Things to Consider Before Moving to the U.P.

From someone who has lived in the Upper Peninsula all of his life, I thought I would share some perspective on how it's like living in the northern part of Michigan. And for anyone interested in traveling or possibly moving here - maybe this retrospective blog can be helpful for you. I visit a variety of websites promoting Michigan or the Upper Peninsula, and it's quite often I see people looking into the possibilities of moving to the U.P. For one thing, and it's probably the most important aspect when considering a move to the Upper Peninsula, you've got to enjoy snow and cold. The further north you go in the U.P., the more snow you'll find. Cities along the Lake Superior shore like Munising, Marquette, Houghton, Ontonagon, Negaunee, and Calumet (just to name a few) often experience a lot of snow, thanks to the influence of Lake Superior. We do get an old fashioned snow storm from time to time, but the fair share of snow for the northern counties of the U.P. comes from Lake Superior. During some of our worst winters on record, we have approached and even surpassed the 300 inch snow mark for a season. Now that's a lot of snow, especially for someone not used to being inundated with all that snow! As for the cold, yes, it does get cold here, too. Probably not as cold as Northern Minnesota because we are insulated somewhat by the Great Lakes. Still, don't be surprised to see temperatures struggling to get above zero during the day during some of the worst cold snaps of the winter. So in summation, if you're thinking about a move to the Upper Peninsula, seriously consider whether or not you can handle a typical U.P. winter. By February 1st, you may be so stir crazy that you might head south in a hurry.

So, we got the main climate challenge out of the way (oh yeah, don't be surprised to see six months of snow on the ground before it melts - forgot that one). Now it's onto the next challenge that may inhibit an individual from moving to the Upper Peninsula. You need a source of income. Good jobs here are hard to come by. Unless you work in the medical or educational field, finding a good source of income in the U.P. can be pretty difficult. Nowadays, high tech jobs are becoming more frequent, but even then, you have to do some extensive searching. There's a hospital in just about every large U.P. town, and that's not including the clinics and small doctors offices. So if you're a nurse, a doctor, or anyone else affiliated with the medical field, you shouldn't have any problem finding work here. There are three major universities located in the Upper Peninsula, as well as smaller universities and community colleges. These institutions always seem to be looking for professors and other support staff. The public school systems in the Upper Peninsula are hurting right now because of the struggles of our state. Instead of pumping more money to fund our public schools, the state is continually taking away. So public schools are cutting back, offering teachers early retirement and going so far as to cut support staff. So it is going to be more difficult finding work in the public school system because of Michigan's economic struggles. And the state has even cut funding to colleges and universities, so finding a job at those institutions probably isn't a sure-thing, either. The Upper Peninsula is also home to logging and mining industries - but those industries have also been hurt by the national economic struggles, so they are likely not hiring right now. In today's tough economic times, it's tough finding work. But, there could be a diamond in the rough if you look. If you're able to work from home via a computer or phone, then I'd say it'd be pretty easy to re-locate here. However, I caution anyone who is considering leaving their current situation to fully assess your options and to look at the job market in the Upper Peninsula before committing 100 percent to a move. If you're retired, have a job lined up here, or can work from home, then by all means come on up. If you can't meet those conditions, then re-consider your options.

I really don't mean to be dream buster because I am a huge promoter of the U.P. and everything we have to offer here. It's just that we can't offer everything to everybody. You have to make sure you have all your ducks in a row before you commit a move to the Upper Peninsula. The general population of the U.P. is 300,000 people and we're spread far and wide across this expansive stretch of land. The largest city in the U.P. is Marquette and its population is around 20,000. Certainly no Chicago or Detroit by any means. So, an additional challenge to consider is the U.P.'s isolation. We are quite far away from any major population centers (even Green Bay, WI is considered small with a population of 100,000). Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis are over six to eight hours away by vehicle. However, let's not paint a wrong picture of the U.P. by saying we don't have modern conveniences. We have running water, modern sewer systems, electric, phone, and cell service (and yes, even high speed Internet!). We have paved highways, shopping malls, and big-box retailers. We have everything available that any other location in the country has. Just because we are isolated and there's more trees than people in the U.P., that doesn't mean we're backwards.

So if all of that doesn't scare you, then there shouldn't be anything holding you back! The U.P. really has a lot to offer as it provides a way to enjoy all four seasons. From snowmobiling, skiing, and ice skating in the winter, to the melt of snow and ice and the beginning of nature's re-birth in the spring. In the summer, there's a whole plethora of activities to enjoy, from hiking, biking, relaxing by a beach, picnicking, sightseeing, you name it. And then by fall, the region begins to prepare for a new winter season, but will first enjoy the spectacular fall color that the U.P. is known for. The summer is by far and away my favorite season here in the Upper Peninsula because there's just so much you can do and the weather is typically fantastic. I just love waking up in the mornings, listening to the frogs croak in the springtime, and the birds sing all summer long. During the evenings, the stars shine bright and the crickets chirp loudly. You're basically a short drive to a body of water, a forest, or a recreation area. And really, that's only the tip of the iceberg as far as what the U.P. offers. The Upper Peninsula is a magnificent place and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to live here. Yes, the winter's are long but you do have to make sacrifices in order to live here. And certainly in my opinion, they're well worth it.