Maybe he's talking about my statement of grabbing a beer and watching? If so, it's not bragging, it's the truth of what actually happens.
Maybe he's talking about my statement of grabbing a beer and watching? If so, it's not bragging, it's the truth of what actually happens.
Actually, it's been more of the opposite...people here are complaining about other people's weather - "I hate the cold" or "how can you live where there are hurricanes". It seems like these types of discussions usually end up with the whole thing about how when they were young they had to walk uphill for a mile both directions in a foot of snow to get to school each day.
Still, I think the basic point is the same; everyone has their own preference for climate and/or where to live, but it doesn't mean they are wrong or right for feeling that way.
I spent 2 weeks in florida in july. It was enough to make me never go back. I can add clothes but im used too the cold. The tornado risk in ohio is tolerable and even the bad winters with -35 windchills are survivable with good clothing. I dont see the perks that alot of people see in florida.
stuart in mn said:It seems like people like to either:
- brag about their own weather, thinking they will make other people jealous of how great they have it.
- complain about their own weather, thinking they will show other people how tough they are for putting up with it.
You left one option out:
- Complain about other people's responses.
stuart in mn said:Actually, it's been more of the opposite...people here are complaining about other people's weather - "I hate the cold" or "how can you live where there are hurricanes". It seems like these types of discussions usually end up with the whole thing about how when they were young they had to walk uphill for a mile both directions in a foot of snow to get to school each day.
Still, I think the basic point is the same; everyone has their own preference for climate and/or where to live, but it doesn't mean they are wrong or right for feeling that way.
I wasn't intending for my post to come off like that. From way up here, the threat of hurricanes seems to be real, and scary. The thought of losing everything once is terrifying, let alone annually. My question was, is the trade-off, whatever that trade-off is, worth the risk. Some live there for the economy, family, weather, etc.
In my case, I stayed in MI because I had/wanted to help with my dad with his health issues. I had a job offer that I could have taken in either Denver or Seattle, my choice. It was TOTALLY worth staying cuz you only have one dad. I'm only posing a question.
Snowstorms scare me worse than Hurricanes. They can destroy infrastructure just as effectively, and once that infrastructure is destroyed you can't just put on cargo shorts and hang out until its fixed.
What? How? An ice storm - maybe - but snow tends to be a fairly short-lived inconvenience. Even getting multiple feet of it will only mess things up for a day or two. And infrastructure damage tends to be localized - a downed pole here or there - and not widespread.
Of course, here in the northeast, we have the equipment and budgets allocated to deal with this stuff. It gets messier the farther south you go. My friends in DC (who grew up in NY and PA)laugh hysterically when they get snow down there as everything grinds to a halt until it melts since they aren't really equipped to deal with it like we are.
Of course, we get hurricanes from time to time as well. Sandy is still being felt in NJ and some areas of the Shore still haven't recovered. I saw road side debris left over from Floyd in spots a decade after the storm came through. You folks are prepared for hurricanes like we are prepared for snow.
If I built a house in Florida, it would probably be a series of reinforced concrete geodesic domes.
And bugs... you guys have way more bugs than we do... 
I moved around a lot as a kid, and traveled a lot as a kid and young adult, then threw down roots in Ohio once I was 18 and on my own. What I learned from the experience is that there's risk wherever you are, and most people get used to that risk. There's also a ton of good things about almost anywhere and with the right attitude you can enjoy just about any place. I like Ohio, but I'm under no illusions that it's somehow better than any other place, and while the cold is tolerable and even sometimes enjoyable to me, there's no place with better weather than San Diego or Hawaii!! Almost all other places are compromises, weather-wise.
Ian F said:And bugs... you guys have way more bugs than we do...
Oh god the bugs. The cockroaches alone are enough to keep me from living in south Florida ever again.
DrBoost said:Pete: you just mentioned a HUGE issue I totally forgot about. Living in MS, or FL, or the like, you guys actually get to see the sun! That's the one, very large issue I have living in Michigan. Sunny days are rare here, and that sucks. It effects my wife bad enough that I've told her to say the word and we'll move. I've done the research, Michigan, and the areas surrounding the great lakes get sunny days only slightly more than the Pacific Northwest.
I did that research too. We were originally considering the desert southwest just to avoid hurricanes, but the lack of water there along with the general remoteness(outside of major cities) turned us away. The climate and cost of living is better here anyway. However, unlike you we were very much done with snow and cold. We had about 2-weeks here last winter where the overnight temps dipped down/below freezing, and 2-days where they never climbed above it. Much better than IL.
Here's a hazzard of the snow belt that nobody has mentioned. It just may trump hurricanes: rust! I envy anyone that can pull a shock off without cutting rusted bolts off
dculberson said:I moved around a lot as a kid, and traveled a lot as a kid and young adult, then threw down roots in Ohio once I was 18 and on my own. What I learned from the experience is that there's risk wherever you are, and most people get used to that risk. There's also a ton of good things about almost anywhere and with the right attitude you can enjoy just about any place. I like Ohio, but I'm under no illusions that it's somehow better than any other place, and while the cold is tolerable and even sometimes enjoyable to me, there's no place with better weather than San Diego or Hawaii!! Almost all other places are compromises, weather-wise.
I've often thought that as well, but I know I'd miss severe thunderstorm season here in this part of the country.
Storms are fun and amazing to watch as long as there isn't a tornado down the street.
I have visited West Palm Beach twice in the middle of summer. No thanks.
