Middle of the state is absolutely gorgeous. Like breathtakingly beautiful. You don't ever want to speed in Wisconsin, so that sucks if you have a lead foot like me. Like anywhere, political leaning is going to be split pretty evenly across the state - more liberal in the big cities, more conservative in the rural areas. I will say I've met some darn nice people in rural WI, though.
Presuming weather is tolerable, beer gets a thumbs up, and Packers are not going to ever be acceptable, but good-natured ribbing is super, what is the political situation like for people who are strongly liberal?
I am pretty liberal and I live in a very conservative part of the state. Around election time you see a lot of signs for conservatives, but it's not like I'm run out of town or anything.
I grew up in a super small town in Wisconsin (my graduating class was about 40) and have lived in a few different cities. Madison is the most liberal.
I will say when all of the stuff with Scott Walker started happening there were still alot of people in my area who thought he was wrong and tried to get petitions signed, etc. So, it isn't like there are no other liberals around and there are a lot of conservatives who thought he was wrong too.
I am forming strong opinions about posters based on their perceptions of the homeland. ::insert a heavenly ray descending upon the state as angels sing::
Post by RoxMonster on Jul 27, 2014 21:00:30 GMT -5
I live in IL and have visited southern WI many times; BIL and g/f also live near Milwaukee.
I can really only answer about that part of the state, but like others have said: good food, good beer (according to H), festivals & music, lots of outdoor activities (biking, hiking, and so forth), a really good state fair!, close to Chicago
Winters are horrible in the Midwest, but I just live for spring, summer, and fall.
I can only see myself living here or back near Chicago. I've spent most of my life in WI.
Pros for me. Traffic is not horrendous where I am. I can reach Milwaukee in under a hour and Chicago in 2.5. Lots of stuff to do in Milwaukee and plenty of festivals. Lots of space and community. I could realistically purchase a home here sooner than in the area of IL I was in. Great food in my area. Living near the lake.
Con: winter. Even more so because this past winter was one of the worst. But summer usually makes up for it.
I'm obviously only familiar with the Lake Michigan side of the state. Now that I'm back in the area my plan is to try and do more in Madison too.
Bottom line, WI is awesome. You just have to be able to make it through the winters. The farther north you go, the longer they last and the more snow you get.
Post by sillygoosegirl on Jul 27, 2014 21:49:11 GMT -5
I loved the people and the cheese. I especially loved and miss the contra dance community there, and the Folklore Village. I couldn't go to the farmers market in Madison without running into someone I knew, which I know weirds some people out, but I consider it a plus.
I hated the winters and my job (big employer in/near Madison who shall remain nameless).
Of the four places I've lived in my life, I lived in Wisconsin for the shortest amount of time, and I've always been stinking proud of having been born in Oregon. So I was surprised when I moved back to Oregon I found myself telling people I was from Wisconsin and missed it. If I wanted to live in the Midwest again (and I really, really don't), I'd go back to Wisconsin, no question.
The streets will be clean 90% of the time. But it can just be so cold and when you look out your window at the mounds of snow it can be a bit difficult. The only good thing is that most of the time it's really sunny.
The streets will be clean 90% of the time. But it can just be so cold and when you look out your window at the mounds of snow it can be a bit difficult. The only good thing is that most of the time it's really sunny.
I compared the two cities and the snow is comparable.
The streets will be clean 90% of the time. But it can just be so cold and when you look out your window at the mounds of snow it can be a bit difficult. The only good thing is that most of the time it's really sunny.
I compared the two cities and the snow is comparable.
But it's a fuckload colder there.
It's really all about how cold it can be.
And I don't know how Boston is. But usually in Chicago it will melt and you can see the dead grass for a bit. In WI it just piles and piles up. No chance for a thaw. So while the snowfall might be similar it can be a bit different.
My new car has a heated steering wheel. This coming winter will be my first testing it out. Hope it helps. Haha
I compared the two cities and the snow is comparable.
But it's a fuckload colder there.
It's really all about how cold it can be.
And I don't know how Boston is. But usually in Chicago it will melt and you can see the dead grass for a bit. In WI it just piles and piles up. No chance for a thaw. So while the snowfall might be similar it can be a bit different.
My new car has a heated steering wheel. This coming winter will be my first testing it out. Hope it helps. Haha
Winters are horrible in the Midwest, but I just live for spring, summer, and fall.
Truth, just the way it is, I want to go to Wisconsin now after reading this post. Grew up in NW Ohio and now live in Georgia. But trust me, there are plenty of things I don't like about Georgia--just none include the weather. I really didn't like the gray winters in the midwest--they are worse than the snow and cold.
We just recently added WI to our very short list of places we're considering for our next (& hopefully final) move. This post solidifies my feelings that it would be a good move for us. Thanks to all who have shared!
We have family waaaaaay up north. It's gorgeous, it's a slow life, and it's like a completely different world. I love visiting, but don't think we'd like living there.
Winters really suck where we live now. Even though we're further south the jet stream & lake effect make it colder here. Not seeing any sign of grass (no matter how dead!) for months on end sucks...but 75-80 degree summer days with low humidity and hardly a cloud in the sky balance it out!
And I don't know how Boston is. But usually in Chicago it will melt and you can see the dead grass for a bit. In WI it just piles and piles up. No chance for a thaw. So while the snowfall might be similar it can be a bit different.
My new car has a heated steering wheel. This coming winter will be my first testing it out. Hope it helps. Haha
This is a very good point.
It actually depends on the winter and where in the state you live. There are winters that it melts and then comes back. There are winters that it doesn't snow until after Christmas. The year we got married the winter was not bad. We got married in February and the day we got married it was 60 degrees out. But, there are also winters that it blizzards a lot and there is a ton of snow and it seems to last forever. This last winter was one of the bad ones, but we all made it through. You tend to get used to it.
It actually depends on the winter and where in the state you live. There are winters that it melts and then comes back. There are winters that it doesn't snow until after Christmas. The year we got married the winter was not bad. We got married in February and the day we got married it was 60 degrees out. But, there are also winters that it blizzards a lot and there is a ton of snow and it seems to last forever. This last winter was one of the bad ones, but we all made it through. You tend to get used to it.
Yes it really is hit or miss in that aspect. Few okay winters, normal, above average temps, and than the deep freeze year.
I LOVE WI. Both DH and I were born and raised there and moved out to the DC area for jobs. We are on the 5 year plan to sell our house and move back to WI.
You get used to the winter months - it's not THAT bad. Yes, it's cold so you just have to add a few layers on. The summer is wonderful - it's more spring like and not that humid. The one thing I've noticed is that people in WI tend be nicer to others. Even little things like holding a door open for someone walking in behind you. Depending on where you are now it's also a slower pace of life. People aren't as rushed. Rush hour is nothing. The festivals in summer are awesome - summerfest, all the nationalilty fests, state fair etc.