I Hope to Keep My Fingers and Toes
It would be an understatement to say that I am excited about this move to Minneapolis. I am incredibly eager to finally pack my truck and drive to the bitter cold of the North. Actually, the frigged temperatures are the only freaking me out right now. Who would have guessed I would be moving to a place where the snow doesn’t melt until Spring? I stepped outside this morning in Cincinnati and determined that it was indeed a cold morning. Naturally I then found it necessary to check the forecast in Minneapolis.
This morning when I thought it was cold in Cincinnati, it was 16 degrees in Minneapolis. I am in for a surprise. Can you really be prepared for those temperatures? I bought long johns, a down jacket, and a box of little 10 hour hand warmers.
Oh no! What else do I need? I need more cold weather clothes, winter boots, and warmers of every kind. Maybe I will carry around an oil lantern so that I can stop to warm up by the flame while I wait for the bus. It might happen.
What would you recommend for cold weather preparation?
First step: Stop being such a woosy baby.
You’ll be surprised *in your second year.* Once it gets down to 3 degrees, 16 feels almost balmy
Plus, remember, there’s not a lot of wind here. So that helps.
You’ll be freezing your first year, though. At least, I was. But I came from Miami.
Stay in Cincinnati.
Lola! How could you??? Did you not read my response about why I hate Cincinnati???
You obviously haven’t been here before haha. It’s terrible.
I’ll take the cold over CincinNASTY any day.
It’s okay DrewKo… just long johns and face masks along with a gigantic down coat and gloves the size of your face… you’ll be protected from the snow monsters.
Yesterday when it was 36 in Minneapolis (about a 30 degree jump from the day before), people were walking around in SHORTS.
As a St. Paulitan, here’s my short list:
1) Stockpile your favorite warm beverage. Hot tea, warm apple cider, mulled wine? Make sure you have enough on hand so that you’re not trekking outside after dark in need of a fix.
2) Good boots. The snow comes quick and cold. You might as well bathe in these.
3) Friends with cars. You will probably be sorely disappointed by the mass transit situation in the Twin Cities. They’re expanding light rail, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Otherwise, welcome to your new home! We’ll be glad to have you! (Largely because the more of us huddle together the warmer we might feel)
-Matt