Retiring to a 4 season state - anyone done it? How? (grandparents, weather)

[oconnorcm3]

My husband brought home two retirement books, to help narrow down our choices. He told me to read both books, cover to cover, before talking to him. Because of our disabled son's needs, we should retire to a state with good special education and good adult special services. Minnesota, my home state, is one of the best states for education and special needs. But, you know what? Minnesota (and Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa) isn't even mentioned in one of the retirement books! As in, "Why would someone consider retiring to one of those states???"

So, my question is, for those of you who have retired to a 4 season state, how is it? Do you visit the relatives in Florida every winter? Do you creak and groan and wish for warmth? Or do you just get on and learn to live with it? What types of things do you do in the winter to keep you busy? We've lived many places over the years and love 4 seasons, but I'm very happy when winter is the shortest season. That can't be said for Minnesota.

Please help. How will I learn to live with the cold, again?

[ConeyIsBabe]

I relocated from semi-tropical Miami Florida to the PNW . When most people retire from living in the frozen tundra and move to Florida, I did it backwards

I miss the palm trees, I miss the balmy ocean breezes, I miss sailing in the Keys, I miss the warm winters and I'm not getting any younger Yes, the frozen mornings do impact my activities because I don't want to drive on black ice or snowy conditions. I'm getting tired to having to bundle-up with 3 layers of clothing, including long-johns - and that's INDOORS

So, consider your options very carefully

[boonelsewhere]

We are planning to move to Maine after in Miami for 30+ years, I will miss south Florida but want to try some things different.

[lilred0005]

Hi everyone! To the OP, we are in the same boat. I am moving with my mom when she retires from Broward County schools. She is from the Midwest and I've always lived in south Fla. but we really don't like it here and need a change. I am worried about the cold. I just worry about mom being able to readjust after 30 years down here. People look at her like she's nuts when she tells ppl she's moving up north to retire too but you've gotta do what's right for you.

[ConeyIsBabe]

Originally Posted by lilred0005

Hi everyone! To the OP, we are in the same boat. I am moving with my mom when she retires from Broward County schools. She is from the Midwest and I've always lived in south Fla. but we really don't like it here and need a change. I am worried about the cold. I just worry about mom being able to readjust after 30 years down here. People look at her like she's nuts when she tells ppl she's moving up north to retire too but you've gotta do what's right for you.

YES...... I also lived in Miami for over 30 years.... moved there when it was Paridise in the mid-60s to what it has become now! I understand why you are moving away...... I get it!!

However, it will be a drastic shock to the body to go from the tropical climate to having to scrape ice off your car in 28 degree winter weather. Just consider that scene

Other than that........ I love living in the 4 seasons, especially Fall and Oregon is a very beautiful state and people are very friendly

[PNW-type-gal]

The spouse was born and raised in Florida (north central and Miami), as was most of his family, including parents and grandparents. At this point no one in his family still lives in Florida - everyone scattered out of Florida and the south in general for the west - Colorado, Oregon, Washington, California. His parents retired to Colorado.

I can't even get the spouse to go visit Florida.

[Boomerbiker]

My aunt and uncle retired from Minnesota to Florida. Did not turn out to be the paradise they imagined. Humidity was too much and they missed 4 seasons.

Mostly they missed a lifetime of friends and family in Minnesota - so after 5 yaers in Florida, they returned to Minnesota - and love it!

[livecontent]

All My Sibling, My Parents and I moved to the Denver area, starting in the 1970s from Buffalo, NY. It was a great choice. All of us are still here and alive and happy. We still have four seasons but the winters are very mild with occasional snow which most times melts quickly. The summers are also moderate, not too hot. All with very low humidity, so cold days feels much warmer and hot days feels much cooler. Denver sits on the semi-arid high plains, not in the mountains. The mountains block the severe weather and so Denver gets mild winters, warm summers with cool nights---all with sun, most days. The Rocky Mountains are nearby for the extensive recreation in summer and winter.

Denver economy is much better than the rest of the country. The city is very clean and progressive with a tremendous system of parks and trails. I would never have thought that I would have ended in the West/Southwest, but it is a great place, especially in the high altitude arid and semi-arid regions which give a moderate low humidity climate. Now that I have bad arthritis, I could never live in wet, humid or cold of the Northeast. Nor do I like high humidity as in the South.

Livecontent

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by oconnorcm3

My husband brought home two retirement books, to help narrow down our choices. He told me to read both books, cover to cover, before talking to him. Because of our disabled son's needs, we should retire to a state with good special education and good adult special services. Minnesota, my home state, is one of the best states for education and special needs. But, you know what? Minnesota (and Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Iowa) isn't even mentioned in one of the retirement books! As in, "Why would someone consider retiring to one of those states???"

So, my question is, for those of you who have retired to a 4 season state, how is it? Do you visit the relatives in Florida every winter? Do you creak and groan and wish for warmth? Or do you just get on and learn to live with it? What types of things do you do in the winter to keep you busy? We've lived many places over the years and love 4 seasons, but I'm very happy when winter is the shortest season. That can't be said for Minnesota.

Please help. How will I learn to live with the cold, again?

We love it.

Maine is never mentioned in those books either. But looking around our cost-of-living is much lower than the 'retirement' states have.

We do have four distinct seasons, the colours of fall draw tourism here.

A new home, well sealed and heavily insulated is nice. So far we have burned through 2 cords of wood. Now I have 150 acres of woodlot, so our fuel came from our property, but commercially it goes for $150/cord.

Our heating costs [if we had paid for it] would be under $500/winter.

Staying warm really it not an issue.

Winter is often a time for interior design, moving furniture, cleaning and planning the next summer's events.

We have been planting fruit trees, raised bed gardens, and a couple small green houses.

We have 2 kayaks tied-up at the river's edge. Right now they lay underneath 4 foot of snow. But they wait for me. They are fine.

I go out every few days and check on my maple trees. I am waiting for sap flow to begin. We have never made syrup before, so we are kind of excited about it.

We have a long driveway. Removing the snow was a lot of work, until this winter we bought a tractor with a front loader. Now I enjoy removing snow. I even go out and check on neighbors and help them to clear their driveways.

It is worth it though.

Living expenses are so much lower here, and we do enjoy the wildlife so much.

[Retired Law 08]

I to have chosen a four season area..PA...visited florida,arizonia...didn't care
for it..perfered the beauty of the spring,summer,fall,winter...not a problem with the cold..coming from New York....lots to do in the winter such as snowshoeing,ski,ice fishing...plus the cost of living much lower....