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Old 08-24-2018, 06:14 PM
 
Location: State of Transition
102,195 posts, read 107,823,938 times
Reputation: 116097

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what I've heard on these forums, is that a lot of people are fleeing WI and MI, due to harsher winters the last 2-3 years. They're stampeding to western WA, where the living is cheaper than CA, but still offers mid weather.
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Old 08-24-2018, 07:45 PM
 
Location: Vancouver, WA
8,213 posts, read 16,691,071 times
Reputation: 9463
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth View Post
what I've heard on these forums, is that a lot of people are fleeing WI and MI, due to harsher winters the last 2-3 years. They're stampeding to western WA, where the living is cheaper than CA, but still offers mid weather.
Yes, I was thinking something similar from both a personal preference perspective for better weather and jobs point of view. Why not explore other areas not quite as extreme in terms of the weather? There are many more (potentially better) choices besides that one which would provide similar benefits in terms of lower COL while offering better professional opportunities than SLO.

My family on my mother's side moved from Michigan to CA and 'never' looked back. They were so happy to get out of all that snow and bad weather. I've also visited that part of the country during the winter on business and couldn't wait to get out of there. That said, some seem to like it. But if you like CA weather, its on the end of the spectrum regardless about what people say about buying a big coat and simply adjusting. That is much easier said than done. I had a huge, warm, long coat I purchased for business travels while there and still hated it. We tried moving to CO which is supposed to be 'mild' in comparison to the upper midwest. Yet it was still too extreme for us. I had to laugh when people thought it was mild, like what type of hellish midwestern climate did you come from?

Why not also look at places like:

* Sacramento, CA
* Portland, OR
* Seattle, WA
* Raleigh-Durham, NC
* Austin, TX
* Orlando, FL
* Jacksonville, FL
* Atlanta, GA
etc...

Derek

Last edited by MtnSurfer; 08-24-2018 at 07:53 PM..
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Old 08-24-2018, 08:27 PM
 
3,244 posts, read 6,296,932 times
Reputation: 4924
Quote:
Originally Posted by MtnSurfer View Post

Why not also look at places like:

* Sacramento, CA (too hot in summer!)
* Portland, OR (one of the few places more annoying than SF!)
* Seattle, WA (just as expensive as many parts of CA!)
* Raleigh-Durham, NC (nice place but Madison is nicer)
* Austin, TX (too hot)
* Orlando, FL (too hot,too humid)
* Jacksonville, FL (my favorite place in FL for living but still too hot.)
* Atlanta, GA (A good choice if one can find a decent job there)
etc...

Derek
I would pick Madison over almost all of those places except for Atlanta and Sacramento. I will take a Madison winter over an Orlando or Austin summer anytime.

Madison is rated the 6th best city for an active lifestyle.

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-w...ifestyle/8817/

Madison is America's fittest city.

https://blog.fitbit.com/the-fitbit-d...ricas-fittest/

Madison was also rated as the best city to retire in due to its excellent health care, low crime and strong economy.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/...n_6744142.html

Also it was the 2017 #1 ranked alternative city for young professionals.

https://www.movebuddha.com/blog/best...professionals/

There are other cities that are much colder than Madison. People here are making Madison sound like super cold Saskatoon,Canada!

Madison is also a beautiful city with a gorgeous setting along Lake Mendota, Lake Monona and Lake Wingra.

Picnic point:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=13....0.XsSXH_GEtWY

The Arboretum:

https://www.google.com/search?q=madi...w=1366&bih=609

Lake Monona:

https://www.google.com/search?q=madi...w=1366&bih=609
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Old 08-24-2018, 09:14 PM
 
Location: Vancouver, WA
8,213 posts, read 16,691,071 times
Reputation: 9463
Quote:
Originally Posted by capoeira View Post
I would pick Madison over almost all of those places except for Atlanta and Sacramento. I will take a Madison winter over an Orlando or Austin summer anytime.

Madison is rated the 6th best city for an active lifestyle.

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-w...ifestyle/8817/

Madison is America's fittest city.

https://blog.fitbit.com/the-fitbit-d...ricas-fittest/

Madison was also rated as the best city to retire in due to its excellent health care, low crime and strong economy.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/...n_6744142.html

Also it was the 2017 #1 ranked alternative city for young professionals.

https://www.movebuddha.com/blog/best...professionals/

There are other cities that are much colder than Madison. People here are making Madison sound like super cold Saskatoon,Canada!

Madison is also a beautiful city with a gorgeous setting along Lake Mendota, Lake Monona and Lake Wingra.
Interesting perspective and links and that provide food for thought for the OP. Some obviously like that part of the country for various reasons. While those things may be your preferences given other choices, many would not move there because of the harsher weather including those who grew up in the midwest. But that's also why its cheaper living there compared to SLO. Notice that most of your complaints of the other locations are also centered around weather (e.g. too hot). Its all about person preferences.

