As the Northeast gets pounded with snow this weekend, I can’t help but empathize. But now that I live in snow-free Phoenix, I can’t help but recall the many things I won’t miss about snow and Cleveland winters.

Here’s Ten (in no particular order):

1. Shoveling. Let’s start with the most obvious. Shoveling snow is back-breaking, miserable work. And even if you have a plow service, you’re still going to shovel something.
2. Troop movement. Not having kids isn’t so bad. But if you have kids, leaving the house in winter is an act of patience. Boots, scarves, coats (sometimes more than one), hats. Much easier to just “grab a jacket” (at the most) and go.
3. Ice. Every step you take in winter is a busted-ass waiting to happen. Got kids? Take extra care they don’t bust their heads.
4. Cabin fever. By March in Cleveland, everyone has turned into Jack Nicholson from The Shining. Insane. And even kids find reruns of Toy Story entertaining for only so long.
5. Chubbiness. Trips to the gym are a pain. Ya’ gotta sport winter wear there, then put it back on while sweaty to leave. So not going is easier. And being outside exercising isn’t all that much fun either.
6. Ice scraping. Ah, warming up your car, brushing off snow and scraping ice off the windshield. Not going to miss that at all.
7. Airport delays. Even more than usual. ‘Nuf said.
8. Germs. Being couped-up with sick people and kids sucks. You long for some extended fresh air but it doesn’t come till May.
9. Getting the newspaper. Having to dig through the snow in order to retrieve the Sunday paper is a mess. And having to put on boots just to get the paper is a challenge too.
10. Driving. Even with 4-wheel drive, getting around in the snow is ridiculous. Slipping around and hoping to get in-and-out of your driveway or a parking lot is painful.

Is there a silver lining to winters in places like Cleveland? Sure. Christmas feels like Christmas, snowball fights and igloos are fun and any excuse to live in flannel for 72 hours has an upside.

But, snow, ice and shoveling it all, yeah, not-so-much.

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