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Things I’ve underestimated about living in the Northeast in winter

 

I’m from South Carolina, if you didn’t already know.  Born and raised in South Carolina, moved all over it, lived in North Carolina (the better of the Carolinas) for a period, moved back to SC- but now I live in Vermont.  Why Vermont?  I researched states and areas for about 18 months, visited cities, and Vermont is where my heart landed.  My original .  plan was to move in April when it is thawing out and a bit more warm, however, circumstance dictated that there is no better time than now, and now is when I went and is where I live. 

 

I did my best to prepare for my first New England winter. All I asked for at Christmas was things to keep me warm- thermal shirts, socks, undies, boots, etc.  I’m also a fan of cold weather which was another reason to move here.  I HATE being hot. It’s the worst.  So I packed up all my stuff, most of it in a POD and the rest in my Subaru and on a trailer and I drove 25+ hours to land in my new home. I LOVE it here. It’s beautiful.  The people are more kind.  It’s the change and new adventure that I was seeking. 

 

As with all things in life, there have been some surprises.  Things I didn’t plan for, had no knowledge of, and would like to share- either to help someone else prepare or to give a laugh to someone who has been here a while.

 

1- The first thing I underestimated was the sheer amount of times a day I would change my socks.  Snow gets in your boot and they get wet you have to change them. Your feet sweat in your boots and you change them. You step in a small puddle created by someone tracking snow in and you change them.  I feel like I will never have enough socks for a New England winter.  I came with 5 pairs of nice wool socks, and in my first week bought another pack of 7.

 

2- Although you’re surrounded by water in it’s solid form its dry as shit here and you will need more lotion than God and man can create combined. Also, staying hydrated is weird. Like it’s -10 out and I’m dehydrated?  What?  I haven’t been sweating outside… Oh. But you have and will, and your skin will thank you to drink some more water you dehydrated bastard.

 

3- I have wanted nothing but sugar and fat to eat since I got here.  I have had SO MUCH BREAD AND MILK PRODUCTS that I almost understand now why southerners freak out and buy all the milk and bread.  Maybe I’m trying to put on weight for winter, maybe I’m relating to some mammalian instinct long forgotten and preparing for hibernation; I don’t know.  But I have to remember to eat fruits and veggies bc all I want is bread and fat.

 

4- Once it is past a certain point of cold it feels no different.  8 degrees feels no different from -20 really, except your nose hairs freeze faster.

 

5- They are winter experts here because they have to be.  We got two feet of snow in 36 hours and not once did I ever see an accumulation of snow in the road.  The plow comes by every few hours and it’s done! I knew life went on in snow, unlike in the south, but I’m still impressed.

 

6- Your car will need cold weather everything.  Yeah, I put in the -20 antifreeze and washer fluid, but did you know you need cold weather clutch and brake fluid?  Bc I didn’t.

 

7- Fuck your favorite shoes they are now whatever boots are the easiest to put on and take off and are waterproof. I never thought my muck boots for my chickens would be my favorite shoes but here I am. Also, wear your pants OVER your boots. Unlike in the south where we wear our pants inside our boots to keep out drafts, wearing your pants inside your boots in Vermont will result in stepping in snow that is over the height of your boot and fill your boot with snow and now you have to change your socks again.

 

That’s about it for my list of moving to New England in winter. I’m sure I’ll write another piece on the differences between living here and SC, and of course some adventure blogs, but so far I’ve only been here two weeks and these are my discoveries. Be well! And buy more socks. Seriously.