[dtennent]

Having lived in upstate NY for 35 years and now living here, here is my comparison.

Northern winters -
1) Looks like a black and white film from November until early April.
2) If it snows, ( or worse yet, an ice storm), while you are away from home, driving can be treacherous. Several times Mother Nature can overwhelm the plow/sanders in the short term. Icy roads can cause accidents no matter how careful you are.
3) While I often backpacked during the winter as a younger man, I am no longer as tolerant to the cold as I have gotten older. So I found myself less active in winter. If you are still active outdoors in the winter, good for you.

Summers in FL -

1) The summers are hot but no worse than what we experienced in NY. The major difference is that we would get significant breaks when a cold front came through. I found that I got used to the heat and planned accordingly with time.
2) My energy bills for the summer are 1/3 of our energy bills for winter up north. We set our thermostat at 78 here and up north we set it at 68.
3) I can mow my lawn in 30 minutes. It seemed like the wind was always blowing when I shoveled snow and it took much longer than 30 minutes.

In the northern winter, we went from heated building, to scraping the windshield then into a heated car, and into a heated building. Down here, you go from AC building to AC car (no scraping involved) to AC building.

BTW, I agree with your decision not to own 2 places in different parts of the country. Good luck.

[Cliff Fr]

Every regions weather has its own advantages and disadvantages. If I were able to financially I would have a mountain house in Tennessee to go to a few months in the summer

[chuckpedrey]

I grew up in East Lansing. I would admire the fresh fallen snow from inside my house but dread the cold when it was time to walk to school. I’ve lived in Florida for 50 years and never once regretted the trade off of cold winters for hot summers.

[DoreenH]

Originally Posted by Coop63

For any of you who have lived through a few Florida summers, and northern winters (e.g. Michigan), how does it compare? Is it as grueling, do you get use to it, or make every attempt to escape north during the summer month?

This is my biggest concern moving to the TV. I have owned 2 properties in the past and not something I really want to do at this point in my life. I don't mind the snow, just the gray and lack of sun.

We are snowbirds from Michigan. I must admit, it's nice to get out of the dreary cloudy Michigan winters for 6 months. It seems like the winters are getting milder up there though. Less snow and warmer days. Still a lot of clouds tho. So, sometimes I think about staying up in Michigan longer before we come to Florida. Coming to The Villages is not always nice either. It's so crowded in the winter, and this year the weather wasn't very good. Overall, I still think being here for a few months (Jan-Mar) makes for a nice break, even if it's crowded and cooler. You wouldn't have to live in the Villages either. Central Florida is a good location because you don't really get damage from hurricanes. And, the weather is cooler than the southern parts.

[coleprice]

Originally Posted by Coop63

For any of you who have lived through a few Florida summers, and northern winters (e.g. Michigan), how does it compare? Is it as grueling, do you get use to it, or make every attempt to escape north during the summer month?

This is my biggest concern moving to the TV. I have owned 2 properties in the past and not something I really want to do at this point in my life. I don't mind the snow, just the gray and lack of sun.

Summer Temps in The Villages (TV) range mostly between the Mid-80's to Mid-90's in the afternoon. The humidity in TV is typically much lower than along the coast, so these temps are tolerable. My wife and I typically golf in the afternoon during the summer because it's easy to get a Tee-Time, but we select courses with plenty of shade to keep things comfortable.

[haugstad6019@msn.com]

Originally Posted by Coop63

For any of you who have lived through a few Florida summers, and northern winters (e.g. Michigan), how does it compare? Is it as grueling, do you get use to it, or make every attempt to escape north during the summer month?

This is my biggest concern moving to the TV. I have owned 2 properties in the past and not something I really want to do at this point in my life. I don't mind the snow, just the gray and lack of sun.

Hmmm...From Minnesota. First summer here the humidity hit us the most but we had to go back to Minnesota in the summer to check on our house up there and it was 104 degrees that day we arrived in Minneapolis. So we find we are fine here.

You can still go out in the summer, may want to do you exercise early morning, wear your sunscreen, eyewear/hat and stay hydrated. Keep car out of heat if you can if not put a sunscreen in the window. I find the breeze here is more prevalent in the summer as well. Ocean is about 60 min away to enjoy in the summer as well. We have so many pools here to keep you cool too. I found it easier to go out in the summer than to deal with the brutal cold and snow up north. We have done more down here in the summer than we have in the winter up north! And it is healthier lifestyle here as well. Other than the few grey days here this winter, it is sunny most of the time. The hubby has almost wiped out his depression just due to the sunshine here and able to exercise everyday outside!

