Lake Tahoe good to live all year? Even with SAD? (San Diego: motel, homes)

[epiultra]

So out of all states ive lived (SoCal, Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee,VA) I have never felt more at home then when visiting Lake Tahoe, I just LOVE it and the outdoors. Unlike SoCal, the people are very friendly (sorry SoCal) and even open doors for you (like a southern hospitality feel). BUT i have only been in the summer season, I do struggle with major winter depression (SAD= Seasonal affective disorder) but wondered if since it has low humidity if it doesn’t feel so frigidly cold and since the trees stay green, beautiful snow (not just dreary) and it remains sunny, if i really would be affected by winter depression there? Any thoughts from locals or SAD people who have been there in winter please express your opinion thanks! I just love the people and atmosphere up there. Very country like where I grew up. Thanks so much!

Ps- does it feel real cold in winter since humidity is so low and does snow make it feel warmer than it is? I just wonder if say 25 degrees low humidity would be like 40 high humidity in Virginia for example?

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by epiultra

So out of all states ive lived (SoCal, Hawaii, Florida, Tennessee,VA) I have never felt more at home then when visiting Lake Tahoe, I just LOVE it and the outdoors. Unlike SoCal, the people are very friendly (sorry SoCal) and even open doors for you (like a southern hospitality feel). BUT i have only been in the summer season, I do struggle with major winter depression (SAD= Seasonal affective disorder) but wondered if since it has low humidity if it doesn’t feel so frigidly cold and since the trees stay green, beautiful snow (not just dreary) and it remains sunny, if i really would be affected by winter depression there? Any thoughts from locals or SAD people who have been there in winter please express your opinion thanks! I just love the people and atmosphere up there. Very country like where I grew up. Thanks so much!

Ps- does it feel real cold in winter since humidity is so low and does snow make it feel warmer than it is? I just wonder if say 25 degrees low humidity would be like 40 high humidity in Virginia for example?

You've answered your own question. But do bear in mind Tahoe is not cheap for good reasons. It is a wonderful place to live!

Winters can be challenging. But with the right vehicle and actual winter tires you can get around. We went to South Lake one winter to go skiing. Drove in a blizzard. All the road signs were covered by snow, but I knew the area so found our motel and pulled into the parking lot covered covered in a foot of snow. I was stressed and I live in snow country! After a stiff drink we walked to the nearest restaurant. We ended up not skiing due to Hwy 89 being closed and Heavenly being buried in snow and high winds. Not a rare situation.

A low of 25 degrees in winter is on the mild side for the Tahoe area. The Sierra and Tahoe are wonderful places to live. Winters can be challenging, but you feel so alive in those conditions! And I’m 69

Ok. You need to visit Tahoe in the winter and plan your visit during a stormy period. See if you are ok under those conditions. SAD is not going to be a factor, I can assure you

[epiultra]

Thanks so much for great advice, to be honest im actually in the middle of a divorce and have to be out in 2 weeks and only have ONE SHOT at moving, funny thing is I normally choose to live in sunny beach towns that stay warm all year, but that smell of pine and the laid back country atmosphere of Tahoe keeps calling my name...despite the cold..

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by epiultra

Thanks so much for great advice, to be honest im actually in the middle of a divorce and have to be out in 2 weeks and only have ONE SHOT at moving, funny thing is I normally choose to live in sunny beach towns that stay warm all year, but that smell of pine and the laid back country atmosphere of Tahoe keeps calling my name...despite the cold..

You’ll do fine in Tahoe. Just study up on what it takes to make it there. Good time to move there. You'll be ready for winter when it hits in November. Plan on getting a 4WD/AWD vehicle with a set of actual snow tires for the winter. Bear in mind that “all season” tires are in fact, three season tires if you live in the Sierras

BTW Tahoe has a lot of great beaches.

[Teacher Terry]

Or consider Reno driving distance to Tahoe but much milder winter. It’s also much cheaper.

[sware2cod]

Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

Or consider Reno driving distance to Tahoe but much milder winter. It’s also much cheaper.

And no income tax in Nevada.

[Mr5150]

Originally Posted by Teacher Terry

Or consider Reno driving distance to Tahoe but much milder winter. It’s also much cheaper.

Living in Reno is not the same experience as living in Tahoe way different. Our daughter lives in Reno. No pines, very cold in winter and city people. Being driving distance from a place is not the same as living in a place. The OP wants to live in the Tahoe basin

Originally Posted by sware2cod

And no income tax in Nevada.

Half of Lake Tahoe IS in Nevada

[TacoSoup]

I love Lake Tahoe, and have made many references towards that on this website. I’ve been going there since I was a kid, and have friends who currently own homes there and used to go 1-2x a year until we got a place in the mountains down here. All I can say is for someone who has never been there in the winter I think you’re painting a very rosy picture of the place.

Cold is cold regardless of humidity, and it gets cold there. I’m not sure why you think the snow will be only beautiful and not dreary? I know what you’re getting at with that statement, but the snow can be very dreadful when you’re cooped up (especially with SAD) after huge storms, having to get to work during/after said storms, or even going about your day to day business. Not only that, you’ll still have the unsightly, dirty snowbanks all over the place well into spring/summer.

You’re correct that it stays green, but in no way expect it to look like it does in the summer. There’s plenty of deciduous trees, and many of the pines turn brown in the winter. Similar to the greenery is the sunshine. Yes it will be sunnier than a winter back east, but you’ll often go days without seeing much sun.

Also keep in mind that spring, or summer, however you want to look at it, can start very late. The same goes fall/winter starting early.

The huge benefit it has, that can only be trumped by the Southern California mountains, is the relatively quick access to warmth, sunshine, and beaches in the dead of winter. This should not be overlooked, and can quickly change anyone’s mood.

I’m not trying to harp on the negative, but just want you to go into this, if you decide to, knowing the other side of winter up there. I have friends up there, as have I down here, that met people who moved to the mountains after not spending much time there in the winter only to leave after 1-2 years. If you go in recognizing the downsides I think Tahoe will be a great place for you. It’s one of only a couple of cold, four seasons places I could ever live in (I too had SAD going to school in Michigan after growing up in San Diego, although I don’t know if it was an actual disorder back then, lol). Good luck

[epiultra]

Awesome reply @tacosoup Thanks for caring to write! I use to live in SoCal and loved the weather but had trouble finding friendly people, but I noticed they were very polite in Lake Tahoe. Wish i could find a beachtown with warmth and kindness...

[evening sun]

Many towns in the Sierra foothills will give you pines, without the snow. Likely cheaper too. I could not deal with all that snow.