How to deal with winter...

[cheyita]

DH and I are sick of the weather in the Midwest. We are not the type to hang out outside once it gets cold. So many months of the year we are missing out on the outdoors because we don't enjoy the weather.

Why don't we just pick up and move somewhere warm??

Well, obviously, there's a job issue. DH could find a new job, but probably would have to take a pay cut and lose some other benefits (like having less vacation time).

The kids are in school and aren't at all enthusiastic about the concept of changing schools or neighborhoods (even to be closer to Mickey!).

Finally, while we have no family right here in town, most of our familiy lives within a three-hour drive. We see somebody from our family approximately once a month. I think we'd miss that.

I know - we can keep busy doing other things (not outdoors) and definitely take a warm-climate vacation each winter. Plus, we do like to ski a bit, so we can actually embrace the snow a little when we ski.

But it's only the beginning of November and I miss sitting in my backyard and going to parks with the kids, etc. DH is getting so depressed about it, but he doesn't want to upset the whole family by packing us up and shipping out.

Do any of you feel like we do? How do you handle it? I can't stand the thought that about half of every year we are miserable with the weather.

 

[Pop Daddy]

long post

 

[missyc]

I'll trade places with you. I miss the cold and snow terribly!

 

[cheyita]

Originally posted by Pop Daddy
long post

See - you already made me feel better!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Have a family game night and/or movie night. Popcorn, hot chocolate.
Read some good books
Go sledding
Take a Sleigh Ride
Have a snowball fight
Arts and Crafts

I don't like the outdoors all that much, even in the summer, but I do these things for Avery because she really comes alive outside. She just loves it.

 

[mickeyboat]

People keep telling me I need to find a winter activity outdoors that I can enjoy. I am the only one in my family who has even tried skiing and I am not very good at it. At some point in the future we may get a couple of snowmobiles - a lot of people do that around here to fend off the winter blues.

Good luck!

Denae

 

[ADisneygirl]

When it snows, do some things I used to do when I lived up north: go skiing, go sledding with the kids, or build a snowman. Right now you should enjoy the crisp freshness to the air, and get in the holiday mood.

Or you can plan a trip. Yes, come on down here and visit Mickey! If you come right now you too can enjoy 88 degrees in November.

I miss the snow. I miss the crisp smell of fall air and the beautiful changing leaves. We could always trade houses for a week! LOL

 

[SpecialK]

Winter is our favorite time to go to the zoo. It's quiet and pretty empty and you can go into a building to warm up. The holiday lights at Brookfield really get you in a Christmas spirit.

I'm not much for playing in the snow, but I don't mind being outside. We search out nature trails just to get the kids out and moving. Find an ice rink with a warming house.

We're taking a December trip to the Dells. Pretty cool to be swimming and look out the window at the snow.

If you can't change it, you may as well embrace it! I'll probably be singing a different tune come February, however....

 

[Bob Slydell]

Create some heat!

 

[Ted and Holly]

Well, you can see how Holly and I dealt with it.

Now I see winter during the Holidays.

Moving is a VERY hard thing to do. We were at a point in our lives where we could do it.

I agree with the above, find some activities outside that you like to do. I would imagine the cross-country skiing in your area would be nice.

Of course, there are a millions things to do INSIDE to pass the time. Hobbies, crafts... That sort of thing.

Ted

 

[cheyita]

Thank you everyone. I am feeling better about it already. I realized that there are many things I don't do in summer because we are always outside, so this is my chance to scrapbook, go to the roller rinks with the girls, catch up on movies, etc.

Bob Slydell - great idea! (Which, BTW, I just figured out what your name means when I saw Office Space for the first time a couple weeks ago. I heard the name and went "Oohhhhh....")

And SpecialK - I have a Brookfield membership this year and was looking forward to going at Christmas time. We also plan on hitting the Dells in January and skiing at Cascade while there.

I actually hope we get more snow than we have in recent years. That's when it hits the worst - when it's cold for months but there's no snow in sight.

Lastly, Ted and Holly, your one line about moving being hard really hit me between the eyes. I love my extended family, and I would really miss them.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Originally posted by cheyita
Bob Slydell - great idea! (Which, BTW, I just figured out what your name means when I saw Office Space for the first time a couple weeks ago. I heard the name and went "Oohhhhh....")

 

[meandtheguys2]

I have decided tha I could def. become a "snowbird!" You willnote when we are taking our next trip!

 

[decker96]

I know how you feel! I've found that when I force myself to go out and play in the snow with my kids or take a walk I feel alot better. I take the kids out even when there's no snow. Our swingset in the backyard gets used 12 months a year. We've gone to the park in January, best part is that it's not crowded!
I don't enjoy the cold and give me snow from Dec. 23-26th and that's enough for the whole winter for me. But sitting inside all the time actually makes me more depressed. Sometimes I actually surprise myself and find the cold and snow refreshing, but don't EVER tell DH I said so!!

 

[Phrebert]

Coming from an area that averages 10 feet of snowfall, Plan a trip to get away from the cold, Strap a snow shovel to your car and drive until someone asks "what's that?" and stop. Do it in January then spring will be there before you know it.

 

[newholiday]

Jan 15-17 DS & I are going away for the long wknd to a hotel w/indoor pool
Im hoping the idea that I need to get in my bathing suit a few wks after the Christmas/New Years holidays is enough to keep me from overeating.
Now if I can find something to get me through Feb & Mar

 

[crazelion]

What's snow. What's a snow shovel.

I don't know what those looks like.

 

[chrissyk]

We ultimately decided that we'd had enough of the weather in MA and we did decide to move to FL. However, we're still stuck in MA waiting to move into our new house. DH's job is what is keeping us here through this winter. He is really depressed about it as well. Winter wouldn't be so bad if it didn't last for 7 months at a time

 

[TrinaC]

Well Cheyita I think you have a tough choice in the matter. Moving south is deffaintly a great idea. Warm weather is the best though sometimes can be too hot to want to be in. Also think of other things u would miss and just weigh it all out. In the end you guys will come up with what u truely want to do.




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