Expert: David Beckett - 11/13/2006

Question
David,

Thanks for the response.  I love the idea of there being actual seasons, but is there somewhere or some recommendations for actually living in the snow.  The idea of snow doesn't bother me, nor does the cold.  In all honesty, the idea is appealing.  I love Fall and Winter here, I'm not partial to the extreme heat we have.  I guess I'm a bit nervous when it comes to figuring out how to drive and survive in the snow.  Do you guys get snowed in and have trouble getting out?  I just feel so ignorant about what it really is like to live someplace it snows.  

Other random questions I've thought about.  How friendly is the town?  I know there is a lot of culture, but what the population like?  Is it primarily married couples and no singles scene?  Or all retired?  Or all people who can afford to buy a house and renters market is pretty lousy?  What's it like to live there with pets and are there things I need to worry about?  What about other activities?  I've seen a little on things I enjoy.  Seems there's at least one group that does swing music, but are there dance clubs? (more like ballroom or country)

And what are your favorite things about living there?  I know California has a lot to offer, but I would love to live someplace not like here, even if it's just for a few years to appreciate home.  The idea of seeing a new area, new culture, new people, real seasons just seems so appealing, though the idea of moving solo is a bit daunting.  

I have to finish my degree before I'd be ready, but I like the idea of moving late summer, early fall.  I couldn't imagine moving in winter.  I'd prefer some time to get to know the area.  I'd definitely visit before moving, hopefully for a week or two.  Right now I'm more in the mindset to research areas that have a lifestyle that I'd be happy with.

Thanks again, I did check out some of the links and plan to check the rest soon.
Erin
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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hi there David,

I appreciate you being an expert.  I was raised in California (Bay Area), left for school in Sacramento and stayed here.  Now I'm feeling like I'd love to try someplace new, I'm unmarried, no kids (just some pampered cats) and rent my home.  I've been seriously looking at the Northeast, primarily Vermont, followed by New Hampshire.  Don't ask me why, but it just seems so appealing from what I've read.  I work in politics/government.

I have to admit it's a little daunting to consider a move to someplace with snow when it hardly gets below 40 here.

I guess I'm looking for some pros and cons when it comes to deciding whether Burlington (or nearby) is a reasonable choice for me to consider.  And what's your experience with out of staters who aren't used to the cold?

Thanks for your help.
Erin
-----Answer-----
Erin -

Thanks for the question. My Parents live in Sonoma County, so I know you live in a beautiful place.

I'm afraid I'll be useless to you, because I'm entirely at a loss to understand how anybody can do without at least 4 real seasons! In fact Winter's perhaps my favorite of the 6 we have here.

My experience with out of staters who aren't used to the cold is vast. It's true, though somewhat shocking to me: Not everybody enjoys Winter. In fact most people from warmer climes are so disinclined to move someplace with Winter, that I'm forever making the joke with friends that if we had one month less of Winter, we wouldn't be able to afford it here or find room to enjoy Winter activities!

My best advice is simply to visit Burlington. Jet Blue and United fly here pretty directly. You'll find that The Lake Effect moderates the Winter weather here in Burlington enormously. Downtown Burlington is right on Lake Champlain and that gives us much warmer weather than the rest of the State. Burlington has a wonderful European-style downtown with no cars on the main street, a glorious lakefront park, a bikepath that goes for miles and connects several municipalities, and loads of arts and culture. I live in Downtown Burlington and can walk everywhere - to the 1400 seat Art Deco movie palace which has been converted for the performing arts, to the library, the parks, shopping, and the Lake.

Even though I have everything I need on foot, I'm 10 minutes from major shopping malls, and Interstate 89. Boston's 3.5 hours drive, and there are 5 major international destination ski areas within an hour drive of here.

Montreal Canada is less than 2 hours up the road - even going the scenic back way. It's easily my favorite city in the world.

I can take Jet Blue airlines to NYC very easily from Burlington too.

Here are some links for you - Let me know when you're coming to visit!

http://www.sevendaysvt.com/
http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us/
www.flynncenter.org
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

Also - there's a lively discussion about VT and Burlington at www.city-data.com. At that site I post as Chaz Longue. I've written quite a bit about the questions you pose at that site.  

