Has anyone moved just for weather?

[Decision_Decisions]

Every year about this time I think about moving. I live in the Midwest and it's cold and dark. Even with global warming and the milder weather we've been having, it's still cold and dark. I don't crave super hot and humid weather, but weather that is pleasant to be outside in for a longer part of the year. I have two elementary aged boys and I hate seeing them cooped up in the house. Yes, we do go outside anyway, but we don't enjoy it that much. We have good gear, I take vitamin D, use a happy lamp, etc. But no matter what little adjustments I make, the truth is I miss the sun and being outside on a nice day. I feel like a good 4 months of my life every year is just spent wishing things were different and feeling like we would be happier if we moved.

I could list a million reasons why I would love to move, and a million more why it is not a good idea. Covid has been particularly hard on our family (thankfully no deaths, but more job and school issues). Also, I am probably having a midlife crisis and I know that wherever you go, there you are. Anyway, just wondering if anyone has ever actually moved just for different weather. Was it worth it? Does anyone else ever consider this at the expense of leaving behind an otherwise perfectly nice life? At the same time it sounds so exciting and also like such a hassle.

 

[Cerulean]

I was actually just faced with the same dilemma. I live in Chicago, and boy...the winters really get to you. But weather is one (albeit major) factor in the bigger picture of what makes for good quality of life.

My husband and I were on the cusp of moving to the desert (Phoenix), and in the end...didn't.

Here's what went into our decision-making:

• Public schools
• Job prospects
• Strength of local economy
• Housing market
• General COL
• Cost of childcare
• Proximity to family
• Access to public transit
• Politics
• Weather

Every major city with a temperate climate is truly out of our budget. Did I want to live in half of the square footage I have now for twice the price?

How hot was TOO hot? What if I recreated the same seasonal depression, except with summer instead of winter?

Did I want to live in the part of the country where I didn't agree with many of my peers ideologically? This was in earnest a serious consideration.

Did I want to deliberately limit career prospects because I didn't live in a region that was booming in my sector?

Did I also want to be forced to send my kids to private school because the public school system was appalling?

...My point is, before you totally lift off into dreams about warm weather...research in earnest what those others things would look like, and narrow it down to specific cities. Look at houses that are actually in budget, within school zones you need for kids. Etc. Actually visit places with an eye for living there, not just being on vacation. We visited Arizona 4 times, and even looked at real estate, drove around areas to see how accessible shopping was, etc.

The housing market there also exploded, and we were worried that we'd never see returns because the demand was temporarily inflated due to an influx of Californians flooding the "cheap" AZ market. Maybe we will be wrong, but buying a house for 200k more than it would've cost 1.5 years ago in a city that was at the apex of the 2008 housing crisis seemed totally irresponsible.

Anyways, I hope you find peace with whatever choice ends up being right for you. Exploring the possibilities helped me psychologically a lot. I was desperate to leave until I took a good hard look at my options and realized...I was already home. And DH and I made a commitment to each other that we need to set aside savings for a real warm-weather holiday EVERY winter to keep seasonal depression at bay!

 

[MRBXXXFVVS1]

Also be sure to factor in healthcare, social network, and things to do!

 

[JulieN]

I decided to move out of the west partially because of climate change, but the impetus for the move was that we wanted a career change. The poor air quality from western wildfires this summer forced me inside for weeks straight and months overall. I had a lingering cough that didn't let up until I bought a HEPA filter.

We eliminated certain hurricane areas, as well. Then looked for new jobs and moved.

 

[Calliecake]

@Decision_Decisions, I think everyone living in the Midwest has thought about it at one time or another. Chicago winters can be brutal.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

well it was good to get away from the Wellington wind (think Chicago without the snow
trees now grow straight up !

 

[dk168]

One of the reasons why I decided to settle in UK the moment I stepped off the plane in the late 70s to continue with my schooling was the weather, as I did not like the hot and humid weather in Hong Kong.
I would only go back to HK in November when it would be cooler.

