Freezageddon

[Jimmy3Putt]

Decided a few weeks ago that I was going to make the best of the cold this year.
I built a hockey rink in the back yard!

 

[Cackalacky]

I'll take the afternoon shade of a southern pecan tree grove in the dead of summer with glass of lemonade over anything.

 

[Irish Insanity]

I've lived in Michigan my whole life. I hate It. Summer is the only nice season. The rest suck. I'd give my left nut for Cali.

 

[Emcee77]

Freezageddon

I've never lived in the south so maybe I'm wrong here, but can't you enjoy the outdoors, even in the hottest months, in the morning and evening?

Not really, in my opinion. Since since it's so humid, it doesn't cool off that much at night in the Southeast. In the hottest part of the year,it is just not comfortable to be outside at any time of day.

I do nothing outdoors during the winter months. Except shovel snow, of course. It's just brutal. I'll take extreme heat from 7 to 7 if I can run/lift outside in the morning and BBQ in a pair of shorts in the evening 365 days a year.

This just goes to show though, this is a different strokes for different folks situation. I am pretty much the opposite. When it is near or above 95° I just don't want to be outside. But I love running in cold weather, as long as I have the proper gear.

I have spent about two thirds of my life in the Southeast and the mid Atlantic, and about one third in Chicago and northern Indiana. I greatly prefer the Midwestern climate because the summers are actually pleasant and you can dress against
the cold weather in the winters. But that's just me.

 

[Cackalacky]

As far as the south goes the geography of the area has as much to do with the climate as anything else. Where I live the ocean has an insulating effect so temperatures dont vary as much as they do inland, say in Columbia which is the devils armpit during the summer. Charleston is basically subtropical most of the year and the humidity hangs around alot but it is pretty consistent and big fluxuations in weather are rare. There are rarely any days of the year you cant go out and do something. I basically get by with a lightweight waterproof shell jacket year round because of the heavy rain. I only need a heavy coat and beanie periodically. Now other parts of the deep south away from coast lines are pretty brutal and you have to adapt much more. I'd still take that over having to shovel snow or drive on snow, or deal with a furnace.

 

[wizards8507]

I've never lived in the south so maybe I'm wrong here, but can't you enjoy the outdoors, even in the hottest months, in the morning and evening?

I can't speak to "the south" in general, but in central Florida, no. It's at least 80 degrees and humid from May through October, and the humidity doesn't break in the mornings or evenings. The summer months aren't even the worst part because it's SUPPOSED to be hot in the summer. The thing that really wears you down is when it's still 85 on Halloween.

 

[DogDaysIrish]

I can't speak to "the south" in general, but in central Florida, no. It's at least 80 degrees and humid from May through October, and the humidity doesn't break in the mornings or evenings. The summer months aren't even the worst part because it's SUPPOSED to be hot in the summer. The thing that really wears you down is when it's still 85 on Halloween.

Feelin' for ya brah. Maybe next year.

 

[wizards8507]

Feelin' for ya brah. Maybe next year.

Lol I left Florida about six months ago. Best decision ever.

 

[MNIrishman]

I can't speak to "the south" in general, but in central Florida, no. It's at least 80 degrees and humid from May through October, and the humidity doesn't break in the mornings or evenings. The summer months aren't even the worst part because it's SUPPOSED to be hot in the summer. The thing that really wears you down is when it's still 85 on Halloween.

I'm a big fan of the UP for the reason that it never gets that warm up there and usually isn't that cold. I'm pretty uncomfortable if the temperature gets above 75 and unfortunately there are precious few places to run from heat the same way you can cower from cold in the US. If I can figure out how to make the job situation work up there, I'm gone (although the lack of cities may be a challenge).

Love regulated weather. That's probably Minneapolis' greatest failing--it's got the most erratic weather in the country.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

I can deal with heat. It's when the cold gets to your bones that I can't deal with it.

 

[woolybug25]

I've lived in Michigan my whole life. I hate It. Summer is the only nice season. The rest suck. I'd give my left nut for Cali.

If you don't like Michigan's fall, then you just don't appreciate seasons. Michigan has one of the finest falls in the country.

I love living in Michigan. I have lived all over the west, south and northeast, but nothing beats Michigan imo.

 

[NDohio]

As far as the south goes the geography of the area has as much to do with the climate as anything else. Where I live the ocean has an insulating effect so temperatures dont vary as much as they do inland, say in Columbia which is the devils armpit during the summer. Charleston is basically subtropical most of the year and the humidity hangs around alot but it is pretty consistent and big fluxuations in weather are rare. There are rarely any days of the year you cant go out and do something. I basically get by with a lightweight waterproof shell jacket year round because of the heavy rain. I only need a heavy coat and beanie periodically. Now other parts of the deep south away from coast lines are pretty brutal and you have to adapt much more. I'd still take that over having to shovel snow or drive on snow, or deal with a furnace.

