This is an interesting post.  I usually see the opposite... wanting to relocate to somewhere warmer.  I've been lucky enough to visit the New England states in winter and they are absolutely beautiful.  Vermont, Maine... where are you thinking?  Where do your mom and brother live now?

I'm in southern Mississippi, aka The Deep South. My mom & brother are here too (all of our family is here).

I was born here. I went to the same school K-12. I went to college 20 minutes from my home town. I married a Soldier & the Army sent us to Texas. My husband was deployed several times & each time, our daughter & I , would move back home to MS. His last duty station was in Washington state. We fell completely in love with the area. It's beautiful & generally suits our personalities & lifestyle better. We moved back "home" when he got out of the military.

I've never been a fan of the heat. I don't like beaches during the day in summertime. I don't enjoy sweating (for no reason- working up a sweat is different). It reaches 115 degrees here in the summer with humidity around 98%. It's just sticky. There are always heat advisories warning you to stay indoors. It's no fun.

We were thinking about possibly going back to the Great Northwest...

So nice to read your update, but not nice at all about the stickiness.  It sounds crazy... I may just have to plan any visits to Mississippi for wintertime because I'm just like you - much prefer the cool crispness of our Canadian autumns than the burning heat and humidity of our summertime.  Thanks for the information and I'm happy to read your husband is safe and home and that there will be no more deployment.  I've never been to Washington, but I have freinds who swear the west coast way of life is fantastic.  Any idea of timeline?  Any chance some of your extended family would consider a relocation as well?