r2i forum

Folks - With winters being so harsh especially in the Mid-West and North East, how big factor is Weather in deciding to R2I? Would you prefer summer like weather than harsh winters?

Chime in with your thoughts and experiences (if any). I know we have calculators and weighted averages for various factors to make the R2I decision. Would weather make it to your list and if Yes, how high would it be?

PS: Winter is crazy this year....Folks who have lived or living in North East and Mid-West can relate to this and know what I am talking about.

Source: http://www.weather.com/news/news/new-england-boston-record-snow-tracker
Days And Days And Days of Snow in Boston In the past three weeks, Boston has seen snow almost every day, and more than a foot 3 times.
Winter Storms Juno and Marcus each made the top 10 heaviest Boston snowstorms, all-time.
1. Feb. 17-18, 2003: 27.6 inches
2. Feb. 6-7, 1978: 27.1 inches
3. Feb. 24-26, 1969: 25.8 inches
4. Mar. 31 - Apr. 1, 1997: 25.4 inches
5. Feb. 8-9, 2013 (Nemo): 24.9 inches
6. Jan. 26-28, 2015 (Juno): 24.6 inches
7. Feb. 7-10, 2015 (Marcus): 23.8 inches
8. Jan. 22-23, 2005: 22.5 inches
9. Jan. 20-21, 1978: 21.4 inches
10. Mar. 3-5, 1960: 19.8 inches

In just over two years, we've had three of the top seven heaviest snowstorms in Boston. February has obliterated the previous snowiest month on record in Boston.
1. February 2015: 58.5 inches
2. January 2005: 43.3 inches
3. January 1945: 42.3 inches
4. February 2003: 41.6 inches
5. February 1969: 41.3 inches

For weather, you don't need to R2I, Just move to any of the sunny state.

This year the winter in NE is creating lot of depression. I know one guy who was well settled in Michigan has resigned his job few weeks ago and moving to another state where winter is no so harsh. He said enough is enough. He was not able to open his front door due to snow accumulation.

Chakraan;594607For weather, you don't need to R2I, Just move to any of the sunny state.


This year the winter in NE is creating lot of depression. I know one guy who was well settled in Michigan has resigned his job few weeks ago and moving to another state where winter is no so harsh. He said enough is enough. He was not able to open his front door due to snow accumulation.

Thanks Chakraan. I can resonate with the Michigan guy's situation that you quoted.

While M2SunnyState is definitely an option, it becomes a dilemma if one has plans to R2I in the next couple of years (say 2-3 years). Then is it worth to move twice? Move can be stressful and also restarting all over again (if you don't have a job that can move with you), kids schooling (and setting up a new friends' circle for kids (and us)) etc are additional factors to be considered especially if you are in the line to R2I again in few years.

If the choice is made to LIA, M2SunnyState wins hands down.

Winter weeds out the automobile-clunkers. Many do not start, oil freezes, things get brittle and crack, and when being stuck out of doors with a bum-car and trying a DIY can give frost-bitten fingers. Crime also goes down in winters. Not enough victims (or criminals) wandering out and about. Burglary of homes go down - what if the get-away car (with loads of burgled items) stalls on the road, and a friendly policeman comes by to help, and asks questions ?

There is the myth about the Twin Cities (viz., Minneapolis & Saint Paul) and about Minnesota, that the hard winters keep the riff-raff out of the state. It is a myth, 'cause, Chicago is as cold (sometimes even colder due to the lake effects) and especially windy, and on a number of R-R's to a population of 100000, Chicago would beat the Twin Cities hands down.

Would property values in Boston area come down in spring because of the harsh winters of late ? And the expected flash floods when ice-dams at bridges, make water flow in streams and rivers go haywire .... in early spring.

okonomi;594617Winter weeds out the automobile-clunkers...

Yes. With the clunkers gone one needs to R2I. Jeez. I don't understand the logic.

On second thought, are clunkers = ones that don't like winters?

People are being creative with the snow

Chakraan;594750People are being creative with the snow

Very creative indeed! Looks there are a lot of folks in this camp...recently saw a car with tags 'H8WNTR'....felt like screaming ME TOO!

Schools closed today and tomorrow :)

India is another extreme though, heat can be unbearable. Unless you can afford to stay inside for 5-6 hrs in the afternoon, In AC.

Do you guys think Indian heat becomes even more unbearable especially when you travel from US cold? What is the view of the people who have returned and been staying there for couple of years? It's been 15 yrs since I left India, so I don't know if the climate have become even hotter.

Last April I visited India and I got sick due to heat. I know so many people live there so after a while your body does adapt to the local conditions.

Chicken BBQ --- marinated in yogurt and Rajah Chicken-Tandoori Masala. Smoked for 60 minutes and then grilled at 375+ for 35 minutes. Served with on the rocks Laphroaig. To celebrate such a fine weather!!!

dixit;595221.....grilled at 375+ for 35 minutes....
.....To celebrate such a fine weather!!!

Not a bad idea...I am thinking you meant indoor grille and not outdoor grille....few mins outside in this windchill will give frostbite:)