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Big difference between when we are working and when we retire. The days are short in the winter but they aren't all dreary. But just on random chance over 70% of the nice days will be weekdays. So just by retiring you will basically more than triple the number of nice days in the winter you can enjoy and you get to be out in the middle of the day nearly every day if you want.
And some of us love it hot and are REALLY affected by cold, grey winters (hello Nashville).
I lived in the Phoenix area for two years and worked outside one summer helping friends build an adobe house. Loved it. Now in TN in the winter, I get up in the dark, go to work, come home in the dark, go to bed. Seasonal affective disorder is very real in my case. Once I am finished working, I'll be back in the west somewhere. Even Colorado with cold and snow, but lots of sunshine would be better than dreary winters.
I have some friends who grew up and then raised their kids in Buffalo, New York. A few years after retirement they started snow-birding to Florida. They explained to me that it was not so much the snow and the cold temperatures they were fleeing, but the long periods of overcast weather. They said it was depressing never to see the sun for weeks on end, or even longer.
One is either affected by that or one is not, but if one is, then no one else should try to minimize the importance of it. (I am not particularly affected by it, as far as I know from spending a couple of weeks at a time in winter in England and in Buffalo. But that may not be enough time to know for sure. In any case I have to respect the experiences of those who are.)
I have some friends who grew up and then raised their kids in Buffalo, New York. A few years after retirement they started snow-birding to Florida. They explained to me that it was not so much the snow and the cold temperatures they were fleeing, but the long periods of overcast weather. They said it was depressing never to see the sun for weeks on end, or even longer.
One is either affected by that or one is not, but if one is, then no one else should try to minimize the importance of it. (I am not particularly affected by it, as far as I know from spending a couple of weeks at a time in winter in England and in Buffalo. But that may not be enough time to know for sure. In any case I have to respect the experiences of those who are.)
Only a few below 20% ever, most quite a bit higher. Every month on the chart had some sun. Those Decembers where they had so little sun would be pretty depressing, but people do tend to exaggerate their misfortunes (I have seem millions of exaggerations on this forum alone ). But I wouldn't like that and I would want to escape it.
Only a few below 20% ever, most quite a bit higher. Every month on the chart had some sun. Those Decembers where they had so little sun would be pretty depressing, but people do tend to exaggerate their misfortunes (I have seem millions of exaggerations on this forum alone ). But I wouldn't like that and I would want to escape it.
That's why it is nice to be able to vacation or snowbird some during the winter.
Big difference between when we are working and when we retire. The days are short in the winter but they aren't all dreary. But just on random chance over 70% of the nice days will be weekdays. So just by retiring you will basically more than triple the number of nice days in the winter you can enjoy and you get to be out in the middle of the day nearly every day if you want.
If you are replying to me: I HATE cold. HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE
I have Reynaud's syndrome (google it) so cold weather is painful to me. Big whoop about the few hours of sunshine in the middle of the day if it's cold.
If you are replying to me: I HATE cold. HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE
I have Reynaud's syndrome (google it) so cold weather is painful to me. Big whoop about the few hours of sunshine in the middle of the day if it's cold.
I was, but you had mentioned being able to work in dreary winters, so I thought it was just dislike. With this additional info, it sounds like a warm retirement would be a good idea. I don't like the cold and my dislike has increased the last few years, but if other factors like family made a cooler clime a better choice I could deal with it by taking a couple of trips and trying to make the most of the nice days. My point was that for most of us I think it seems worse while working.
I was, but you had mentioned being able to work in dreary winters, so I thought it was just dislike. With this additional info, it sounds like a warm retirement would be a good idea. I don't like the cold and my dislike has increased the last few years, but if other factors like family made a cooler clime a better choice I could deal with it by taking a couple of trips and trying to make the most of the nice days. My point was that for most of us I think it seems worse while working.
The flip side is that when you're working you're not even outside so who cares? Sure, you're up at 5 am to clear the snow so you can get to work but after that you never see the light (or dark) or day.
It didn't bother me when I was working. Retired? I now officially HATE winter. Now that I am free to go out and do things during the day, I hate being restricted by the weather. It's not just that is's dark so early 4:30 pm here is like midnight, but risking my life walking on the ice just to get to the car and not being able to go too far from home because we might get a snow storm and I wouldn't be able to get back.
For me it's just the opposite. I worked 2nd shift for a hospital. snow removal was geared to 5 day work schedules-lax on weekends and after 5 pm. One place I lived I joked that just once, I'd like a plow to go through before I did. Well, I got my wish-it happened once-in 9 yrs.
Now that I can come and go as I want, I don't mind the winter as much.
If you can get away in the winter , I wouldn't think it's a big deal. Being lonely or without financial resources is, however. I can afford to get away as much as I want, fortunately. Vegas . California. Asia. Costa Rica. Mexico. Caribbean. To name a few.
Sounds like you can pick up and go as often as you like. Many of us are NOT in your financial situation, and getting away just for the winter is not an option.
Sounds like you can pick up and go as often as you like. Many of us are NOT in your financial situation, and getting away just for the winter is not an option.
Indeed. If I had to choose between a colder weather climate but family nearby and a warmer climate with no family nearby it would be a tougher call. Also, the colder weather state I am referring to has no state income tax, is cheaper to live in, has an airport that has direct flights to Vegas, Phoenix, etc. Plus, it's not a little isolated town but a metro area of 250,000.
I still don't know for sure as this coming Thursday I'm flying back there for three weeks to do a more realistic exploration. Just kind of seems that at 61 in September and retiring in October and in pretty good health that it might be good to try to put down roots there now while my 10 grand nephews and nieces are young enough so they can get to know me and I can get to know them. I think if I wait longer, then the ability for that to happen will fade.
Perhaps in the future it won't be so easy for me to travel and then I'd have to reconsider whether I wanted to stay in the cold weather with family or move to a warmer state.
I am sure there are others here who have faced or will be facing a similar situation? By the way, not to be redundant but, I am single with no kids.
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). But I wouldn't like that and I would want to escape it.
