. If you want your car to start reliably, have a block heater installed and plug it in any time it's going to drop below 15 degrees.
2. An economical and practical solution to the clothes problem, is thrift stores. There are several very good stores here with appropriate coats. I can wear designer labels for a pitance.
3. Anyone with training and ambition can get a job here in Minot. Except for outside construction, life goes on, no matter what the temperature is outside.
4. Wind chill temperatures are winds with a press agent. When it's 15 or colder, it's COLD! A couple of layers of clothes is better than one big coat or pants. Just get used to long johns in the winter. You'll be a lot more comfortable.
5. Forget buying gloves in Florida. Go over to Cenex Ace and buy a pair of 'Thinsulate' insulated gloves for out door use.
I'm just a practical old guy who has been there, done that.
Bigboot@srt.com

[femalejeeplvr]

I moved to Dickinson, ND from West Palm Beach, FL about 2 years ago and LOVED every minute of it! Housing especially, much much cheaper than what I paid down south. As for clothes, I bought clothes like jackets and boots when I moved to ND. You can not buy quality winter clothes in FL. I moved back to FL in Nov temporary because I started my own company but I will be moving back west probably come Jan or Feb. I miss living out west, the people, the scenery just the simple lifestyle. North Dakota is great, the job market is probably the hardest adjustment, but I am in healthcare so finding a job wasnt that hard. Although I accepted a job before I moved out there 2 years ago. Good Luck!

[Smokin' Joe]

Get a good outershell parka that will stop the wind. Something with a hood, or expect to wear a hat (40% of your cold weather heat loss comes off the top of your head.

You don't have to wear it in a warm car, but if you have to be out in the cold it is a lifesaver. I'd reccommend a scarf to build a boundary layer of warm air against your facial skin, and to provide a 'warming pocket' for air if you have to exert yourself in extreme cold (-20 and colder) so you do not injure your lungs.

Complete your ensemble with thinsulate gloves, snow pacs and a pair of insulated bib overalls.

This is the sort of outerwear which you might need in the event you get stuck in the snow, have a vehicle problem, etc. Dress in layers, do not try to do it all in one shot, because you can unzip something or shuck a layer if you start sweating.

It depends on your tolerance for cold, how long you will normally be out in it, and the worst-case scenario for you being out in the weather.

It seems that those who dress for style trade something in functionality for appearance's sake, otherwise, if you want both, it will cost some.

As for me, I need not 'dress to impress', I work as a geologist on drilling rigs. I prefer a mil-spec or surplus M65 parka shell with the cold weather liner ($60), and wear an oversized insulated flannel shirt inside that on the really cold days(another $20). I have a pair of thinsulate hunting bib overalls (about $80), worn over blue jeans ($20), and wear pac boots rated for -60 when the temps hit -30 (another $80-120). I top that off with a watch cap ($5) or ball cap (free if you know the right people) if the weather is nice off location, a hard hat with an insulated liner on the rig ($45). Standard oilfield grade work gloves protect my hands ($5/pr, by the dozen).

Wearing 'nice' clothes to the office may change your needs there somewhat to look 'presentable' upon arrival.

Google Duluth Trading Company, or Sportsman's Guide for some ideas. Also, REI is another possibility. For simple survival gear, consider a good snowmobile suit and the gloves and boots to go with it, but for every day 'commuter wear', a reasonably good outershell garment to protect against the ever-present wind, some sort of head protection, and good gloves should do over thermals. Just remember you do not want to sweat, or you will get seriously cold very quickly.

[Dreamer_552]

Originally Posted by elfyum

That is too funny!!!!!!!!! You're telling someone from FLORIDA that 10 degrees can feel warm??????????!!!!!!!!!!!
On the news here when it will be in the upper 40's, they warn parents to bundle their kids!!!!!!!!!!!!
I kid you not!!!!!!!!!! (no pun intended )
Even I chuckle at that! But 10??????
Sun or no sun, that's freakin COLD!!!!!!!!!!!
I was ALWAYS out in 10 degress in CO! You need full gear!
Oh, well ok, you said sunny & no wind.
So to cwtrex, fellow Floridian, imagine how you feel when you step outside at night & there's no wind & it's in the 30's...
Dear LORD!
Sorry I keep freakin on ya Danin, it's just that I think you keep forgetting that you're talking to a FLORIDIAN about cold!!!