I never imagined hating summer as much as I do now. We moved to just outside Columbia in 2012 and from the 4th of July until the middle of September it is unbearable. Not only is it crazy hot during the day, but the nights are in the 80s. There is no part of the day that is comfortable enough to be outside and enjoy the summer. It's hot - all day every day. The air conditioner never shuts off and our power bills are three times the winter bills. I can't wait for the day I can move back to the Midwest.

 

[wizards8507]

If you don't like Michigan's fall, then you just don't appreciate seasons. Michigan has one of the finest falls in the country.

New England fall eats rust belt fall for breakfast. The weather is probably pretty close but the architecture and geography of New England just "fit" with the foliage and temperatures.

 

[connor_in]

Negatives in TX...on 11/12 ?!

 

[woolybug25]

New England fall eats rust belt fall for breakfast. The weather is probably pretty close but the architecture and geography of New England just "fit" with the foliage and temperatures.

Michigan really isn't the rustbelt imo, so i'm not sure you know what you are talking about. It's landscape is considerably different than every other "rustbelt" state. I lived in New England and while I liked it, i'm not going to fellatio the area like you do. I would take Michigan over anywhere in New England all day. Way more water, way deeper seasons, way more outdoor activity.

 

[woolybug25]

New England fall eats rust belt fall for breakfast. The weather is probably pretty close but the architecture and geography of New England just "fit" with the foliage and temperatures.

I don't consider Michigan the rustbelt, so i'm not sure you know what you are talking about. I lived in New England and while I liked it, i'm not going to fellatio the area like you do. I would take Michigan over anywhere in New England all day. Way more water, way deeper seasons, way more outdoor activity.

 

[Irish Insanity]

If you don't like Michigan's fall, then you just don't appreciate seasons. Michigan has one of the finest falls in the country.

I love living in Michigan. I have lived all over the west, south and northeast, but nothing beats Michigan imo.

Don't get me wrong, I think the scenery is beautiful. I don't hunt, and rarely general fishing. We have lake property and a boat, and a pool. The pool is utilized rarely unless it's sweltering out like 2 summers ago. I'm not much of an outdoor person when it's not warn. I don't like the cold rain or the snow. I'd be down for the ocean, sunny, never below 60 during the day, all day. The only part I enjoy about winter in Michigan is driving.

 

[kmoose]

... but nothing beats Michigan...

Except New Jersey, apparently

 

[wizards8507]

I don't consider Michigan the rustbelt, so i'm not sure you know what you are talking about.

I love it when people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when they're flat-out wrong about something. Regardless of whether you "consider" it the rust belt, it is (by definition). Detroit is the quintessential example of rust belt decay.

The Rust Belt begins in central New York and traverses to the west through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, ending in northern Illinois and eastern Wisconsin.

Way more water, way deeper seasons, way more outdoor activity.

What do you think "water" is? The Atlantic Ocean > Lake Michigan. If by "deeper seasons" you mean colder winters and lake effect snow, more power to you. Other than a few degrees in winter, Detroit and Boston have identical monthly average temperatures. I'll take the mountains of northern New England over the UP any day, and on the city front, Boston versus Detroit isn't even fair.

 

[woolybug25]

I love it when people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when they're flat-out wrong about something. Regardless of whether you "consider" it the rust belt, it is (by definition). Detroit is the quintessential example of rust belt decay.

What do you think "water" is? The Atlantic Ocean > Lake Michigan. If by "deeper seasons" you mean colder winters and lake effect snow, more power to you. Other than a few degrees in winter, Detroit and Boston have identical monthly average temperatures. I'll take the mountains of northern New England over the UP any day, and on the city front, Boston versus Detroit isn't even fair.

As usual, I guess you can conveniently disregard my comments and warp them to narrative. I clearly said "imo" regarding Michigan's rust belt status. But outside of that, even your rock solid example shows half of Michigan outside of the rust belt.

In regards to coast line, I absolutely consider the Great Lakes as better than the crowded limited New England share of the Atlantic. Ours has 5 unique Eco systems with islands, deep cliffs of Lake Superior, and hundreds of miles of wilderness coastlines. Michigan borders more water than any state in the country, and that's all outside of the thousands of miles of rivers and more than double the amount of blue ribbon trout streams than any state in New England.

You also talked about the UP like you know something about it, which I doubt you do. The UP is one of the truly wild places left in the country. The NE mountains are filled with yuppie resorts filled with stoody new englanders bragging to eachother about their ll bean duck boots, despite ever doing anything outside of shoveling their driveway of their McMansion.

I'm guessing that anywhere you live is the best in your opinion. I remember you bragging about FL, until you left. Now New England is the bees knees?

 

[Emcee77]

Regardless of whether you "consider" it the rust belt, it is (by definition).

I am with you here. If the term Rust Belt means anything, Michigan has to be within it.

What do you think "water" is? The Atlantic Ocean > Lake Michigan.

Still, it might be fair to say that Michigan has "more water" than New England. Michigan is essentially a peninsula in the Great Lakes (well, two of them, really). It has more coastline than any state except Alaska, plus it has tons of great inland lakes. In terms of access to recreation on the water, you could make an argument that Michigan > New England.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I love it when people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about when they're flat-out wrong about something. Regardless of whether you "consider" it the rust belt, it is (by definition). Detroit is the quintessential example of rust belt decay.

