Families who move from a warm to a cold climate usually encounter many unexpected challenges. If your family is planning to relocate to a colder region, here are some practical tips and advice that will minimize the difficulties and make the adjustment easier.
The very first consideration should be when to move. If at all possible, relocation should be done during the summer months. Getting acclimated to new surroundings and gradually experiencing colder weather is very important. It makes it easier to adjust to the change of temperatures as one season evolves into another.
Selecting adequate housing for the family should be the next priority. Having a comfortable home that is adequately insulated and heated during the winter months is essential. When purchasing or renting a home, the layout of the home and its surroundings should be considered. Choose a house with a level driveway that will not be a driving hazard during the winter. Vehicles tend to slide on sloping or inclined driveways and snow removal is difficult. Find out who is responsible for maintaining the roads leading to the house. State maintained roads are usually cared for quickly and efficiently during snowstorms.
Check the heating equipment in the house. Electricity, oil, a heat pump or a wood stove heats most homes in cold climate regions. Electric and oil heat tends to be more expensive but is clean and convenient. Heat pumps are usually less efficient but are more economical to heat the house. A wood stove is very inexpensive to use as a heating source. Wood can either be purchased or trees cut down and chopped. Wood heat from a wood stove is usually not centralized and burning wood can be quite untidy. However, a wood stove is independent of electricity and is very valuable during electrical outages caused by ice storms. Ideally, the house should have two kinds of heating options, for example, a wood stove and a heat pump. The chimney of the house should also be checked annually for cresol (soot build-up), and nests.
Plan the family budget to include purchasing snow removal equipment. Snow shovels are needed to remove snow from walkways, steps, and decks. Bags of ice melt and rock salt is necessary to melt away-accumulated ice. Sand provides traction if your car is stuck and ice scrapers clear snow and ice from windshields. Purchasing a snow blower is another option. This handy machine acts like a lawn mower, throwing snow off to the side as it is pushed along. The snow blower saves time and energy but it is expensive.
In addition to equipment, purchase enough warm clothing for each family member. The quantity of clothes purchased should be enough to facilitate dressing in layers in order to trap body heat. This includes good quality outerwear, i.e., winter coats or jackets, boots, gloves, hats, mittens, scarves and warm socks.
It is also important to have reliable vehicles throughout the winter months. Vehicles should be serviced and maintained to provide peak performance during cold weather. Equip all vehicles with flashlights, flares, and an emergency kit. These are handy to have when cars breakdown on the road. Vehicles should also be outfitted with either winter tires or all season tires. These tires are especially designed to provide good traction on slippery roads. If finances permit, it would be helpful to purchase at least one four-wheel drive vehicle. These vehicles are much safer to navigate on slick roads and provide additional safety. All the members of the family who are licensed to drive a vehicle should practice safe winter driving techniques. For example, when and how to use the brake during a skid.
Families usually adapt easier to the sudden change in climatic conditions when they take care of their health. Eating large quantities of fruits and vegetables, drinking lots of water, and avoiding junk food will build your family’s immune system. This is especially important for children, who are more susceptible to colds and flu. Consult your doctor to determine if any family members should receive flu shots.
Do research on activities that families enjoy during the cold months of the year. Families who participate in winter sports or other winter hobbies adjust easier to the cold weather. Some of these activities could include, ice skating, skiing, sledding, building snowmen, animal tracking, winter bird feeding, star gazing and snow boarding. The winter season is also a great time for the whole family to learn a craft or art technique, i.e., knitting, crocheting, painting etc.
Preparation is the key to successfully relocating to a cold climate. Preparing the family before the cold weather arrives will ensure a smoother transition and make the experience positive and enjoyable.
