Little known secrets of winter living in the east

Little known secrets of winter living in the east

There are little known facts for westerners when roaming or moving to eastern parts of the country.

Sure, during peak winter seasons most folks remember the differences in possible harsher weather conditions here, but only those who are natives in these parts are wisest by ensuring proper body gear is nearby at all times. When we are out driving around, we can honestly spot a tourist or someone new to the area just by the way they dress for the outdoors. Those silly westerners who can't seem to sport a hat and (gasp) a scarf for wrapping around their mouth/nose in a jiffy when weather warrants the swift action for protection in a hurry learn fast. That is speaking from experience folks, an absolute truth!

Stock up on your winter woolens

Frostbite is a little talked about topic here, but with plunging temperatures already experienced for our own family, it happens! And wow it happens all too quickly if any epidermis is exposed on purpose. Protect those phalanges folks; wear gloves or have them with you at all times!

The weather may be colder but the sun seems to shine a great deal to perk up anyone's spirits. Don't let it fool you though because there is hardly any moisture in the air here during these times, and frozen nostril hairs fast become the telltale to the reading on the thermometer. At approximately -20 C, nostril hairs begin to freeze and the entire interior of one's nose becomes frozen on contact with the first breath of air outdoors. Scarf anyone?

While we're on the topic of nostrils, no one told us about the incredible issues surrounding indoor and outdoor effects on the body with the dry humidity. In fact, if you've ever experienced dry nasal passages to the point of painful breathing inside your nostrils, the discovery of nasal sprays is a daily relief from the problem. Buy a case. You'll never regret it!

Oh buy cases of these things before
you literally suffer from ignorance!

Also a relief item due to the same origin dry air problems are dry eyes. One doesn't live here long during summer or winter peak seasons and not experienced extremely dry eyes. There are eye drops to ease the problem of having to blink constantly to "water" dry eyelids and keep from the discomfort lying there. Buy a case! Maybe half a case then...laugh.

This is about a winter season's worth for us :)

Okay, I have mentioned this sweet and mighty helpful windshield washer liquid before. I cannot stress it enough over how living in the east requires gallons and gallons of this windshield washer fluid. I saw this stack and figured - yep, next year that will be about how much we'll need to stock up on just to maintain a clear/clean windshield. Buy several cases folks. You'll cry if you run out....and have to stop on the side of the snowy banked roads to splash the last of your water bottle, or even coffee (!) just to see through your windshield the rest of the way home again. No kidding either!

Enough said; Stock up!

Last but not least today in my helpful hints for those living in the east (or those thinking of moving here), be sure you stock up on many bags of salt. Keep a bag or three in your vehicle for if/when you get stuck anywhere while traveling, or just for the additional weight to assist in hassle free road-weary transportation abilities. We keep several bags in our garage just to be sure we have some handy at all times just in our driveway for the ice build up over time. Don't live at home without it!

Okay, one more final thing. Back home while living in the west we were able to resort to using our garage interiors for added storage of liquid items; car wash and window supplies, yard liquids, huge water bottle storage and so forth. Here no liquid can be kept inside of a garage unless you want it to explode when it unthaws! Be careful what you choose to store in your garage over here; No Christmas decoration or other rubbermaid bin storage of items neatly stacked on top of organizational shelving materials, unless you want mold to grow inside when everything begins to thaw, and lastly, be prepared to replace every single bicycle tire tube in the spring if you leave them on the floor of the garage...and with that, it becomes costly. Be wise and bring everything inside.

We currently have an extra washer/dryer stored in our garage and one of the most helpful hints from the moving company was to fill the washer drum with an entire gallon of windshield washer fluid so it wouldn't freeze and crack inside. It will take two hot water rinses to get rid of it, but well worth additional heartache in the end not to have to lose it in the process. Great tip.

There you go. I hope something helped you out here today or maybe even enlightened you for adding a few items to your shopping list in the days to come.