DK

 

[diamondringlover]

I want to move south, I too live in the midwest, I am getting close to retirement age, hubby just retired, for me the one thing that holds me back is my kids and granddaughter...I currently work from home so I can move anytime I want...it just seems so overwhelming the thought of packing up 28 years of stuff (thats how long I have lived in my current house) and I just dont know if I can leave my family...

 

[missy]

OMG yes I think about this often. I hate the cold weather now. It hurts my bones.
BUT I need to have these wherever we live.


Good healthcare
Good hospitals
Costco no more than 20/25 minutes away (LOL)
Trader Joe's nearby if possible
Access to recreation...parks, places to ride our bike, hiking trails, etc.
Access to a big city where there are museums, shows, great libraries etc. The pandemic won't be here forever, I hope.
Also I cannot live in a state where they are against women, women's rights etc. I just cannot do it. I prefer not too far left or right if you want to know the truth. Moderation is everything. But if I had to choose obviously I choose liberal over all else. And I need an area where it is diverse population wise. I cannot be in an area where it is homogenous. I need diversity. No question about it.

And being on the water is an important factor for me as well. Not a deal breaker but if possible I like to be on the water with a great view like we have now.



If we cannot have water views I need mountain views or something equally spectacular.


And good weather is a big wish of mine. I love the weather here for about 8 months of the year and the other 4 can be challenging. April through parts of December. So not terrible, If we are to move it would need all of the above for us to make that decision. And cost of living here is astronomical so if we could move somewhere less expensive that would be a plus but again not a deal breaker.


So that's it. Not too much to ask for, right?


Actually I feel very fortunate because I love where we live for the most part. No real complaints. Except cost of living and weather for a few months can be challenging. Otherwise where we live is (almost) purrrrfect.
Also my family lives here so I cannot move too far away. At least not now.

 

[Arcadian]

Move for weather? Absolutely! Selling the snowblower was one of the happiest days of my life!

We had lots of plusses and very few minuses by leaving New England behind.

 

[missy]

Move for weather? Absolutely! Selling the snowblower was one of the happiest days of my life!

We had lots of plusses and very few minuses by leaving New England behind.

I love the New England Accent. Do you have one?
I just love it. I am weird that way what can I say.
But then again, I love a Brooklyn accent and I know people who went to voice coaches to get rid of theirs.
Umm no thanks. I will keep mine thank you very much.

 

[luv2sparkle]

There is a lot of reasons to not like California. The prices are ridiculous, especially now. The current governor is a little out of touch, in my opinion. We have fires and earthquakes and mudslides and drought. The weather however, is wonderful and that is what keeps me here. I don't mind a little snow, we have lived in the mountains here, but I love not being snowed in. We have learned over the years, when the best time is to be on the road for the least amount of traffic, so we deal with the congested freeways just fine.

 

[lulu_ma]

I love New England for many reasons, but winter isn't one of them.

I fantasize that one of my kids will want to go to medical school in Hawaii. Then I will have to move there (I would rent) to establish residency. Not too much to ask, right?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I want to move south, I too live in the midwest, I am getting close to retirement age, hubby just retired, for me the one thing that holds me back is my kids and granddaughter...I currently work from home so I can move anytime I want...it just seems so overwhelming the thought of packing up 28 years of stuff (thats how long I have lived in my current house) and I just dont know if I can leave my family...

i can tell you with bitter experience- and im only talking 18 years and a very small house and no kids (but a b ig garage)
moving for the first time after all that is dreadful
also dont do it in the height of summer

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I love the New England Accent. Do you have one?
I just love it. I am weird that way what can I say.
But then again, I love a Brooklyn accent and I know people who went to voice coaches to get rid of theirs.
Umm no thanks. I will keep mine thank you very much.

oh MIssy
shame on anyone who wants to get rid of any kind of NYC or NJ accent

i love them all but when i hear a Brooklyn one i always think of you

 

[Lookinagain]

I think about moving to a warmer climate all the time. I was born and raised in south Florida, lived in Georgia for college, Missouri for grad school and now live in New England. I absolutely hate the cold and the darkness of winter here. But my daughter is here, and I feel very strongly about living in a place where my politics align with the majority of the population. And I like being on or near the ocean. I missed that a lot while in Georgia (Atlanta) and Missouri. So I probably won't move back to the South, although I do think I may buy a second home somewhere with a milder climate (maybe around the Carolinas) to have a place to escape to periodically where the winters aren't so cold and long. And the days aren't quite so dark. But I think at this point in my life, my actual home will remain where it is.