What do you think "water" is? The Atlantic Ocean > Lake Michigan. If by "deeper seasons" you mean colder winters and lake effect snow, more power to you. Other than a few degrees in winter, Detroit and Boston have identical monthly average temperatures. I'll take the mountains of northern New England over the UP any day, and on the city front, Boston versus Detroit isn't even fair.

Hometown representing in that map. I've honestly never been a fan of the fall foliage in Illinois. I don't know if it's just that I don't like the trees or if the trees are too few and far between because of the immense amount or farmland, but I never really appreciated the changing colors of the leaves when I lived in Illinois.

Sent from my Samsung via Tapatalk

 

[wizards8507]

You also talked about the UP like you know something about it, which I doubt you do. The UP is one of the truly wild places left in the country. The NE mountains are filled with yuppie resorts filled with stoody new englanders bragging to eachother about their ll bean duck boots, despite ever doing anything outside of shoveling their driveway of their McMansion.

McMansion isn't a term I've ever heard used to talk about New England (or the midwest for that matter). When I think "McMansion," I think of the rapidly built suburbs of Florida, Arizona, California, and Las Vegas (among others). New England residential architecture is based on traditional Cape and Colonial style homes.

Other than that, I love my LL Bean duck boots and I don't plan on ever doing anything outside of shoveling my driveway.

I'm guessing that anywhere you live is the best in your opinion. I remember you bragging about FL, until you left. Now New England is the bees knees?

My pro-FL comments were teasing other posters in this thread when they were talking about the cold temperatures during last year's "polar vortex." I hated the place the entire time I was there (except maybe the first few months when it was new and exciting). I'm from New England and now I've come home. I've always considered it the bee's knees.

I've never seen anyone get so upset over (what I thought was) good-natured ribbing about pride in one's place of residence.

Still, it might be fair to say that Michigan has "more water" than New England. Michigan is essentially a peninsula in the Great Lakes (well, two of them, really). It has more coastline than any state except Alaska, plus it has tons of great inland lakes. In terms of access to recreation on the water, you could make an argument that Michigan > New England.

In raw terms, you're right, but it doesn't take into account land size (Michigan is 32% larger than New England). Michigan's coast line is roughly 3% of the total area of the state. The coastal New England states are 25% (Rhode Island), 14% (Massachusetts), and 10% (Connecticut and Maine).

 

[BGIF]

I love it when people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about ...

It does seem to happen frequently, or is that just on IE?

 

[wizards8507]

It does seem to happen frequently, or is that just on IE?

IE is in an elite group that also includes my mother and my wife.

 

[Cackalacky]

I never imagined hating summer as much as I do now. We moved to just outside Columbia in 2012 and from the 4th of July until the middle of September it is unbearable. Not only is it crazy hot during the day, but the nights are in the 80s. There is no part of the day that is comfortable enough to be outside and enjoy the summer. It's hot - all day every day. The air conditioner never shuts off and our power bills are three times the winter bills. I can't wait for the day I can move back to the Midwest.

All you have to do is move a little further east. There is a huge difference in that 101 miles.

 

[Irish#1]

Screw the snow, I'm ready baby. I just bought a snow blower!

 

[MNIrishman]

Having just spent my first fall in MI, I gotta agree with Wizards (a bit). Hills add a lot to the foliage scene, and Michigan generally only has hills in places with excessive evergreens. These are nice in winter but break up the fireworks a tad.

My main complaint about new England autumn is that it's built up too much. It's wonderful, truly, but I'd argue Appalachia gives it a run, especially when you consider the overcrowding that tends to occur around resorts and lodges near prime fall weekends. Not that it detracts from the colors, but it does take away from the experience somewhat.

Northeast Ohio south of Cleveland is also really nice, with the national park being there.

 

[wizards8507]

My main complaint about new England autumn is that it's built up too much. It's wonderful, truly, but I'd argue Appalachia gives it a run, especially when you consider the overcrowding that tends to occur around resorts and lodges near prime fall weekends. Not that it detracts from the colors, but it does take away from the experience somewhat.

That's probably fair (the crowds and whatnot). I've never really understood autumn as a tourist attraction in the first place. To me, the beauty isn't so much "look how beautiful it is RIGHT NOW," it's watching the transition from August through November. It's an experience that needs to be enjoyed over three our four months to get the full effect.

It's also not just the leaves. The barns, colonial homes, white steeple churches, town greens, and apple cider donuts are what really tip the scales for me.

Off topic, but if anyone is interested in the intersection of food, history, and America, I highly recommend "America's Founding Food: The Story of New England Cooking." It's fascinating how certain iconic dishes like lobster, baked beans, and Thanksgiving turkey came to become iconic symbols of the region and the country as a whole.

 

[clashmore_jon]

I suspect they won't allow you to take a thermos into the stadium, is that correct?