The Perfect Location
Frank Watson, Meteorologist
November Weather Feature 2004

I received a call a few weeks back from a couple that are making plans for future living locations. They wanted to enlist my services to help them narrow down a location that would suit their personal climate likes and dislikes. This didn't should like to bad of an assignment until they told me that they are polar opposites when it comes to what each of them wanted.

My grandmother always told me that people are creatures of comfort. When it's hot we want it cooler, when its cool we want it warmer. It would be no big deal for her to run the heater in the middle of summer if the day started off on a cool note, while the rest of us sweated.

The husband in my story, I'll call Bill, didn't mind the cold but hated heat and humidity and his wife, Judy, not her real name, didn't mind the heat and humidity but disliked cold and winter driving. Currently they reside in Minnesota which experiences a wide range of weather extremes. They were looking for a more moderate location.

On more limitation was placed on me, they didn't want to move west, so San Diego was out, but east, preferably southeast. Now you folks living in the southeast are already thinking, well to bad for Bill. My first thought also. If not for air conditioning would anyone be living in the southeast during the summer months? I'm sure our southern friends wonder how anyone could possible live in the frozen tundra of the north.

I inquired about the interest of becoming snowbirds? Live in the south during the winter months and living in the north during the summer. Enjoy the best of both worlds and very popular among older citizens here in the upper Midwest. Their current financial situation does not allow this type of living luxury.

I suggested a few locations in the northeast, for example, Philadelphia. A place that enjoys fairly moderate winters and not as steamy as a southern city summer. Dayton, Ohio also was mention, short winter cold spells, as compared to Minnesota, and summers comparable to Minnesota.

We discussed other location options but they were either too hilly (winter driving concerns) or too far away from culture centers, which they enjoyed.

Honestly I really don't know if a place really exits that would satisfy anyone's needs. Like my grandma says, "were creatures of comfort". Humans, as well as animals, have an amazing ability adapt to their local climate, whether its through technology or evolution. Personally I think Dorothy from the wizard of Oz said it all, "There is no place like home."

If you have any suggestions or questions I'd like to hear from you. watsonwx@aol.com

Frank Watson is a White Bear Lake, Minnesota meteorologist and can be found on the web at WeathermanWatson.com