 

[icy_jade]

Am curious if there are any cities in US with nice mild climate and no natural disasters? Did a quick lookup on Wiki but can’t really tell.

 

[AnastasiaBeaverhausen]

The weather wasn't the main reason we chose the location that we did, but it was a bigger factor than I thought it would be. Our runner-up was drier and sunnier, which I preferred. But the scenery there just seemed too desert-y, which actually make it a but depressing to look at. So we chose a rainy, but lush and green city instead. We also lucked out because it's not as dreary as everyone make it seem. Win!

P.S. We actually moved from sunny CA bc it was too hot for us, lol. I do miss the bright sun sometimes though.

 

[Sprinkles&Stones]

Me and DH moved from Minnesota to California. DH gets seasonal affective disorder and really can’t handle the winters. We will eventually move back because our parents are elderly. But his compromise was that we have to get a condo / make roots in California so when our parents go to a higher place we can move back to California. But California ain’t a basket of roses either!

 

[missy]

Am curious if there are any cities in US with nice mild climate and no natural disasters? Did a quick lookup on Wiki but can’t really tell.

I think every place has natural disasters.

But here is a list of states with the least natural disasters. I do not know how accurate it is.

The State with the Least Natural Disasters | Kuali

What is the state with the least natural disasters? Click to learn more about the state with the least and most natural disasters in America.

www.kuali.co

"

States with the Least Natural Disasters​

As we mentioned before, some states are more at risk for natural disasters than others. Michigan is considered to be the state with the least natural disasters, with a minor chance of earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Any natural disasters that have happened there have usually been less intense than they might be in other states. Other states that have a low risk of natural disasters include:

• Minnesota
• Illinois
• Vermont
• Ohio
• Colorado
• Maryland
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• Montana

"
The weather is not mild in any of these states.
Though some places in Colorado are quite lovely weather wise...

https://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/safest_places_from_natural_disasters.aspx

"
Here are the top ten metro areas with the lowest risk:

1. Corvallis, OR

2. Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA

3. Bellingham, WA

4. Wenatchee, WA

5. Grand Junction, CO

6. Spokane, WA

7. Salem, OR

8. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA

9. Yakima, WA

10. Olympia, WA

"

The weather can be pretty good in some of these cities but not a lot of sun generally except the eastern part of Oregon.

 

[Arcadian]

@missy I don't have a "true Northeast" accent because I went to college in California. prior to that the Midwest was where I called home. Certain words or phrases...yeah you know where I'm from....lol Most people think people from Massachusetts must sound like a Southie or someone from Northshore. Thankfully no.

On the east side of SoFL, may as well be Northeast Corridor lite.

@icy_jade If you're going to be in a place with natural disasters (almost can't get away from them) may as well ensure that the home you're in can withstand the beasts. I want to say it was 1988 or 89 that beefed up the building codes in my area of FL and they are pretty tough. Just don't live in a highrise facing the ocean.

 

[icy_jade]

I think every place has natural disasters.

But here is a list of states with the least natural disasters. I do not know how accurate it is.

@icy_jade If you're going to be in a place with natural disasters (almost can't get away from them) may as well ensure that the home you're in can withstand the beasts. I want to say it was 1988 or 89 that beefed up the building codes in my area of FL and they are pretty tough. Just don't live in a highrise facing the ocean.

Thanks! Genuinely curious as I live in a place with no natural disasters and find it unimaginably scary to live in a place that’s constantly hit with natural disasters, or even with just high chance of one.

 

[Gussie]

I would move out of Houston in a heartbeat to escape the miserably humid heat. It was 85 yesterday.

