These winter photos were both taken within a half mile of where my wife and I (with MIL reluctantly in tow) are moving to this year. As you can see, we do not have water shortage issues on the Tug Hill Plateau of upstate NY. This type of snow is tough to deal with, but compared to hurricanes or earthquakes, the snows are predictable and can be 'prepared for'. Besides the snow, sub-zero temps are also possible, with 10 deg F being common. As I mentioned earlier, this weather is a deterrent to roving hoards or lone wolves, since they will die if they are forced to remain outside. We considered moving south, and we looked at Oklahoma, N.C., I used to live in Georgia (military service), and have relatives in Florida; but we decided that our friends, most of our family, and our lake-side mountain camp (in my family for 105 years) were all in NY state, so we will stay here despite the snow and taxes. We have found that about two weeks stay in warm climes is enough to relieve the winter blahs, so that is our plan.
Our new place uses wood for heat (has a 120 acre managed woodlot), and we have opportunities for solar, wind, and micro-hydro power generation. We will grow much of our own food, and possibly grow some for sale at local farmers markets, etc. ('cash' crop). In the summer this area is spectacularly beautiful and has moderate temperatures in the seventies and eighties. It is surrounded by some of the best fishing in the U.S. and has plenty of wild deer and turkey. The winters do SUCK though. The snowfall can be pretty, and it is even fun to to play in the snow, but a person has to be able to survive the winter before one can progress to 'enjoying' it.
Consider the "Bug Out Vehicle" thread - some folks are advocates of ATVs, or Gators, or soft top Jeeps for survival vehicles - now consider that you need to travel in these conditions; how far will the ATV get before you freeze? That is why I prefer the Suzuki Carry micro-trucks as a utility vehicle around the homestead - because they have an enclosed cab and a heater. Winter up here means that you will experience a guaranteed deadly environment for several months a year. It make a hot southern day with 100 degree temps, where you can at least find shade, seem easy to endure.
I frequent Syracuse University, and there are many students from foreign countries such as China, Africa, the Middle East, and South/Central America. In talking with these students it is always one of two cases: 1) either the first winter is a real wake-up call for them, or 2) they have heard of "Snow City" (the name used around Beijing University for Syracuse) and are dreading what is to come when they arrive in the fall. Heaven forbid when these grad students are driving in the winter. Often they have never driven before and they have never seen snow, so it is like bumper cars at an amusement park.
The flip-side of the equation is what the rest of the year looks like. Winter, by definition, brings with it the Spring and the Fall, with Summer tucked in between. The water makes the foliage lush; we just trade the Florida hurricanes for New York winters. The photos below were taken within a mile of where the above photos were taken. The difference is February vs. August. You guess which is which.
