Wanting to move from florida to Minot, ND ... (Grand Forks: insurance, how much)

[cwtrex]

I'm 24 and this will all be new to me as far as living in extreme cold goes. What do I need to purchase to prepare for living in North Dakota?

I've heard things like the winter clothes that can be purchased in Florida won't be good enough. Any specific names for the clothes I'll need? What about work style winter clothes for the sub-zero temperatures it gets up there?

Also, what about my car? I am an illiterate car person (much as a computer illiterate person would be to computers). I have slightly beat-up 98 Kia Sophia. I'm going to assume that snow tires are a must. Do you guys keep them on year around to laziness purposes? I've heard something about heating blocks, but don't know where to buy them or if they are difficult to use/install ...

Also, on a bit of a different subject, I am also looking for places to apply for a information technology related position (jr network admin, help desk, etc). I have seen openings from the following companies over the past few months but not much more: Elite Tek Services, Inc., eTelecare, and a possibly related job from ING North America Insurance Corp. Anyone know of other companies that may have job openings in IT that simply aren't posting them online? No worries on this part so much as actually preparing for the cold before I get up there. I can get a job with eTelecare and then look when I get up there if need be.

Thanks for any information/help you can offer to this extreme cold information challenged person.

[brokensoul88]

i'd say WARM cloths! lol. i'm in Florida myself, but i am from Ohio so i know alil about the cold side lol

[DaninEGF]

Hello

I live in the Grand Forks ND area....and my wife is from Minot and we travel frequently back to the area to visit her family/friends. As for your car...yes block heaters are frequently installed in cars, or already in if you purchase a new one. You can get them installed once you arrive up here at any car dealership or most any other car maintenance place. They run (I think) in the 60-70 dollar range. But that's trying to go on memory from a few years ago. I moved up here from Kentucky back in 1998. I like the cold, though, so the adjustment was easy. Block heaters are used on those very very cold days when you vehicle has to be parked outside for long periods....just helps with rear and tear on the engine as starting it in cold weather can put a strain on it.

Most everyone uses all season tires, I have a CR-V and my wife an Envoy and and we never change tires...as dont need to unless you will be frequently going through high amounts of snow...and you wont since the roads are plowed and sanded. But they will be slick....so Anti lock brakes and at least front wheel drive/all wheel drive a must.

As for clothes....good outerwear is a must....Columbia coat's are pretty popular..something with two layers is recommended....a warmer fleece inside and outerlayer that is water protectant. Gloves, hats of course a must and some boots too. But again....most of the time you will not be walking thru deep snow as the paths you walk on will be shoveled ,etc. Work clothes are about the same up here as anywhere though as interiors are heated, but a lot of people wear sweaters/sweatshirts. No long johns, thermal underwear needed, unless you go snowmobiling or skiing.

My father in law works at SRT in Minot....more of a phone company/internet company there...probably no IT stuff but I am not sure. Not familiar with IT jobs there though....but you already have a good handle on it.

Minot is a nice town, with good shopping for a city its size. It helps that Minot Air Base is nearby as it is a large base with nearly 7000 people. This adds more diversity, opportunities to a town that otherwise would not be there.

Dan

[elfyum]

Um - how can anyone seriously say that you wouldn't need thermal underwear in ND?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read that and my mind spun!!!!!!!
I understand you like it very cold, but that doesn't mean that's the "norm".
IE, I love it HOT & use a heater at work IN THE SUMMER IN MIAMI ,but I would never tell someone that they need heat in Miami!!! I would say most do not ever use the heat down here even though it gets in the 40's at night once in a blue moon. Those like me will, yes, but I LIKE IT HOT!!!!!!!
I lived in Colorado Springs for 6.5 years, & I think ND is just a tad bit north and quite a bit colder on average. I went grocery shopping in 10 degrees with out thermals & MY LEG FROZE!!!!!!!!!!
It literally quit working & I had to stand there smacking & rubbing it until I could continue.
And I don't believe this was even the -40 windchill that we got quite often!
I am assuming by your post that you are one of "those" (not in a bad way )
that never walks. You take your car everywhere & go from heated place to heated place.
Plus you like the cold. And you are probably also a day person thus avoiding the coldest temps.
I didn't have a car out in CO. I always walked & am a night person. And I hate the cold.
(I didn't realize how much back then until I moved to Tucson!
And that wasn't consistantly hot enough so I'm in Miami! )
Thus in giving advise such as not wearing thermals in NORTH DAKOTA!!! - arguably thee, or at least one of the coldest states in the country!!! - potentially dangerous advise, you should really state your circumstances!!!
Not trying to be rude, just couldn't help but comment!!!