Warm regards,
David Beckett
david@askdavidbeckett.com
1 802 264 1888  

Answer
Erin -
Wow - Your questions are great. Let me see if I can help: (...and feel free to keep the questions coming)
I think you'll find living in the snow easier than you think. People picture weather-channel-style blizzards if they live in more temperate climates and move here. But it's not like that much. It's like that only occasionally. And if you're near the lake (as you will be in you live in The Burlington Area,) the Lake Effect moderates the temperatures and means there's less snow overall to deal with.

Here are some practical things you'll do to make snow easy to live with:
First, you'll just slow down a bit and leave some extra time for traveling when the roads are snowy. You'll leave plenty of space between you and cars in front of you, just in case. Second - You'll leave some time to shovel and clear the snow off your car, and clear your windows. By the time you're done, you'll have a nice warm car too. And you'll be able to roll your eyes at the guy who didn't take the time and is driving to work in a car covered with snow, peering out some mittened-off patches on his windshield!
Every November, you'll take your car to your friendly local shop and make sure your engine coolant is ok, and your battery is holding a charge properly. You'll discuss tires and have the fluids checked.
Believe it or not, I have always used nothing but All Season Radial tires. I don't run snow tires. My wife runs snow tires, but I just use All Season Radials and rotate them properly. And drive cautiously. I taught skiing part time for 18 years - that's 28-35 days a year of driving to and from Sugarbush. From Burlington, which is an hour away. I've never run snow tires. I just leave plenty of time to drive, and run all season radials, on my front wheel drive car.  What do you drive?  

If I lived in the countryside, out a dirt road not maintained by the town, and I had to rely on a private plow driver to clear my long driveway - and the first mile of dirt road to get to Town Roads...that would be a different story. I might indeed be "snowed in" for a morning once a year or so. But major snowfalls like that are infrequent and people tend to be prepared and act accordingly.

I was single living in Burlington until 2 years ago. That's decades of looking for things to do. I've rarely been bored. You'll get a sense of what's to do from the calendar sections of seven days and The Burlington Free Press. No, this isn't primarily a retirement community or just families. There are 5 colleges/Universities here - and an awful lot of graduates can't bring themselves to leave - or move away to work and come back later. Yes -The Burlington area is very friendly. I wish I knew more about places to dance. I've taken latin dance classes, and I know there are Contra Dances regularly. I'm sure there are places to do line dancing and so on, but I'm out of my depth here...Try this http://www.dancevermont.org/calendar.htm

You will have problems renting with cats. I did it for years. I tended to stay put in the same appt because many landlords simply won't take pets. But I'm sure this is true where you are now, too. You'll be able to find a place. But it'll take some looking.
I can recommend two people to talk to, (who handle rentals) who can help when the time comes to visit. For now, the classifieds should help you get a sense of the rental market.

Here's why I love the Burlington area
•   The amazing arts and culture available.
•   The proximity to Montreal (and Boston and NYC, and Quebec City, and Upstate New York, and ...
•   The astonishing variety of outdoor recreation available. Bike riding, skiing, hiking, walking,
•   The unique and wonderful character of Downtown Burlington. The pedestrian main street, the lake to walk to from downtown, the various festivals and spectacles which seem to happen every week.  
•   The tradition of civic participation. We have a citizen legislature and people tend to vote, discuss, meet, and argue. We have Town Meeting here in VT! People tend to know their state legislators, as well as their US house and senate representatives. People tend to vote for people not for parties here.
Plus – we have perhaps the most interesting US Congressional delegation around. You might check out the columnist Peter Freyne in Seven Days. He’s very irreverent about the various politicians, but his column is fascinating I think.
•   The Echo Center/ Waterfront Park/ Burlington Bike Path/Sculpture garden/Burlington Boathouse area.
•   The Intervale
•   The Shelburne Museum
•   Free Concerts in Battery Park
•   The Lane Series
•   The Flynn Center For The Performing Arts
•   The VT Mozart Festival
•   The Burlington Discover Jazz Festival
•   The VT Symphony – the only Symphony Orchestra in the nation created by an act of it’s state legislature.




David Beckett, Realtor, CBR
Chenette Real Estate
1 802 264 1888 (direct to desk and voicemail)
david@askdavidbeckett.com
30 Kimball Avenue, South Burlington VT 05403