When I was out looking at houses with clients on Saturday we commented on what a beautiful day it was…and it was! …a warm, sunny, idyllic spring day. When it came time to meet some friends for the evening I decided to continue savoring the beautiful day by driving downtown and parking in the Minneapolis warehouse district, where we were going to a site-based dance performance…then walking to meet them for dinner across the river on NE Hennepin.
I had just started driving in that direction when the tornado sirens started shrieking relentlessly. Although I struggled with whether to continue on my path I decided to turn around. I had been home only about 5 minutes when we were pummeled by hail…as evidenced in the photo above…I was very happy I heeded the warning!
What does this have to do with real estate? Well, it has a lot to do with your ‘sense of place’.
I grew up in North Dakota and felt like I had moved to the ‘banana belt’ when we moved ‘south’ to the Minneapolis area. Growing up on a farm in the flatlands where the wind never stops blowing and visiblity is frequently reduced due to blowing snow in the winter, weather was always a common topic of discussion. The immense sky meant you could always see what was coming. I remember standing with my father on the creek bank watching storms roll in and even watching a tornado along the horizon as a child. Can you tell I’ve always loved storms?
Our Minnesota weather can be unpredictable, changeable and challenging at times. It is a key element in defining our sense of place, and it is part of what I love about living here…but it doesn’t fit everyone! I sold a house for a couple this year where it didn’t fit. They were new to our part of the country and couldn’t handle the weather so moved away. It also works in the opposite direction. I was out with a client yesterday afternoon who talked about how she also loves storms. She moved from California back to Minnesota because she missed our weather!
In ‘Finding Your Place…Part 1’ I talked about how sense of place exists on many levels…this is an example of place and location on a level beyond community. If you are considering a major move to a different part of the country it’s a good idea to gain an understanding of that area’s sense of place before making the move…if the location doesn’t fit you there’s not much you can do except endure it or move.
If you’re looking for a new place to live that would be a good fit for you, try Sperling’s BestPlaces…it’s a great place to explore areas throughout the United States. They have an online quiz covering ten different location criteria including climate to suggest places for you to explore.
People approaching retirement or their ‘Third Age’ often think about moving for new experiences…and different weather! Retirement Living TV has an interesting video on Best Places to Retire. They talk about people who have retired to Florida moving out again after a few years. That’s something I have also experienced, with ‘boomerang’ clients moving back to the Twin Cities.
How does the weather relate to your sense of place?