[DaninEGF]

Your right,,,I am less sensitive to cold than most and of course if you are going to be outside a lot like yourself then you gotta dress a bit differently. There are utility people, construction, etc that have to be outside a lot during the day for work, and I am sure they use "thermals". All in your perspective.

Dan

Originally Posted by elfyum

Um - how can anyone seriously say that you wouldn't need thermal underwear in ND?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read that and my mind spun!!!!!!!
I understand you like it very cold, but that doesn't mean that's the "norm".
IE, I love it HOT & use a heater at work IN THE SUMMER IN MIAMI ,but I would never tell someone that they need heat in Miami!!! I would say most do not ever use the heat down here even though it gets in the 40's at night once in a blue moon. Those like me will, yes, but I LIKE IT HOT!!!!!!!
I lived in Colorado Springs for 6.5 years, & I think ND is just a tad bit north and quite a bit colder on average. I went grocery shopping in 10 degrees with out thermals & MY LEG FROZE!!!!!!!!!!
It literally quit working & I had to stand there smacking & rubbing it until I could continue.
And I don't believe this was even the -40 windchill that we got quite often!
I am assuming by your post that you are one of "those" (not in a bad way )
that never walks. You take your car everywhere & go from heated place to heated place.
Plus you like the cold. And you are probably also a day person thus avoiding the coldest temps.
I didn't have a car out in CO. I always walked & am a night person. And I hate the cold.
(I didn't realize how much back then until I moved to Tucson!
And that wasn't consistantly hot enough so I'm in Miami! )
Thus in giving advise such as not wearing thermals in NORTH DAKOTA!!! - arguably thee, or at least one of the coldest states in the country!!! - potentially dangerous advise, you should really state your circumstances!!!
Not trying to be rude, just couldn't help but comment!!!

[cwtrex]

Thermals - http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?pid=564066p (broken link)
Columbia coats - http://www.nextag.com/columbia-coat/search-html

Thanks for the advice so far guys. Having not been in extreme cold in a very very long time, I think I'm gonna get the thermals, even if I do still wear shorts in 60 degree weather. But I'd rather not get frost bitten, so thanks for pointing those out. As for the link above, I had a question as to the sizes. What the heck is PANT MED? Pants are medium? Then what size is the top? Also, do they stretch much? If I order a size medium and I'm a bit bigger then that, will it stretch? I ask because I notice there is no large or sizes like 34 waist, ect .... So I'm at a loss as to what to purchase.

As for the Columbia coats, is there is a reason why they are over 100 bucks for just a coat? Big brand name I'm assuming? Any cheaper names?

Also thanks for the info on the all-season tires and the block heater. I looked up the parts and they are about 35 at the cheapest, so I'm assuming it might be as much as 100 bucks to have someone put it in for me.

As for SRT, thanks for mentioning it. I'm sure it and many other jobs that are computer related (not necessarily for just IT) are up there that I just can't find on the net. I'll be checking it's employment page weekly.

As for other clothes, I'm assuming scarfs, gloves, and boggin caps are a must. What about footwear? I'm sure just a pair of sneakers isn't going to cut it...

I'm literally dumb here about the cold so, if you are holding anything back just in case I might know it already, please just tell me. Thanks for all the information so far guys.

[DaninEGF]

Here are a couple of web sites of interest....

