I moved from the UK to Ireland. Although it is a damp climate I love it here. On very damp and cold days I can feel it in my bones. I am definitely better in the summer. My husbands family live here and he loves it. It was warmer in the U.K. But I wouldn't move back. It's peace ful and quiet.
I don't work now, but have friends and hobbies that I do on a good day.

There's a lot to be said about the "dry heat." I do feel better here, except when it's cool and rainy, and that's not often. Florida and Atlanta are similar in the summer - hot, very humid and a passing shower or storm each day - plus you get tripical storms in Miami. That's a place I would never want to live, though I do love the water and there's none here. Still, I have the best of both worlds - Phoenix in the winter and Chicago in the summer. Everyone is different. I lovet he desert but I also love Chicago adn all it has to offer.

For me personally, I've found that in dry heat areas (i.e. LV, Southwest states) A lot of stuff for me is better overall, esp with the flareups!

@A myRAteam Member, you have to consider many things. First, consider where you are in your life. You are married. You have kids and grandkids. Are you and yoaur spouse able to pick up and move to a different city? Would you be reitred or would you still have to work?

It was a lot easier for me because I was not married and I was ready for a change. You may laugh at some of this, but I made a list of criteria I needed in a new city. For me, they were - warmer weather, a younger demographic so I could meet people my age, publishing houses so I could find work as a writer and editor, it had to be a baseball city biut further, it had to be a National League city so I could see my Cubs once in a while, there had to be a decent Jewish population and it had to be within a one-day drive home.

I looked at LA, because I had a few friends there already, but it didin't appeal to me as a place to live. I looked at Phoenix, but at the time, it was a much older demographic, unlike today, and my Raynaud's was so bad I was afraid to go from air conditioning to hot outside and then back into air conditioning. . I looked at Sydney, Australia, which I absolutely love, but it would take a weekend just to get home! I setled on Atlanta. It was a younger city, had publishing opportunities, was a warmer climate over all (winters were not half as long as Chicago's and it didn't stay very cold for for than a few days at a time) there was a fair Jewish population and I could drive home in one day.

It was the right choice for me at the time. I found a job and made a name for myself in the writing and editing field (magazines). I made friends quickly, got married, then divorced and after 20 years I was ready to move back home to Chicago, which I did. I was able to see my Cubs when they came to town. My BFF and I would go to games - she is a Braves fan, so it was quite fun for both of us. I was able to live a very full life for most of the 20 years because I had a wonderful rheumatologist who knew what he was doing. If it wasn't for him, I'd probalby have been confined to bed most days.

Forward to today. I really cannot take the Chicago winters, but I lucked out. I met a guy and we've been together 10 years now. We have a condo in Arizona and we spend our winters there - from just after Thanksgiving until Opening Day. What's even better is we both write about the Cubs, so being in AZ in the winter is perfect since they have spring training out here.

I realize not everyone can do this, but if you have the resources, and your husband can take the time, you might want to consider becoming a snowbird, spending a few of the winter months in a warmer climate (Arizona or Florida) and the rest of the year in Michigan. No place is perfect, but at least you can minimize your exposure to the cold. Just a thought.

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A myRAtea...

Yes, I moved to a warmer climate. I was 25 at the time, so also was looking faor a young city and career opportunities. I moved from Chicago to Atlanta. Altlant still had winters, but not like Chicago. I moved back to Chicago after 20 years and the winters were brutal. I am very lucky now that I winter for four months in AZ and spend the rest of the year in Chicago. This year, in particular, my mom keeps emailing and calling me and telling me how much she misses me but how glad she is that I'm not in Chicago.

I did a lot of research on different cities when I knew I had to move. I made the best choice for me at the time. I'm happy to share what I did if you're int4erested. Let me know.