I'd move back in a heartbeat. Yes, it's cold, but the upside to that is you will always know where your hats and gloves are all winter.
It's a pretty fit city and there's lots of people who bike year round and as a result the bike paths are often plowed before the roads. It's walkable. The lakes Fried cheese curds Great beer Fantastic blues bands that come up from Chi-town Outdoor events year round. Kites on Ice in January is an awesome event for the little ones and adults alike. It has the culture of Chicago but not the crime and crowds. Fantastic customer service. People say hello, ask how you are, and mean it! Diversity. Despite what the other poster said it's not as white as you'd think. They have probably the largest Hmoung population in the country. I worked with and had friends of every race and religious affiliation. I'm white but DH isn't and we never got a second look. Lots of great employment opportunities. Family friendly events. Fantastic restaurants. People who know what a turn signal is and how to use it. Great schools. As desirable as it is to live on the West Side, I wouldn't. In the winter when the sun rises and sets it's lower in the sky and the glare is blinding and causes accidents. Especially when it reflects off the snow and ice. That is a deal breaker for me. |
M
A D I S O N , W I |
Music Art Downtown Isthmus Sports Outdoors Never boring Winter sports Interesting |
I get that the population of Minnesota and Wisconsin isn't like the Eastern Seaboard, but "few people" is maybe is a stretch. Wisconsin's gone somewhat more politically conservative (although Madison isn't as much), that's one. And our winters are ass cold, but it's not like it's -30 from November till March. Winter is beautiful, and life doesn't stop for it there like it does here. The Twin Cities are an awesome destination five/six hour away, Chicago's just three hours away, and you can always fly to Hawaii if you really need a respite. Go Wisco! |
Only reason would be the cold and snow. Otherwise I say JUMP at the opportunity to live in a nice town with much lower cost of living than here. |
People like to bash winter, but there are many great aspects that come with winter. You have all sorts of winter outdoor sports/recreation, scenery of winter can be absolutely beautiful, Christmas isn't Christmas without snow, without winter you wouldn't have as beautiful springs and falls, having 4 true seasons is bonus, and if you love shopping there's more types of cloths to shop for! |
It's cold, the people are very white, but it's a pretty awesome place to visit or live.
The biggest downside to me were the rest of the people in Wisconsin. Never met such picky people in my life. |
It's really far from saltwater.
That's about it. Even winter can be fun. Please stop at the Brat Stop and eat some cheese curds for me. |
I love Madison and would definitely move there unless you are in a state job. If that's the case, then I think a pretty good reason not to move is Scott Walker. |
Um, LOL, no chains. Total myth. Also, kids in WI had far fewer days cancelled for snow than FCPS or ACPS last winter---they know how to DEAL with a little snow there. |
i'm sorry but midwest winter is shit winter. This isn't teton county wyoming winter, or front range colorado winter, or utah winters, or montana/idaho, pac nw winters, or even vermont winters Midwest winters are all the shitty parts of winter without any of the good IMO. |
This is what I was going to say. |
Who cares about saltwater when you've got all those lakes? Lake Michigan is beautiful and has awesome beaches. |
I have to be near the ocean. My very soul craves the salt air. That's why we live in Ponte Vedra.
But, we have friends who just moved from Madison and they really hated to leave. They love it there and are already making plans to move back. Literally everyone I've know from Wisconsin loves it! |
So your saying in Wisconsin there is no: downhill skiing, cross country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, snow fort making, snowball fights, ice fishing, snow boarding, snow tubing, snowmobiling, hill sliding, snowman making, etc. These things cannot and never happen in Wisconsin? |