Surviving a Wisconsin Winter

When people in Wisconsin learn that I grew up in Florida, Wisconsinites all suddenly want to talk about the weather. Usually this conversation ends in some kind of evasive maneuvering on my part. I really didn't have a hard time adjusting to the cold weather. I feel like there are very few people that enjoy the long winters. But, I complain when I'm uncomfortable, which most people do. Anyways, my dearest blogger cousin, Rachel, is moving to Delaware from Alabama/Mississippi soon. I put together a little list of all the things that helped drag this snow-hater through some of the "worst winter"s of Wisconsin. I admit some are obvious, but the obvious needs to be said.

Hats and Gloves

Hats are a smart choice from the moment the humidity is sucked out of the air. It protects the wearer from red, frozen ears as well as dry, crispy hair. That being said, buying a cute hat that doesn't provide ample ear coverage is a waste of hard earned money. (Unless it's a summer hat, but we're not talking about summer here.) What's great about hats is that they work as a two-fer. They can be used to hide bad hair days and keep heat from leaving your body.

Gloves are necessary in cold climates. Personally, I'm not a fan. They make me clumsier with my hands, I lose them constantly and knit gloves absorb water which can defeat the purpose. There isn't much to do about thick fingers making keys harder to find and coins more difficult to pick up. I have found a pseudo solution for lost gloves. I buy them in bright, neon if I can, colors.

I have Lime Green and Bright Blue ISOTONER Gloves

Sunglasses

Don't retire your sunglasses after summer. Snow blindness is real and painful. It's a danger while driving or walking. Sun reflection off of the snow is brighter than the beaches of Destin. And that's pretty darn bright.

Good Coat(s)

I suggest getting a snow coat that is water resistant and captures heat along with a dressy coat that is warm enough for windy days. I do not in anyway advocate buying a calf length down coat. Gram calls this kind of coat a blanket with sleeves and is all about them. But, everyone ages by at least 30 years (cut off at 70) when they put one on. It will rot in your closet waiting for you to declare your sexuality DOA.

Tights, Leggings, Nylons

Long Johns can be stifling and uncomfortable under pants. Tights and nylons can be just as effective at adding an extra layer to your bottom half. They can also be paired with skirts and dresses. It's a good idea to have these on hand, because weather is generally not very stable for months. If it's a very cold day you can put socks over nylons.

Wool Socks

Speaking of socks, Gram has a motto for winter wear, "ABC, Anything But Cotton." She gifts socks for every holiday. She's gotten me into Smartwool socks. They're hella pricey, but fantastic gifts. I just wear whatever I think aren't cotton with my sneakers and grab the Smartwools for leather or rubber boots, because they have little insulation.

Boots

Boots are a must have. I do want to admit that I'm a boot nut. I think it's because I can't wear heels, so I substitute boots for heels often. I have cowboy boots, fall leather boots, fall short boots, and rubber boots. Out of that list only the rubber boots are functional. I use the rubber boots in slushy weather which there is no lack of lately. I also own Keen tennis shoes that I call snow boots. They are water resistant, have thick tread and are well insulated.

I avoid a lot of accidents by not wearing the cute boots through winter. Also, I feel that my nice boots are going to last years longer without salt stains.

Lotion

Each winter my skin threatens to curl up and die. I realize about half way through September that if I don't do something, I'm liable to claw off my legs from all the itching. I've started putting on lotion after showers. My dermatologist says that if you put on lotion within 3 minutes of washing, then you'll lock in the moisture.

5-htp with St. John's Wort

For a little while I was getting the winter blues. I didn't want to be on an SSRI. I felt that they're way too strong for a little bout of seasonal depression. I do suggest that if you start feeling not quite yourself, you can try 5-htp with St. John's Wort. I'm not 100% sure if it's a placebo effect or what, but these things seem to work after about three days of regular use.

Leather Protectant Spray

This will be a small entry. Do buy some leather protectant spray if you own anything leather. It's not so much about snow and wet. It's mostly about salt. Salt will stain and dry out your leather. Thick, hard leather is easy to clean, but with suede you can be SOL.

Emergency Car Kit

Another short entry. Here is a link to an article on what should be in an Emergency Car Kit. You can't foresee a winter car problem; it's best to be prepared.

Blankets Blankets Blankets

Winter is cold. Heating bills can be ridiculous. We have blankets readily available throughout the house. It's just a better idea to heat yourself than to heat the empty space around you. It's ecofriendly and just financially prudent.

Budgeting for MN

Lately, I've been spending an inordinate amount of my free time researching apartments and budgeting for when we move to Minneapolis. A psychological explanation is that I'm compensating for the fact that when we move I lose my healthcare and and foodshare through the state. Which scares the living daylights out of me. On the bright side, if I go bankrupt from medical bills after a horrible accident... I don't have much to lose. Also, with the path Scott Walker is taking Wisconsin down... I'd be losing all that anyways.

I'm off topic.

I figure that I will have $5,000.00 to be unemployed with as of May. (Thank you, being poor enough to get all tax money back.) Now, Jared makes more money than me and works more hours... so even without tax money he'll have equal to or more than my savings. I'm budgeting for the following expenses:

Economy Internet (Provider Comcast): $39.95
Rent including utilities: $550.00
Cell Phone Plan: $45.00
Food: $200.00
Down payment equal to the price of rent: $550.00

Jared and I will split the cost of everything with the exception of my cell phone plan.

Here is the equation I've come up with to figure out how many months we can remain unemployed while sustaining a $1,000.00 emergency fund.

$5,000.00 - $1,000.00/2 = [($550.00 + $39.95 + $200.00)/2]x + $45.00x + $550

Solving for x and rounding down to the nearest month... we can survive eight months while being unemployed in Minneapolis.

It took us two months to find jobs in a worker saturated, tiny town. If we get jobs right away, I'm buying a couch.

I told Jared that when he gets a job with health insurance, we're getting court house married, and I'm living off his insurance forever. The only problem he had with this idea is the forever part. "Why can't you get a job with insurance then I can live off your job forever?" he asks me. If the answer wasn't obvious enough: Because I said so. Also, getting a chemistry job with good insurance is far more likely than whatever I stumble into having good insurance. But, who knows.

So far my plan is to hang out here, make some money, find an apartment in late March/early April. Move out by April 15th. We'll start packing after we find an apartment. We'll job hunt in May. I have a San Francisco trip in May too.

Actually, I have a trip with Britt this week to look forward to. It will be a last hurrah before strangers start asking to touch her stomach in public.

And, if we get jobs soon... I want to go to Disney World. I've never been there before. I think it's right up my alley.

Oh yea, and because we won't be in the middle of no where... maybe my Florida friends will want to visit the Upper Midwest.