Weather and the shift in amount of daylight are factors that affects all of us differently. There are ways to make the cold enjoyable such as getting outside regardless of weather. Check out this article: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-norways-friluftsliv-could-help-us-through-a-coronavirus-winter

If your budget allows, spend some time at REI or LL Bean and get the right clothes for the different parts of the seasons.

But if you are the type of person that just doesn’t like the cold, the only way to escape it is to move permanently or even temporarily to a much warmer climate area. I do see a lot of Florida plates in CT in the Summer, just like I’ve seen a lot of NY and Ontario plates in Florida in February. Maybe this is why “the van life” and RVs are so attractive to some.

Do what feels right for you.

I’ve lived in Florida and CT. You still pay property taxes in Florida. I can guarantee you that private schools for one child cost way more than the difference in taxes. If you have more than two kids, you’ll pay way more in tuition than you will in taxes in CT.

And then there is the Florida insurance costs.

That’s about supply and demand, not taxes. Miami real estate is insane and unaffordable for most, but taxes are low. What we need in CT is to start building more housing. Too many homes with 2+ acre lots and towns with no industry/commercial activity besides the local supermarket. We need smart development and infrastructure. Housing is unaffordable because we don’t have enough inventory in the areas where the jobs are located. Too many towns that will not approve more housing because “it will change the character”. That’s the whole point. The tiny NE town is unaffordable if nice or an economic backwater otherwise.

Totally agree. I’d like to know what things are paid for by taxes in CT that are private expenses in Florida and Mississippi. Public schools in CT are better funded and most schools supplies are provided to students. Florida teachers (a number that keeps getting smaller) ask parents to supply all supplies, even paper towels, dry ease markers, tissues, even toilet paper. Many FL parents have to send their kids to private schools because the local public schools are so bad. The “Florida Tax” is the private expenses that a state with income taxes provides its residents.