Southern Convert?

Okay so almost everyone was hit by this gigantic winter storm that rolled through this past week.  Even Northern Texas got about 5 inches.  What sucks is that being in Texas, they don't think they need plows or salt because, hey it's Texas.  What people don't know is that we get ice more often than snow.  So why my rant today?  Because I was just calculating my running mileage for the week and it summed up to a dismal 12 measly miles.  Of course I couldn't leave the house for four days and I do not have a tread mill.  Anyway, that got me thinking about the future and where we will settle down once my darling husband retires from the military.  PS-it's only 5 years away. 

I've been thinking about moving back to the Chicago land area.  I loved growing up where I did.  It was a small town feel but I could hop on the train and be downtown Chicago in 45 mins and access world class museums and shows and different events.  I loved that.  I want that for my kids.  Also, My brother and soon to be sister in law are in that area.  My kids could grow up with their hypothetical kids and have the grandparents around.  Not to mention the more diverse job market for the hubby.  So those things are really important to me for my family.  However, the winters...  I know I survived them growing up and never thought twice about it when it would snow from November to March.  But living in the South for the last several years has spoiled me.  I love that we only have like two weeks of winter.  Sure I don't have a white Christmas, but I get tulips in the beginning of March.  I can open my windows and air out the winter ick from the house in February even.  And most of all, and selfishly, I can run outside for about 10 months out of the year.  So I think it comes down to this; Either I convince my entire family to move below the Mason Dixon Line, or I just buy a treadmill and take up more winter activities.  Maybe Curling? 

***Note-I will probably post something mid July saying how much I hate the heat and every point I just made about the tulips and airing out the house will be squashed by sticking to chairs and huge bugs.