Well, you know what they say; Floridians freeze at room temperature.

It's all relative. I grew up in PA and skied all over New England, Quebec, CO and UT. After a particularly bitter cold week with the wind chill at -40 at night 10' did seem warm. It felt warm enough to unzip our jackets.

Despite living in FL for over 20 yrs I wasn't cold during my visit to Grand Forks in Jan 2005 even with temps in the -20's at night. I did wear long underwear and had a good ski jacket, hat, gloves and boots.

[plagued_with_apathy]

well i did make the move from florida to minot a few months ago.

it's really not too bad except for that goddamn wind. think of tropical storm but 70 degrees colder.

i've gone thus far without a block heater or winter jacket, though i should probably be getting one later this week, as it is starting to get cold. lows are getting below zero now, so i think i'll look into that. also, wearing a hat (and scarf or other garmet covering your neck) will help a lot. many veins and vessels run very close to the surface at this area so keeping them covered will help keep you warmer.

other than that, when sliding on ice put your car in neutral and pump the brakes.

that should do ya i think.

advice from a fellow native floridian living in minot

[dignitywalks]

I visit Minot frequently to visit family and I reside in Central Florida (Daytona Beach). If it wasn't for family, forget it! It's cold! I was there in mid-September. It's 60 degrees. I'm wearing jeans, sweater, boots. Natives wearing shorts, tank tops and flip flops. To them it's warm, just to give you and idea of my "weather shock." Today, here in Florida, it's 75 degrees in evening. I read that it is 7 degrees with a minus feel in Minot. Town is nice, but very, very small. Downtown has a few cute shops, but one great restaurant, 10 North Main. The mall is only o.k. Tourist attractions are minimal, at best. Good luck!

[Joestoes]

Here are the clothes I wear all winter and stay roasty toasty. Uggs for my feet (I never wear socks). Buy the warm boots not the beach boots,and UGG slippers. I go from my boots to my slippers all winter long. It is not uncommon for people to bring their slippers to people's houses when they visit. Metropolis Legacy parka and Marmot fleece turtlenecks and layering pieces. Pretty cashmere scarves to wrap with when you're inside and lined leather gloves. You're all set,and you don't have to look dumpy. It's fun to dress for winter! Spend the money on quality, high tech layering pieces. Buy an auto start for your car - this is a must!!

[TCU2]

I was just wondering why you want to move to Minot? Don't get me wrong Minot is a very nice place to live. We lived there for 3+ years in the early 2000's and I do miss it very much, but not so much the cold. You do get use to it, but at first it will be a shock coming from the warm weather. I think your blood thickens or something after time. We just moved to Texas and I am freezing more in 40 degree weather than I was for the 15 years we lived in Minnesota and North Dakota. Summers are perfect tempeture (maybe a little windy). And the people are very friendly. However most people either love Minot or hate it. It is a wonderful place for raising a family, but if you are single, without a family, I am afraid you may not find a lot to do there. On the up side there is not alot of crime, traffic and housing is cheaper (or at least it was when we moved away). A couple of places you may also want to check out for a job is the University in town...Minot State. There is a Hospital (Trinity) in town too. Otherwise I am not sure there is alot of other places to find jobs, besides what was already mentioned. Good luck with your move. I too would wait on the winter stuff, most people just don't go out much when it's 0 degrees. Like summers in the south you stay in door with the cool air, winters in the North you stay indoors with the heat. Running from the car to a building is not worth getting all "dressed" up for winter. Then again you are from the south:

[resgll]

what in the world would make u want to go to minot?