Moving to Michigan from just about any other state can make you feel like you just relocated to a foreign country. Michigan’s blistering cold, dispensaries on what seems to be every other corner, and unique way of speaking can be quite the adjustment
Luckily, we have compiled a list of seven pieces of advice you can follow to make your relocation easier so keep reading to find out.
1) Get Ready For the Cold
Summer in Michigan totes beautiful 80-90 degree days, filled with sunshine. However, when fall rolls around, you better prepare for the harsh weather that is right around the corner.
One downfall of living near two of the Great Lakes is being hammered with lake-effect snow.
Lake effect snow occurs when cold air moves across the warm lakes, forming large clouds that will soon drop 2-3 inches of snow per hour onto the surrounding region.
Because astronomical amounts of snow are common in Michigan, you must know how to drive and survive in these brutal winter conditions. Additionally, snow days are rare, so be prepared to go to school and work in a snowstorm.
2) Choose an Area with a Lower Cost of Living
The cost of living in Michigan is generally lower than the national average. However, Michigan has a few wealthy cities that come with a large price tag. Ann Arbor, Houghton, East Lansing, Chelsea, and Traverse City are a few examples of cities whose cost of living is up to double the rest of the state’s average.
Almost all of Michigan is just a short drive from beautiful scenery, fun activities, and shopping centers. So, If you’re moving to Michigan, do yourself a favor and avoid the more expensive cities since you will get the same benefits from a cheaper town.
3) Go To the SOS Immediately
What the rest of America knows as the “DMV” is called the Secretary of State office or SOS in Michigan. At the SOS, you can take care of tasks that the DMV would handle like getting a license.
It’s important to know that when you move to Michigan, there is no grace period for getting a state-issued license and vehicle registration. The state expects that stopping at the SOS will be one of the first things you do after moving; otherwise, you will be driving illegally.
4) Don’t Disrespect the Sports Teams
Michiganders are generally considered nice people but, they take their sports very seriously, so if you disrespect their team, they may get mean.
When you move to Michigan, you don’t have to diss your home team by becoming a Lions or Tigers fan. You can still root for your team as long as you don’t speak negatively about theirs. However, if you are from Ohio, don’t come around wearing any Browns gear because that’s an invitation to fight.
5) Prepare to Deal with Tourists
For the majority of the year, Michigan streets are calm and quiet (unless it’s game day). But during the warm summer months, tourists flock to both major, and minor cities like seagulls that spotted some abandoned fries.
Michigan is beautiful and has the best fishing, the best fudge, and the highly sought-after Petoskey stone. Therefore, many Americans choose Michigan as their summer vacation destination.
When you relocate to Michigan, prepare to deal with overcrowded beaches, shopping centers, and parks each summer.
6) Follow the Marijuana Laws
One of the many things Michigan is known for is its quality cannabis, numerous top-rated dispensaries, and lenient laws regarding recreational and medical consumption.
However, many people move to Michigan thinking they can grow large cannabis crops, haul bud around with them and hop between dispensaries to purchase as much weed as possible.
Although Michigan allows for larger purchases and recreational use, the state doesn’t take kindly to individuals breaking their cannabis laws.
Some laws to remember are:
- Recreational users may not cultivate their own cannabis.
- Medical marijuana card holders may own up to 12 cannabis plants.
- Recreational users can purchase up to 2.5 ounces per transaction.
- Medical users can purchase up to 2.5 ounces daily and may keep up to 10 ounces at home.
- You may not consume cannabis in public.
- You may not sell your cannabis or purchase it from an individual that is not licensed to do so.
Not following the rules can result in fines or jail time.
7) Learn the Michigan Language
Michigan does not actually have its own language but a unique dialect filled with slang and colloquialisms.
If you are not midwestern, talking to the natives can leave you scratching your head.
Here are some common terms you should familiarize yourself with before moving to the state.
- Random words are incorrectly possessive when speaking. For example, Michiganders don’t go to “Kroger” they go to “Krogers”
- Michigan is shaped like a mitten, so that’s what they call it. Mitten=Michigan
- A Yooper is someone from up north (above the Mackinac bridge)
- A Troll is someone from the south living under the bridge.
- A Fudgie is a tourist because they generally flock to their state for their famous fudge.
- They drink pop, not soda.
- “Ope” means I’m sorry
- A party store is a liquor store.
Michiganders also like to combine words, so phrases like “did you” are pronounced, “didja”, “I’m going to” is “imma”, and “did you eat” is “jeet”.