You can always go visit during those months if it gets a bit warm. I would rather shovel sunshine than snow anyday! Happy soul searching!

Best Wishes!

[kendi]

In Florida summers we take our walks before dawn. Last summer was so unbearably hot and humid I didn’t even go out so then so we stayed up North until it cooled down. Previous summers were more tolerable. As far as winter up North, as you say it’s the lack of sun that is the problem. It would be nice to own just one home but at this point the benefits outweigh negatives. Biggest negative in central Florida is the healthcare. They say TV is one of the healthiest places to live. But watch out if you end up with a serious health issue. Hospitals, medical professionals (in general) and rehab facilities are below par. Some much lower. With some of the horror stories we’ve heard you’d think we were in a third world state. It’s the healthcare that keeps us from becoming permanent residents of Fl.

[sallyg]

We moved to TV from northern Michigan. The first summer was a shock. We'd never experienced heat and humidity like that before.You do acclimate but change your routine to avoid the worst heat of the day. The bitter cold, fear of slipping, shoveling snow, in Michigan are worse than summer heat in Florida. I never would have believed it before experiencing it.
The more time you spend in the heat and sun the harder it is to handle the cold and gray - at least for us.

[DoreenH]

Originally Posted by DoreenH

We are snowbirds from Michigan. I must admit, it's nice to get out of the dreary cloudy Michigan winters for 6 months. It seems like the winters are getting milder up there though. Less snow and warmer days. Still a lot of clouds tho. So, sometimes I think about staying up in Michigan longer before we come to Florida. Coming to The Villages is not always nice either. It's so crowded in the winter, and this year the weather wasn't very good. Overall, I still think being here for a few months (Jan-Mar) makes for a nice break, even if it's crowded and cooler. You wouldn't have to live in the Villages either. Central Florida is a good location because you don't really get damage from hurricanes. And, the weather is cooler than the southern parts.

Just realized you wanted to compare Michigan Winter with Florida summer. I guess it depends on your tolerance for humdity vs cold. Michigan does get cold (although less lately) and the skies are often cloudy, but it's beautiful in spring, summer, and fall. Florida is often humid, and it has a lot of windy days. So, if you can stand to sweat a lot, then I suppose the summers would be a fair price to pay for the nicer winters.
In Michigan, you can stay in the house on bad days, and the same goes for Florida. The main difference would be taking care of snowy driveways and having to drive somewhere if it does snow in Michigan. In Florida you have to worry about mold and bugs, but you can control when you have to do something about them.
So, it depends on what's important for you. You should visit during the summer and check it out before committing to a life down here.

[Sherrilee]

We moved from Boston here - and are full time. The first summer was really hot but as a blizzard day you stay in- planned shopping and getting out isn’t as bad as snow as you get into air conditioned areas… no shoveling slipping falling driving is easy— you just change clothes more often!

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by stone8735

You don't have to shovel heat

To the multitude that don't read threads in there entirety, 'you dont shovel heat' reference are duly noted. Smh

In the interest of fairplay, the summers in the north are also free from shoveling....hurricane and tornado debris

[Lottoguy]

I would take the hot summers in Florida any day over the cold snowy winters up north. It's great leaving the a/c house in your a/c car in just your t-shirt and sandals.

[Dusty_Star]

Originally Posted by Shipping up to Boston

To the multitude that don't read threads in there entirety, 'you dont shovel heat' reference are duly noted. Smh

In the interest of fairplay, the summers in the north are also free from shoveling....hurricane and tornado debris

There are hurricanes & tornados in the northern parts.

[GRACEALLEMAN]

I'm a
Florida native can you believe that there's not many of us here in the villages?I lived in portland oregon for twenty seven years and other places around The
World I'm back here in Central Florida in the villages.And I thought I'd never retire Here in florida , it took me a couple years to get used to the heat again since I was born In south florida and was raised here And yes , I do agree that it is just as hot in midwest in northern united States as it is here in Florida.It's not hot so much it's the humidity Out Western United States.There is no humidity.Very little , so it didn't bother me there
You save money by living in Florida due to the tax rates here you go Away for a couple months in the summer of the florida Go to the mountains of north carolina Or outwest where the humidity's not so bad and then come back around the middle of september That's it. Save thousands being in florida Really? We've noticed it always sunny and bright.

[BaileyMom]

July & August in northern Illinois were just as hot and humid as summers can be here. We tend to stay indoors during the day but enjoy going out early evening.

I'll take sunshine and heat in Summer over snow in Winter any day!