Now that it is so cold where we live, we are wishing that we could move to a warmer place. Or, my husband says maybe we could just spend the winter in a warmer place. Any thoughts on this?

Why not? It is pretty common. It seems that our little (second home) town in the snow is almost vacated by now as so many people have gone to Florida.

Is there anything to keep you from doing that?

Moving away from friends and family just to be warm in the winter is a bad idea. For one thing, you then have to contend with airconditioning costs in summer (April-October in SW Florida).

Renting is great because you can go a different place every year, then maybe decide later if you would like to relocate permanently.

By now you've learned what it takes to survive in the place you live and you have friends to help out if you need it. Do you know how to take care of a palmetto bug, or if that little green and brown snake is safe to touch? Where do you go when a hurricane strikes? Does that beach always look like that or is this an occurance of red tide?

I say go somewhere and rent for a season or two. Maybe you'll really fit in and love the area, maybe not. My sister spent part of last winter in Florida. Turned out not what she was led to believe. She is in Texas this winter. We'll see where she is next year.

We moved from Ohio to Florida almost two years ago and we're already talking about moving back north. Definitely go somewhere warm for the winter if that's an option for you and see how you like it.
Various reasons that it's not for us are bugs, heat/humidity, culture shock, if there is such a thing in one's own country, Christmas is the worst when you're used to snow. I could go on but I will say I knew mostly what I was getting into.
Also, the summer is the same down here for us as the winter was up north. We don't go outside for summer in Florida and didn't go outside in the winter in Ohio.
Did I mention the bugs? And humidity?

I agree with ackislander. We head to Southern Arizona in the winter. We did buy a place fortunately when we first started going south. The appreciaton on the real estate has more than paid what we would have put out in rent. Its the best of both worlds - north in the summer and south in the winter.

Tudorprincess, here in Buckeye land, we are digging out from 12 inches of snow & ice and 0 degree temperatures. It is hard for me to imagine giving up a chance to lay on a beach in February. But, you are right, I wouldn't want to deal with heat & humidity in Florida. Truthfully, it was 95 almost day here last summer, hottest so far on record. So, as two 50-somethings with 5-10 more career years left, where are temps moderate to mild most of the year, not blazing hot in summer and freezing cold in winter? We want a town that has decent cultural opportunities, not tremendously expensive housing, decent shopping and airport access. Anything fit the bill?

Aliska- Where are you in Ohio? I'm from Akron. Don't get me wrong, I don't miss digging the car out, driving on ice, and my favorite, going outside and having your nose hairs freeze. But having lived in Ohio for 38yrs. I guess I'm just used to the climate and so forth.
From what I understand the Carolinas, and parts of California are milder than the midwest. Don't go by me though, only lived in two states!

<<...where are temps moderate to mild most of the year, not blazing hot in summer and freezing cold in winter? We want a town that has decent cultural opportunities, not tremendously expensive housing, decent shopping and airport access. Anything fit the bill?>>

I would think much of California...the problem is earthquakes, fires, floods, mudslides...

In 1980, we visited Arizona and the next year bought a building lot in a small town, thinking we might retire there some day. The company I worked for collapsed two years later. After two more years of fruitless struggle, we threw in the towel and left Chicago. We lived happily ever after. That building lot is now worth 10 times what we paid for it. Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. Snow? What is snow? Ice? What is ice? Humidity? What is humidity? Mosquitoes? What are mosquitoes? Ooooo, and baseball spring training begins in two weeks!

<<Humidity? What is humidity?>>

Some of us need more humidity than desert climates provide. Dry air can be highly irritating to nasal and sinus passages.

FYI, most of we Californians have never had to contend with damage from earthquakes, fires, floods & mudslides. Can't say the same for my brother's 12 years total in Pensacola, FL (3 major hurricanes).

We moved from NJ to Georgia 7 years ago and wouldn't go back. The humidity isn't any worse and August is the only really hot month. You trade heating costs for A/C costs. The culture isn't the same, but it isn't hard to get used to. We made a bunch of new friends quickly and still keep in touch with our old ones. I recommend it.

To each his (or her) own. I love winter. I need 4 seasons.

In retirement, that last thing I'll do is move to Arizona or Florida. Buy a mountain ski condo? Perhaps. But never lose winter altogether.

We absolutely have winter here in Florida, just not the same winter as where I grew up in Massachusetts Thanks goodness!!! We even have seasons too, just not the same as New England. Things are changing though as it was hotter in Maine last year than here when I was up there in the summer!

thurstonbb- I must be missing that winter that you speak of down here in Ft. Myers. Now Massachusetts, ahhhh, that's the place to be.

I've had my very closest aunt move to AZ for her last 4 years. I was out there constantly for different reasons. I strongly considered it until I heard the day by day and also "lived" it with her. I'm not saying it isn't wonderful for lots of reasons, but it would never be for me.

I could have had her mobile home for 2 months a year for nothing after she passed. But my sinuses among other things would never let me. I personally know at least 10 separate families that have moved back from AZ and FL to IL.

And the biggest reason why- not winter, not allergy, not culture, but family/ friends. New ones are fine, but they are not as Priceless. Priceless with a capital P. As my youngest son said to me 100 times that year, about 6 years ago when I was deciding about the AZ residence. "Mom, MI close, AZ far. Mom, MI water and green, AZ brown and brown."

He was right. Thanks, Tom. And what I would have done with my Dad's situation being that far? Well, the mind shudders! Where I live, I see the majority living within that reality as well, so moving isn't just about themselves either. My kids felt VERY strongly about it, and I am not the baby-sitting, home help Grandma either.
Video monitors, well it just is NOT the same!

Tudorprincess - I grew up in Columbus, lived here till I was 25, then moved to Chicago for 20 years and moved back. So my whole life has been spent in the Midwest. I've spent 50 years here, but I've also acquired arthritis and other maladies that make cold especially wearing. The weather this Feb. is very unusual for Columbus, more like Chicago. Having to limit your activities, ensuring you are stocked up on groceries, gas, snow melt (salt), is very depressing. Lately, I am beginning to wonder if I suffer from SAD (seasonal afflict disorder). My teenage daughter is suggesting I see light therapy (tanning basically) as a way to combat the winter blues. Think I might look into that!

Aliska- My parents moved to Florida 5yrs. ago and my mom loves it, dad doesn't. My inlaws just bought a house in Alabama and they love it. I guess I haven't spent enough time up north to want to get away.

From most of the people that I've talked to, they want winter only around the time from Thanksgiving to New Years, and then they want spring. Unfortunately, you have to pay a much bigger price to have a white Christmas - 6 months or more of winter.

I also found that it gets just as hot most places up north, just not for as long. Also, because some places don't have a/c, when there is a heat wave, it's disastrous. If it's 105 in Phoenix, that's just a normal day. If it's 105 in Chicago, that makes world news.

So, the main difference as far as heat is the length of the summer season being longer in the south than in the north. What this means is I can take lake swims in October when others are bringing out their fall gear and turning on their furnaces. I just can't see any negatives with that, LOL