Possibly moving to Chicago area...

mpolston

Hello ladies!!! DH and I got married a little over 2 months ago. He had been living in Arlington Heights and loved it there, but moved down to OK for me because I'm still in school. For those of you who haven't always lived there, and don't deal with cold well, how did you adjust? Do you like it there? What do you like about it up there? We're considering moving back up there in less than a year. I'll be done with school by the July. TIA!

aprilbridezilla19

In all honesty, I've lived in the region for my entire life and I'm not used to the cold when it first hits!  Then you get used to it and things get better   It just takes a few weeks to adjust!  If you've never driven in snow or ice, that would be the largest adjustment!

mpolston

We get snow and ice. More so ice though and that is scary business. I was up there in Dec this past year over New Years and I thought it was so cold! But it was so pretty.

aprilandshane

I'm from the DC area and have been out here since college.  I really didn't like walking 0.5 miles to the train in the snow!  Now we're in the suburbs, so I drive to Metra and then walk 1 block from Union Station to work - much better.  I usually am cold all winter - long underwear, good boots, coat, scarf, hat, and gloves are mandatory.  It can be rediculously cold when the wind gusts.  With that being said, summers are wonderful!

jebarrs

You never really get used to the cold winters. You just learn to tolerate them and adjust your life for 4 months until it gets warm again. Winter being 4 months (on average), warm clothese are important, but it's more important to keep your spirits up, especially during January and February, when it gets into negative windchills for days on end and there's never any sun. Get involved in community activities, join a local intramural team, treat yourself to movies and bubblebaths or fun nights out with DH, make sure to keep up a vigorous exercise regimin (use your imagination here)  , etc. Seasonal depression sucks - I've battled it all my life. Getting "sunlike" lamps for your house is a also good idea - they recreate sunlight during the weeks of February and March when you don't see any real sunlight, and the full spectrum of light rays works wonders on the mind and body.

I find shopping to be a great winter to bypass winter blues. Change out a few pieces of your winter wardrobe throughout the winter - get rid of your old boots and get new ones, a couple of new sweaters, cute hat/scarf sets, cozy bright-colored flannel pj's, etc. Brighter colors against the mundane of ice and snow always makes me smile, and nothing up's the spirits like a sexy, cozy winter sweater.