I spent a summer in Biloxi . Not bad. agree with PG.
My daughter lives near Myrtle Beach. She never goes out of the house during the daytime in the summer.
Where I live I have no fear of my house being destroyed by wind or water or being out of power for days. We had a Blizzard in March '93, took awhile to get things opened up. Instead of a generator I have a snow blower.
Hurricanes are pretty much a non issue unless you live directly on the coast. I'm prepared for them. I don't live in a flood zone and I don't live on the beach. I've never evacuated, I've never been in danger from one. A few shingles here, a tree removed there. Maybe a boat shed or two. It's been 28 years since our last serious storm. I think rather that, than shoveling snow on a regular basis.
Ian F said:
If I built a house in Florida, it would probably be a series of reinforced concrete geodesic domes.
Like these?
I've lived in one of the most dangerous tornado "zones" in the world--still a relatively high risk for it. I've been in the midwest my whole life and haven't traveled much, but I have traveled enough to know that no place is perfect. Ignoring politics I like where I am because I know the evil I got.
At the end of the day, the heat, humidity, and a [probably unfounded] dislike of creepy crawly things keep me away from Florida. Actually, to be quite honest, it is staying close to my family that keeps me away from Florida/Texas/Carolina/wherever. I can list a mile of things wrong with any place, but hurricanes aren't a real risk for me--the same as tornadoes and earthquakes and everything else are not. Snowstorms are so low on that list--they cannot take out infrastructure like a tornado or hurricane can.
Whatever you all do, stay far, far away from the Pacific Nortwhest...It's the absolute worst place on earth. Wildfires, volcanoes, AND earthquakes!!...Endless year-round torrential downpours...And you'll never, ever see the sun again for the rest of your life. Not once. There is absolutely no reason to even visit this hell-on-earth, let alone consider moving here. It's too late for me, already held firmly in it's death-like grip, but you can still save yourselves!
You have been warned.
One thing to add, as a transplant from New York upstate to South Carolina upstate.
I visited my hometown over the past week, and I saw the rust, and I never ever want to go back to beating on rusty cars in cold garages with iron oxide and slush falling down on your lap again.
Also clouds suck. And nobody there seems to be able to make a business work.
I live just outside San Antonio now, idk what people are afraid of here.
I've lived around San Antonio my whole life, but only recently have i started living in hurricane country thanks to global warming..
Around here it is so hot in the summer that hurricanes hitting the coast 200 miles away mostly amount to a nice week of cooler temperatures and some wind. When Harvey hit Texas it was pretty pleasant here.
I'll echo Tuna's sentiments in that for me, it seems far crazier to be a DIY car enthusiast in a place where cars rust than to live somewhere that gets a serious rainstorm now and then.
Like these?
Similar. Just farther from the coast. And more like bunkers with panels to cover the windows, of which there wouldn't be as many. In my head, they'd be built to damn near withstand a direct nuclear strike.
In reply to yupididit :
Heat Exhaustion. 
I live in one of the most maligned areas in the country...MISSISSIPPI. We have hurricane threats AND are a tornado alley. Much of the western/southern part of state is a flood plain. We have an earthquake fault running through the state. We got bugs galore...roaches, gnats and mosquitos. Oppressive humidity for about 3 months in summer. Economically depressed in many areas. Highest obesity rates in country. Lowest educational ranking in U.S. Second highest illiteracy rate in America (thanks Arkansas).
BUT.....we also have:
Friendly natives, laissez-faire attitudes, Mild winters, great food, low taxes, a great music scene, low cost of living, pretty decent roads with little traffic congestion, SEC football, great hunting/fishing/boating opportunities, a disprortionate number of State/Federal parks, cheap rust free cars, fairly close to beautiful beaches, close to.some beautiful race tracks and DAMN GOOD LOOKING WIMMEN FOLK WHO ARE UNUSUALLY GENEROUS WITH THEIR AFFECTIONS.
Come on down for a visit. Or even move here. You're more than welcome. Just remember....we don't really give a damn how it's done in Cleveland.
I complain more about the summer heat here in Denver than I do the winters. I grew up here, San Diego and Boston and went to school in Cleveland.
Winters in Boston and Cleveland are worse than here. Skiing here is WAY better. Snows melts here pretty quickly and we have the plows to handle it. Even a storm that dumps several feet on us will only shut us down for a few days, at most.
Summer here can get to mid 90's+, that I don't like so much as it feels really hot due to the altitude. Flip side of that is that it doesn't stay hot at night, it cools off nicely.
My ideal situation is cleveland from may-October then Florida on one coast or the other from November to april. I believe i want to be a snowbird. I'm just not in a position to do that yet. The cold hurts my knees and the lack of sun is depressing so by January I'm worthless until spring
Ovid_and_Flem said:...WIMMEN FOLK WHO ARE UNUSUALLY GENEROUS WITH THEIR AFFECTIONS.
Yeah ya do...2nd highest teen birth rate, 2nd highest percentage of single mothers, and #1 in percentage of births to unwed mothers.
Driven5 said:Ovid_and_Flem said:...WIMMEN FOLK WHO ARE UNUSUALLY GENEROUS WITH THEIR AFFECTIONS.
Yeah ya do...2nd highest teen birth rate, 2nd highest percentage of single mothers, and #1 in percentage of unwed mother births.
Hey...takes 2 to tango. Don't be hatin' . If they'd start wearing birkenstocks, driving a Subaru and stop shaving their legs they would move to Seattle.
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