Cold is relative. Plus, it’s winter, where *cold* happens in a lot of places. So there may be times when it’s *cold* over much of the US. The cold here in the Midwest is usually colder and lasts longer than it does in the South. It is colder still in the states more northern than here, though, so I’m grateful for that!
I’m a native Floridian, but moved away because of job opportunities, and I took a liking to the kindness of Midwest folks, and the change of seasons. I do miss the sunny skies of Florida, though, and the white sandy beaches of the Gulf.
My family often tells me that they would love to live here, but I doubt that, really. They like to see snow once in a while and play in it. That’s the fun part. I don’t think they’d like to deal with it every day, so I understand that.
I’m not sure I could take the heat of Florida for more than 2-3 weeks myself. In the summer, I can go outside here and enjoy my gardens and woods the whole day. So it’s a trade-off for sure.
Thanks for bringing me back to reality, though. I dream about the sandy beaches near Fort Walton. Love that place.
I live in Panhandle FL and yes, cold is relative. We have had some extremes in the past. In the winter of 78-79 we had a week of lows below ten degrees, one night- 3 degrees. In the late nineties we had long stretches of 100+ summer days. Remembering my youth I feel I prefer the climate in coastal Virginia. The political climate there now is entirely too depressive, though.
I was at college in Iowa from 1956 to 1960, but followed my future husband to DC where I have lived in or near for the rest of my life. Except we acquired a small property in Chincoteague, VA and cabin in West Virginia which I have had for at least 20 years. One son married and moved to Miami around 1990 so traveled there regularly in early spring. So a long life and a lot of experience with different climates. First, I think I have really seen the climate change. In Iowa I experienced weeks of temperatures hovering around 20 below. In summer daytimes for a week around 105, with 93 nights and no AC. When my husband’s job disappeared he wanted to return to one he could have in Iowa, but I told him our marriage would not survive the climate in Iowa. It does seem that it is not generally so cold in Iowa these days.
The climate in DC, MD, VA is definitely warmer for the past 15 or more years than it was back in the 1960s. When we would visit our son in Miami we would step out and enjoy the balmy, sunny days. After a week we would go out, laugh, and say, “Oh, my, another perfect boring day.” We avoid the VA beach mostly in the hot summer period, but love the climate there in spring and fall. We go to WV when it gets too hot around DC, and since our son move to PR a few years ago I miss the trips to Florida. Once in the 60’s my husband had an assignment in Jacksonville and free hotel for us, so I flew down. On the weekend we went to St. Augustine, 104 in the shade, cochina shell beach, and warm dishwater ocean. NO, no, no. Anyway, it’s nice to have choices. One of these days I might even make it to PR.
Regarding my Comment #35, my wandering pinkie finger found pp instead of oo for wood fuel.