In Search Of The Perfect Climate

In search of the perfect climate.

Where can I find it?
What is a perfect climate?
Does it even exist?

Good questions and no easy answers. In fact, possibly impossible to answer. Pretend for a moment that you could live anywhere in the 50 states. Based on climate only, where would you choose? For this question, disregard being close to family, relatives and friends, the economy of the area, convenient shopping and health care and job opportunities.

Would you choose Vermont or New Hampshire? Probably the most beautiful autumn color, but how about the winter?

Think about the mountains of Colorado or Wyoming. Plenty of natural beauty and very pleasant summers. But, how about the long cold winters and all that snow. How about the Central Plains—places like Oklahoma and Kansas? I am fond of that section of the country but consider the blistering summer heat, lots of wind and occasional blowing dust. And, yes, those champion tornadoes.

Upper Michigan or Buffalo? Nice summers but snow by the tons in winter.

Arizona and California Desert? Beautiful country but exceeding low humidity, dust storms and day-after-day of triple-digit heat.

No thanks. I will stay right where I am. I can take the summer humidity and our threat of severe weather. But we have moderate winters and we rarely have 100-degree heat. I admit my selection may be tainted since I have never lived outside the state of Alabama. But, I have traveled extensively and it is always great to get back home. Life goes on...

—J B Elliott


Posted by  
on February 24, 2006, 10:56 pm
I had this conversation with friends not too long ago. I think we came up with Oregon and Virginia as moderate and beautiful places to live.

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Posted by  
on February 24, 2006, 11:07 pm
I have a sister-in-law that lives on the Oregon Coast (Coos Bay) They really like it there.

Virginia's Shenandoah Valley really nice also.

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Posted by  
on February 24, 2006, 11:27 pm
If we're just imagining, why not live in two places...Vermont in summer and AL in winter. Sounds like the best of both worlds. :-)

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Posted by  
on February 25, 2006, 12:10 am
After being around all of this country in the past 2 months, you would get tired ot snow the way I see it. Clevelenad, Indianapolisl, Seattle, Salt Lake City. I am sick and tired of snow and hate it when people come on this blog and do this thing called the snow dance. I bet they would not be doing the snow dance if it was them stuck in the airports....3-4 hours at a time after being on the raod all week, wanting to get home to see their wife and little kids.I say c'mon, bring on the Spring and Winter

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Posted by  
on February 25, 2006, 1:06 am
Funny you should mention Vermont. I spent 5 years there during and after college. I want to move back as soon as career and family allow. I love the summer and falls there. The early spring (Mud Season) is trying, but the snow in winter makes up for it. In 5 years I can only remember being really cold once...somewhere in the 35 below range....

Matthew

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Posted by Dave - Smoke Rise  
on February 25, 2006, 7:17 am
I have heard about the "thermal belts" just below the Blue Ridge Mountains in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina near the SC border which seem to have a very nice climate. They are still elevated above the Piedmont plateau, so the Summers are significantly cooler -- ave. highs in the lower 80's. But the Blue Ridge blocks cold air from the Northwest, so Arctic blasts are modified. That makes Winter temps. milder as well, with temps. below 10 degrees very rare. There are gardeners in that area who grow hardier types of palm trees successfully alongside cooler-climate plants.

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Posted by   www
on February 25, 2006, 8:22 am
I would live to live in the NE mountains of Tennesse. Warm to hot summer and always a some snow in the winter.

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Posted by   www
on February 25, 2006, 9:14 am
That's a thought provoking post. I would like to live somewhere with variety. Somewhere with extreme weather occasionally, but usually moderate.

I would like to see one blizard per year. I would like to witness a tornado, as long as it stayed away from people. A tropical system (but please, no Katrina). Once a year the temp drops well below zero. The summer usually is no hotter than 90, but maybe one day of 110. Low humidity. A long spring and even longer autumn.

Alabama is pretty close, but not perfect.

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Posted by Calvin  
on February 25, 2006, 4:37 pm
I think that the best place to live would be Hawaii because the weather is about the same year around. Always in the 70's and 80's.

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