Snow Realism
February 15, 2016
Snowbound house, Montague, New York 1997
FROM a weather forum discussion between a man who loves snow and a man whose enthusiasm for the stuff has waned. The man who wants more snow writes:
Sometimes I have flashes of a life in a parallel universe where I live in a snowbelt region that receives 200+ inches. I’m just wondering if anyone who considered themselves a snow weenie ever got tired of that much snow. I think being born and raised in central Virginia I’m hardwired to appreciate what I get and the rarity of the snow events lends intself to the awe of heavy snowfall. Who here has moved from a sparse snow region to the jackpot regions? After a few season did you ever lose the passion for winter weather? I’m seriously considering a move north once the kids are out of the house.
A commenter from Utica, New York responds:
As someone who grew up in snow-starved South Jersey, I moved up here and it is beginning to wear on me. I enjoy a good lake effect event as much as the next guy…and the big events will always get me going. But up here, the problem is two-fold. First off, snow isn’t sacred. 6-12″ is a nuisance. 12-18″ is when you begin to see problems. It loses uniqueness and special value. Secondly, it snows almost every day here it seems. We’ll pick up 1″ here, a coating there, 2-3″ the next day…and it adds up. The big events aren’t as common as people think. It becomes a pain in the neck though when you need to plan your life around it…shopping today so I don’t need to go out the next four days. You may have plans elsewhere, and they’ll get disrupted because of poor road conditions. It’s a hassle. Like I said, I still love the big events, but the unique regard I held snow to before I moved here has vanished.
— Comments —
Mark Jaws writes:
The grass is always greener on the other side, and the snow belts is always whiter. These adults who pine for white stuff evidently do not have to shovel it.
Paul writes:
Incredible that people love the stuff a lot. I met a member of my new Practice Group the first week of February. He is located in upper Maine. He has a wife and young child (married late). He loves the snow and is considering moving further north to Canada when he retires in less than ten years. He loves the high banks of snow on the roadside. He also thinks about the lower taxes. He is also a Canadian citizen by virtue of his wife.