 

[Decision_Decisions]

I was actually just faced with the same dilemma. I live in Chicago, and boy...the winters really get to you. But weather is one (albeit major) factor in the bigger picture of what makes for good quality of life.

My husband and I were on the cusp of moving to the desert (Phoenix), and in the end...didn't.

Here's what went into our decision-making:

• Public schools
• Job prospects
• Strength of local economy
• Housing market
• General COL
• Cost of childcare
• Proximity to family
• Access to public transit
• Politics
• Weather

Every major city with a temperate climate is truly out of our budget. Did I want to live in half of the square footage I have now for twice the price?

How hot was TOO hot? What if I recreated the same seasonal depression, except with summer instead of winter?

Did I want to live in the part of the country where I didn't agree with many of my peers ideologically? This was in earnest a serious consideration.

Did I want to deliberately limit career prospects because I didn't live in a region that was booming in my sector?

Did I also want to be forced to send my kids to private school because the public school system was appalling?

...My point is, before you totally lift off into dreams about warm weather...research in earnest what those others things would look like, and narrow it down to specific cities. Look at houses that are actually in budget, within school zones you need for kids. Etc. Actually visit places with an eye for living there, not just being on vacation. We visited Arizona 4 times, and even looked at real estate, drove around areas to see how accessible shopping was, etc.

The housing market there also exploded, and we were worried that we'd never see returns because the demand was temporarily inflated due to an influx of Californians flooding the "cheap" AZ market. Maybe we will be wrong, but buying a house for 200k more than it would've cost 1.5 years ago in a city that was at the apex of the 2008 housing crisis seemed totally irresponsible.

Anyways, I hope you find peace with whatever choice ends up being right for you. Exploring the possibilities helped me psychologically a lot. I was desperate to leave until I took a good hard look at my options and realized...I was already home. And DH and I made a commitment to each other that we need to set aside savings for a real warm-weather holiday EVERY winter to keep seasonal depression at bay!

@Cerulean, thank you, there are so many good considerations in this post, and I think that would definitely be the way to go about an actual move (vs just dreaming).

My husband and I both love AZ, but it is so crazy hot in the Phoenix area, in the summer I will occasionally take a peek at the weather and am amazed at how many days are WELL over 100!

My husband grew up in Florida so he feels the same, that the summer there is basically the same as winter here where you just can't stand being outside for months at a time.

We live in a very liberal area, with a diverse array of people both racially, socio-economically, and from a gender and sexuality perspective. I love that about where we live and I think that it is so important for my children to experience as they grow up. So that would be a huge consideration. My admittedly preconceived notions about the south make me feel like it might be difficult to find the right fit, but I'm sure there are liberal small towns out there.

If anything we are thinking North Carolina, but I feel like almost everyone mentions North Carolina when they think about moving to someplace where there are still seasons yet the winters are mild. Everyone can't move to NC!

And I really love your winter trip idea. I think that would really help to get out of town each year sometime between January and March to somewhere truly warm.

 

[Decision_Decisions]

One of the reasons why I decided to settle in UK the moment I stepped off the plane in the late 70s to continue with my schooling was the weather, as I did not like the hot and humid weather in Hong Kong.
I would only go back to HK in November when it would be cooler.

DK

While I crave warmer weather I know that there are many places where it would be uncomfortable to be outside a lot of the year because of the heat and humidity. Those places might only be OK if you have a pool and avoid the hottest part of the day so your face doesn't melt off when you get in your car!

 

[Decision_Decisions]

I want to move south, I too live in the midwest, I am getting close to retirement age, hubby just retired, for me the one thing that holds me back is my kids and granddaughter...I currently work from home so I can move anytime I want...it just seems so overwhelming the thought of packing up 28 years of stuff (thats how long I have lived in my current house) and I just dont know if I can leave my family...

