Relocating to a Different Climate

You've spent plenty of time vacationing in warmer weather, so you should be prepared to move from New England to Florida, right? Maybe. But just in case there are things you’ve forgotten, here’s a quick list of moving tips to ease your way into that sunshine state.

• Separate Your Clothes: When you’re packing up, you're entire life to move across the country, a bit of organization is in order. Odds are those winter coats and boots will rarely see the light of day in warmer climates, so ease your way by packing them separately. When you organize your clothes by season during packing, you can ease the move in by pre-allocating certain items for seasonal storage. This arrangement also lets you determine just how prepared you are for yearlong heat, humidity, and rain. Worse than not finding your warm weather clothing is having none at all.
• Bring the Sunscreen: Moving closer to the equator or just into a sunnier climate increases your chance of harmful sun exposure. Examples include anything from minor sunburns to blisters and heat exhaustion depending on your skin type and heat exposure. Be prepared by making sure you get plenty of shade and use correctly applied sunscreen for protection. Invest in hats and umbrellas to broaden your sun protection and slowly increase your exposure from day to day to build up your tan.
• Drink Plenty of Water: Increased heat and humidity lead to increased sweating. Don't worry; everyone will be in the same condition. The only way to replace that vital liquid is to drink plenty of water. Stay away from high caffeine and sugary drinks in lieu of herbal teas and light vegetable waters if you need flavor. Still not satisfied? Try the flavored fizzy water now gracing every shelf. The bubbles don't stop it from hydrating you.
• Remember to Bring a Sweater: This is one of those tips that sounds illogical, but wait. When its eighty plus degrees outside most of the year, everyone has air conditioning, and its always on. That means you're constantly going from ninety to seventy to eighty-five to sixty-five degrees throughout the day. Those drastic temperature drops feel great at first, but after a while, they get quite chilly. It's best always to keep a light sweater, hoodie or wrap nearby to combat that chill. Even better, when you go outside a lightweight jacket or shirt with sleeves can help protect your skin from the sun.
• Keep an ice chest in your vehicle: In many climates, all that’s required to protect your groceries is the shade from your trunk. They might even be safe on your back seat, especially in cold weather. In the heat and humidity, everything changes. Vegetables will wilt, milk will curdle and all during your drive back from the market. If you have to make a second stop, you can lose it all. Most grocery stores in hot climates will hand out free bags of ice with your purchase. Even fast food restaurants often sell bags of ice, so you can stop in and refresh if you have a long drive. Just put the free ice and the groceries into your ice chest and continue with your errands, heat problem solved. 

When you’re relocating to a drastically different climate, be sure to check with your real estate agent about different property needs and tips to make your move easier.