It has taken me quite a while to adjust to living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The weather is difficult, but the landscape is stunning. Whenever I have free time, I head to Falls Park to get some fresh air. I love to shop at the farmer’s market, cycle the trails, take a walk, spot wildlife and get lunch at the Falls Overlook Cafe. The Park offers more than 128 acres to explore just north of downtown. It’s loathed right along the Big Sioux River and features a truly impressive waterfall with a drop of one hundred feet. There is a five-story observation tower that offers a spectacular view. I spend a lot of time enjoying outdoor activities whenever the weather permits. Late spring, summer and early fall are ideal. In the middle of July, the heat and humidity can be a challenge, but I don’t mind getting hot and sweaty. When the winter weather sets in, I’m often trapped indoors for months at a time. I simply can’t get accustomed to temperatures below zero. It snows for months at a time, adding up to an accumulation of nearly four feet. I am unhappy about needing to bundle up in boots, sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves and a wool coat. I don’t like shoveling snow multiple times per day. Any time I want to go somewhere, it’s necessary to devote at least twenty minutes to brushing snow off the car, scraping ice off the windshield and running the defrost. My heating bills are huge. Even though I wear layers of clothes and thick socks and slippers, I continually raise the thermostat setting. I just can’t keep warm. I am so worried that my furnace might quit and leave me without heat during the middle of a blizzard. I have enrolled in a maintenance plan with a local Sioux Falls HVAC dealer that includes 24/7 emergency repairs with no overtime fees.