Minot newspaper
http://www.minotdailynews.com/

Minot web cam from KMOT TV
http://www.kmot.com/sky_watch.asp

Columbia coats can be expensive....I searched through the link provided and think the Bugaboo style coat (red) is what a lot of people have....fleece underneath and removable outershell. You can find cheaper coats...but having a good quality coat is so worth it and will last for many years. Sizes for coats are a bit tricky....you might want to wait til you come up....depends on the time of year. If you come up in the mid February thru the end of March you can find good deals on most outerware in stores as they make way for spring clothes. Minot has a good mall. You may not know this, but Minot is home of the North Dakota state fair held in late July and as an excellent zoo and park (Roosevelt Park/Zoo). We took our one year old son there this past summer.

As for thermals....unless you will be outside quite a bit (i.e. walking to work, etc) I say wait on them and see if you really need them. I go out often to walk our dog or just to shovel or snowblow the driveway and I find putting vinyl snowpants over jeans to work well....thermals are very snug fit and to me uncomfortable. As for sizes you mentioned, think of what you would year for sweatpants/shirts....or lounge pants/t-shirts....and get the same size. The material does stretch but you dont want it too tight.

You would need a good quality boot....snow boot and a hiking-type boot are fairly common. A lot of people where I work would wear a boot (if needed) to work and then change into more comfy shoes at work. Again, boots, etc are not really needed unless you have a snowfall. For these I would wait for sure so you can try on sizes/styles. It is not extremely cold all winter long...and some winters are colder than others with snow while others are milder with little snow.

So...good coat a must (go ahead and spend the $$ very worth it, good hat, gloves a must as well. The rest it all depends on how much you will be outside. That is the basics. I would say wait on the other stuff (face mask, scarf, thermals, etc) until you arrive and see how you like it. In no time, March sun will make 10 degrees feel quite warm (along as there is no wind).

Let me know when you plan to move....if you will come up in the warmer months....you have plenty of time to hold off purchaces. Your shorts, t-shirts, sneakers will be fine.

Originally Posted by cwtrex

Thermals - http://www.campsaver.com/product.php?pid=564066p (broken link)
Columbia coats - http://www.nextag.com/columbia-coat/search-html

Thanks for the advice so far guys. Having not been in extreme cold in a very very long time, I think I'm gonna get the thermals, even if I do still wear shorts in 60 degree weather. But I'd rather not get frost bitten, so thanks for pointing those out. As for the link above, I had a question as to the sizes. What the heck is PANT MED? Pants are medium? Then what size is the top? Also, do they stretch much? If I order a size medium and I'm a bit bigger then that, will it stretch? I ask because I notice there is no large or sizes like 34 waist, ect .... So I'm at a loss as to what to purchase.

As for the Columbia coats, is there is a reason why they are over 100 bucks for just a coat? Big brand name I'm assuming? Any cheaper names?

Also thanks for the info on the all-season tires and the block heater. I looked up the parts and they are about 35 at the cheapest, so I'm assuming it might be as much as 100 bucks to have someone put it in for me.

As for SRT, thanks for mentioning it. I'm sure it and many other jobs that are computer related (not necessarily for just IT) are up there that I just can't find on the net. I'll be checking it's employment page weekly.

As for other clothes, I'm assuming scarfs, gloves, and boggin caps are a must. What about footwear? I'm sure just a pair of sneakers isn't going to cut it...

I'm literally dumb here about the cold so, if you are holding anything back just in case I might know it already, please just tell me. Thanks for all the information so far guys.

[cwtrex]

Originally Posted by DaninEGF

...Let me know when you plan to move....if you will come up in the warmer months....you have plenty of time to hold off purchaces. Your shorts, t-shirts, sneakers will be fine.

Well, I'm actually planning a trip in early December to look around and also physically visit some possible job sights. As for the actual move, that'll depend on any job offers I can get.

Once again, thanks for all of your help.

[elfyum]

Originally Posted by daninegf

March sun will make 10 degrees feel quite warm (along as there is no wind).

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!!!

[cwtrex]

Originally Posted by elfyum

...
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!!!

So Elfyum, what do you suggest for a Floridian to wear using floridian type winter clothes to ND for the first time in the dead of winter?

Btw, I will be bringing my 12 year old starter jacket (not the crappy wind breakers that are now out) hoping that'll be enough for a coat ...