@diamondringlover, I agree, family is such an important consideration! I feel like this too, like maybe we stay until my kids are in college, but then they need us to be here for residency if they go to school in state (I think that's how it works...). And then after that, what about when they meet someone, and then start having babies, it would be so hard to move then. So part of me thinks the only time to do it may be now when they are young and they don't have any say in the matter! But even now, as young as they are, it would be hard for them to leave their friends, especially my older son who has had his friends since Kindergarten and feels like they are such an important part of his life already. At least from his perspective. Maybe the answer is having a summer home and a winter home if we can afford that one day.

 

[FL_runner]

I’ve moved a lot for work but I’m from the DC metro area. I like four seasons without a ton of snow. Most of my and my husband’s family is in NC, VA or DC so I will end up somewhere in that area! We have beach property in NC and I’d love to retire there.

 

[Decision_Decisions]

OMG yes I think about this often. I hate the cold weather now. It hurts my bones.
BUT I need to have these wherever we live.


Good healthcare
Good hospitals
Costco no more than 20/25 minutes away (LOL)
Trader Joe's nearby if possible
Access to recreation...parks, places to ride our bike, hiking trails, etc.
Access to a big city where there are museums, shows, great libraries etc. The pandemic won't be here forever, I hope.
Also I cannot live in a state where they are against women, women's rights etc. I just cannot do it. I prefer not too far left or right if you want to know the truth. Moderation is everything. But if I had to choose obviously I choose liberal over all else. And I need an area where it is diverse population wise. I cannot be in an area where it is homogenous. I need diversity. No question about it.

And being on the water is an important factor for me as well. Not a deal breaker but if possible I like to be on the water with a great view like we have now.



If we cannot have water views I need mountain views or something equally spectacular.


And good weather is a big wish of mine. I love the weather here for about 8 months of the year and the other 4 can be challenging. April through parts of December. So not terrible, If we are to move it would need all of the above for us to make that decision. And cost of living here is astronomical so if we could move somewhere less expensive that would be a plus but again not a deal breaker.


So that's it. Not too much to ask for, right?


Actually I feel very fortunate because I love where we live for the most part. No real complaints. Except cost of living and weather for a few months can be challenging. Otherwise where we live is (almost) purrrrfect.
Also my family lives here so I cannot move too far away. At least not now.

@missy, that view is absolutely spectacular! Honestly, that in and of itself would be so hard to leave. I agree that there are so many different things to consider. Where we live is not perfect, but it does feel like home and in the metro area that we are in I cannot imagine living in any other city. It is a perfect blend of anything we could ever need (as we are in the middle of a sea of suburbs), but our city itself is on the smaller side and does have a bit of a small town feel, as far as the sense of community, seeing people that you know when you go out, having a downtown with a lot of amenities within walking distance, like-minded people, etc. Just so many things that we love. So finding a small city like that somewhere else would be absolutely essential and honestly I just don't think that we could even afford something like that somewhere else with the way the housing market is right now.

And I agree, family is so important. I lost my dad this year and I am on only child so being near my mom is very important. But then there are other moments when I know that we can't make decisions for our family just with my mom in mind, so it is difficult.

 

[Decision_Decisions]

I love New England for many reasons, but winter isn't one of them.

I fantasize that one of my kids will want to go to medical school in Hawaii. Then I will have to move there (I would rent) to establish residency. Not too much to ask, right?

@lulu_ma, Hawaii sounds amazing! I would settle with just visiting right about now!

 

[Decision_Decisions]

I think about moving to a warmer climate all the time. I was born and raised in south Florida, lived in Georgia for college, Missouri for grad school and now live in New England. I absolutely hate the cold and the darkness of winter here. But my daughter is here, and I feel very strongly about living in a place where my politics align with the majority of the population. And I like being on or near the ocean. I missed that a lot while in Georgia (Atlanta) and Missouri. So I probably won't move back to the South, although I do think I may buy a second home somewhere with a milder climate (maybe around the Carolinas) to have a place to escape to periodically where the winters aren't so cold and long. And the days aren't quite so dark. But I think at this point in my life, my actual home will remain where it is.

I like your double home thinking! I would love to keep this home and eventually get a condo somewhere warmer to go from like November/December until March/April every year. I wonder if having two homes is as much work as it sounds like...