Hey, Southern California Natives in Chicago... (Atlanta, Ohio: living, cost of living, dangerous)

[darjeeling707]

...what are your thoughts/feelings about the weather in Chicago? I'm considering a move, and every Californian I share this info with seems to love to tell me that I will never be able to hack the winters.

[marothisu]

Does every Californian you share it with even live in Chicago or ever done it? Considering there's over 800,000 people in the Chicago area who were born in Latin America alone, I think it's safe to say you could do it too if you aren't weak. This isn't even counting all the foreign born people parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East who survive winters too.

[darjeeling707]

Originally Posted by marothisu

Does every Californian you share it with even live in Chicago or ever done it? Considering there's over 800,000 people in the Chicago area who were born in Latin America alone, I think it's safe to say you could do it too if you aren't weak. This isn't even counting all the foreign born people parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East who survive winters too.

A few of them, yes. A few are from Ohio/Indiana, and they're the people who really cringe. It's pretty annoying. I mean, it's just weather, right?

I think it's safe to say that Californians are somewhat weak and spoiled when it comes to weather.

My mom's the worst. She spent one winter in South Bend and seems to think that gives her the right to tell me that my life will be hell if I choose Chicago.

[s0nginmyheart]

I'm from L.A. and moved to Chicago 8 years ago. I really don't understand why people like to discourage someone from moving to Chicago "because of the weather". The weather is called seasons, here.

Yes, compared to year-round sunshine (and smog... and landslides... and brush fires... and earth quakes... and traffic), maybe the trade-off for four-season weather is not great. But people acclimate. Millions of people live in all different kinds of climates around the world and manage to survive and carry on with their day. The same SoCal nay-sayers seem to forget that there is also snow in Southern California. Also, there are a lot of other cities that have far worse weather/winters than Chicago.

[TheSunshineKid]

If my mother, father and aunt, who immigrated from a country whose average temperature is in the lower 80s - falling no lower than 77 during its "cold" season - I think you'd be okay. Plus, we have many Mexicans here. If they can acclimate you can acclimate. Weather, really, is how you deal with it -- you can't really control it unless you move to another region/city. Special cases would be health related issues due to weather (depression, severe arthritis etc). If the pioneers of the West, and settlers of the US colonies did what they did, you can overcome and find happiness in an often times bipolar climate setting that is Chicago's weather.

[darjeeling707]

Originally Posted by s0nginmyheart

Yes, compared to year-round sunshine (and smog... and landslides... and brush fires... and earth quakes... and traffic), maybe the trade-off for four-season weather is not great.

...and drought

[NOLA101]

Originally Posted by TheSunshineKid

IPlus, we have many Mexicans here. If they can acclimate you can acclimate.

Weather in Mexico is totally different from California, though. Most Mexicans live in Central Mexico, which can even get snow, and which generally gets cold year-round at night (because of high elevations).

If you live in Mexico City, or Monterrey, or Guadalajara (the three biggest Mexican cities) you need winter clothes. If you live in LA, or SF, or SD, you don't.

The only part of Mexico with similar climate as California would be Baja, and almost no one lives there.

And Chicago has rough winter weather; there's no getting around it. It isn't a deal-breaker for most, and I think you can deal, but it's definitely a significant adjustment. Walking outside in below 0 F is actually dangerous. Shoveling snow sucks. Driving in snow/ice is worse. It's not fun to have everything dead for half the year.

[garyjohnyang]

I'm not from Southern California, but moved a little less than a year ago from a very warm part of the East Bay.
My biggest complaint with weather here actually isn't the winter (even though there was one storm back in February that brought ~20 inches of snow), but the humidity. Summer especially is irritating- the temperature might read 80 degrees at times but feel closer to 100.
That being said, I don't think weather should be a deciding factor in your move; there are much more significant factors to consider, like cost of living, job opportunities, family, etc. etc.

[ThreeSides]

Originally Posted by darjeeling707

...what are your thoughts/feelings about the weather in Chicago? I'm considering a move, and every Californian I share this info with seems to love to tell me that I will never be able to hack the winters.

The winter weather will be an adjustment. Perhaps, for the first time in your life, you're going to have to dress bulky. I've lived in two Southern states, I'm currently in Georgia. The sentiment in both is that it is difficult to drive with bulky gear on.

However, the wonderful thing about humans is that we acclimate well. Fortunately, in Chicago, you'll get the opportunity to acclimate. Example, here in Atlanta, it can be in the 30s for a few days, and the next day, it's in the 70s. A person may not be able to acclimate to the 30s. In Chicago, this won't be an issue. In fact, the lows in Atlanta, are highs in Chicago.

The thought of driving in wintry conditions still daunts some Chicagoans. Yes, it will be an adjustment. However, it is something that you never forgot to do. I haven't.

Yes, you're going to have to shovel snow. The gloom can be depressing, to some, etc. However, humans, despite our flaws, are remarkable motherfockers! Respect the cold as you do the heat. You may never love it, as people do love the heat. You can take the view that winter is a time of year that we have to go through. Catch up on a backlog of reading, or whatever. For sure, there are winter activities, participate.

I'll be up in June, for a visit. I'm literally counting the days!

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by ThreeSides

The thought of driving in wintry conditions still daunts some Chicagoans. Yes, it will be an adjustment. However, it is something that you never forgot to do. I haven't.

Definitely an adjustment, but hopefully the OP knows that it is possible to actually live in Chicago without a car.

Originally Posted by ThreeSides

Yes, you're going to have to shovel snow.

Depends on what kind of building you live in, where, etc. I've lived in a high rise downtown for 6 years and have yet to shovel snow. Most of my friends who live in multi unit buildings (more than 3 units) don't shovel either.