Bottom line: If you are going to move to somewhere without the Goldilocks climate of SLO you have to pick your poison. If sacrificing mild year round weather, what area are you willing to give up? Some would rather have a warmer climate than a colder one. They also want an ocean. Hence they prefer the South and Southwest. Some prefer more rain and clouds yet not as much snow. And they want mountains, lakes and the ocean. So the PNW works best for them. While still others are fine with large amounts of snow and don't mind sub freezing temps during winter. They also don't mind giving up ocean proximity. So the Midwest can work for them. There is no right answer for everyone. Choose carefully and if moving to places with snow visit during that time and make sure you can live with it. The same is true for other locations like visiting the warmer locations during summer.

Derek
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Old 08-24-2018, 09:52 PM
 
Location: On the water.
21,728 posts, read 16,334,063 times
Reputation: 19819
Quote:
Originally Posted by capoeira View Post
I would pick Madison over almost all of those places except for Atlanta and Sacramento. I will take a Madison winter over an Orlando or Austin summer anytime.

Madison is rated the 6th best city for an active lifestyle.

https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-w...ifestyle/8817/

Madison is America's fittest city.

https://blog.fitbit.com/the-fitbit-d...ricas-fittest/

Madison was also rated as the best city to retire in due to its excellent health care, low crime and strong economy.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/...n_6744142.html

Also it was the 2017 #1 ranked alternative city for young professionals.

https://www.movebuddha.com/blog/best...professionals/

There are other cities that are much colder than Madison. People here are making Madison sound like super cold Saskatoon,Canada!

Madison is also a beautiful city with a gorgeous setting along Lake Mendota, Lake Monona and Lake Wingra.

Picnic point:

https://www.google.com/search?biw=13....0.XsSXH_GEtWY

The Arboretum:

https://www.google.com/search?q=madi...w=1366&bih=609

Lake Monona:

https://www.google.com/search?q=madi...w=1366&bih=609
I’m going to take a wild guess here that you’ve never lived in the upper mid-west?
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Old 08-24-2018, 10:04 PM
 
Location: Flovis
2,896 posts, read 1,998,773 times
Reputation: 2613
Madison always seems to get picked on best of city lists, but the few locals Ive known over the years can't wait to leave(my anecdotal 2c)

I recommend looking inland West coast/pnw before you make the jump to Madison.

And as nice as slo is, it's not worth the struggle
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Old 08-25-2018, 01:12 AM
 
3,244 posts, read 6,296,932 times
Reputation: 4924
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tulemutt View Post
I’m going to take a wild guess here that you’ve never lived in the upper mid-west?
I lived in the upper midwest for over 25 years and someday would love to move back!
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Old 08-25-2018, 10:25 AM
 
Location: Vancouver, WA
8,213 posts, read 16,691,071 times
Reputation: 9463
Speaking of Madison, its looks like they are swamped right now with a 100 year flood. Pretty crazy weather: 100 year flood hits Madison, Wisconsin

In looking at the Madison subforum I noticed the OP asked the same question there. Turns out the first local hates the weather after living in it for 5 decades. That's exactly why I've said it really varies. Some love it, others hate it and want to get out, while still others simply tolerate it due to proximity to family/friends, etc... It's certainly not Shangri-La for all who live there.

//www.city-data.com/forum/madis...a-madison.html

Derek
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Old 08-25-2018, 10:33 AM
 
Location: On the water.
21,728 posts, read 16,334,063 times
Reputation: 19819
Quote:
Originally Posted by capoeira View Post
I lived in the upper midwest for over 25 years and someday would love to move back!
Ok! Now you’ve got my curiosity peaked:
Why did you leave?
Why aren’t you there now?

That said, I know plenty who stayed and love it ... including the winter.
Even some who are outdoors types willing to battle the black flies and mosquitoes on canoeing/fishing trips ... actually looking forward to ice-fishing season ... snowshoeing and literally camping in the snow in sub-freezing temperatures ... hunting ... all sorts of things I would NEVER consider doing again.

But mostly the people I know from back there - just stay indoors as much as possible. And they seem to drink. A lot.
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Old 08-25-2018, 10:34 AM
 
Location: Formerly Pleasanton Ca, now in Marietta Ga
10,346 posts, read 8,561,064 times
Reputation: 16684
Quote:
Originally Posted by smokeydog View Post
We love living in San Luis Obispo County. Have actually lived here three different times and recently returned thinking it would be for a lifetime. However, jobs and cost of living are just not giving us any room to grow. We have friends and great weather year around. Other than that, not a lot but of course those two items are huge. Anyway, have had a job offer in COLD Madison, Wisconsin. Pay is about double what we get in SLO along with full package of benefits that are 1/4th what we pay for benefits now. Relocation package included as well. THE PROBLEM...we love SLO and it is just so hard to leave. However, Madison checks all the boxes with the exception of weather. I know nobody can make the decision for us but would be curious what some of your takes are?
Weather and friends and finances are your big factors here. Someone said money isn't that important ... well it isn't until you Don't have enough.

A lower col and higher wage can set you up for life. I posted this
//www.city-data.com/forum/calif...o-have-11.html

The bottom line was up to 8 million dollars in wealth living in a lower col area.
If living in slo is allowing you to be financially secure for the future, then stay. If not consider if a few million dollars in your life makes a difference over the weather and friends you have.
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