Paul,

The weather has clearly driven you to madness. I quote: "In reality, the weather in Duluth is fantastic and a great reason to live here ... most of the time."

In fact, the weather in Duluth is horrible - most of the time. I recognize that this is a subjective observation. If you enjoy cold, wind, fog, and clouds then Duluth indeed has fabulous weather.

In mid-July I will proclaim Duluth the greatest climate on Earth...for three days.

This is a good question.  I've lived in major American cities and small towns, and everything in between. One thing is for sure: no place on earth is perfect. Not even California (trust me on this one: I know). The grass is *always* greener. I envy my friends in NYC for all they have available, but they envy me for all that I can afford here. There is a difference. I'm jealous of the perfect weather my loved ones in Calif. enjoy, but they envy me for living somewhere affordable with clean air and no traffic jams.  I think what I love most about Duluth is the sense of community as well as the incredible opportunities here. There is so much going on here, I can't even do everything! My friend, who used to live in New Brunswick, used to complain about how awful it was living near NYC, b/c the attitude was, why try to do anything here in NB, there's so much going on in NYC. So NB was deadsville. I go to more plays, more concerts, more art openings than I ever did in Philadelphia, where I lived for several years. First, no fun living in a big city if you can't afford to enjoy it. And second, I know enough people in Duluth who share my interests, if I go an art opening by myself on the spur of the moment, I'm going to know everyone there, and will have a blast. There are also more opportunities here for children than my husband's and my hometowns -- combined. What a cool place to grow up: you can go skiing in winter w/o having to plan for weeks as I did in my youth, and you can go the beach in summer. There's hiking, there's community theatre. Where I grew up, it might have had a nearly perfect year-round climate, but there wasn't much to do if you did not have a set of wheels. Sometimes, I'm frustrated, b/c I'm a city person, and Mlps is so far away, but I think that distance also makes Duluth so special. We're in this little self-contained universe, and so we can connect with one another so much more. And it is gorgeous. I know a lot of people who live on both coasts, but I live closer to the Big Lake than any of them live to the ocean. Duluth simply is a small town with a big city feel in a lot of ways in a lovely part of the world. And that's why I live here -- though I'd like it a lot more if it weren't so damn cold in winter and if spring arrived in March like it's supposed to.

I agree with Vicarious about Paul, it's Madness.  But before I said that I was going to say "a certain kind of insanity."  

Today at lunch despite the very cold weather, lack of sunshine and blustery wind, my wife said:  "Let's try to live here forever."  And then a conversation about how to handle an expanding family in a non-expanding house.  

There was no talk about the neighborhood problems, the employment pressures, lack of culture, not even the weather.  

Somehow there are many reasons to leave, many, many many reasons (cold, geographic isolation, politically polarized, stagnant economically, cold (again)).   But the reasons to stay, even if there are only a couple, (family, lake, authentic relationships) seem to really trump everything else.  

So we will be staying in this house for just as long as we can, I hope.

To be fair, I live in Duluth mainly for school (University Minnesota Duluth). To be more informative, what first brought me to Duluth is it's very specific atmosphere; it has a very unique feel to it.

Duluth has a climate that is hard to rival in terms of its variety, as well as its extremes (for lack of a better term). It's amazing to take in the power of a winter storm, and contrasted to the beauty in the crisp spring and fall.

I think something that people don't think about, is what Duluth *doesn't* have. Since it's a smaller and more quaint city, it's nice to be able to take in the fresh air, avoid negative effects of larger cities (pollution, traffic, crime, etc.), while still being able to enjoy some of the aspects they have to offer (night life, restaurants, downtown area, historic landmarks).

More than anything, I think Duluth just has a very original character and feel as a city, that I still have yet to feel the same in anywhere I've been.

RE: Madeline: it's: its:

Really? Seriously? Ick. Care to offer a relevant comment on the subject at hand?

I'm fascinated Psychogeographic strands which bind us here. March is a huge component of these. The basement times, the hard times, the darkness in the bluestone. That which smashes us with fury against the cliffs of our own ... er ... yeah, maybe thats just me. I DO think there is something to the Dérive which has brought us here. Compels us to face the basement time, to confront bleak and endless moments, harsh conditions and grim skies with the relish of knowing and planning.

i moved here for "love" and to escape a city i could no longer afford, but i stayed because of the lake. i like cities and the wilderness, and this offers the best of those two--it's the "center" of its universe here, instead of a satellite to somewhere else. i feel no need to travel to the Cities for anything. i like bleak weather, and cold, and fog. i hate the heat, and left Chicago during the heatwave when they were piling the dead up in refrigerator trucks. i need to have woods to hike in, and outdoor places to be alone for hours at a time. and i need to be able to go out and know a few people, and feel comfortable as a loner. there's enough culture to satisfy (as so often exists in university towns). clean air and little traffic make life good. i especially like that every blessed empty lot or park isn't mowed down to the nubbins and that wildflowers grow with abandon. i like that getting involved in a few things means you can know your local politicians fairly well and that there is an active DIY culture. if you are interested in something, getting involved is easy, though your responsibility will be great. 

it helps that i've never had trouble finding a satisfactory job, or living on a painfully small income.

The Lake - and the lack of traffic and comparative lack of big box stores.
The remoteness and the uniqueness.
Affordability.

I think most people live here because of the lifestyle, and people who are here and the Lake.  Some of us, me included, like cool weather.  Sure, I love a summer day, but by August I'm ready for fall.  I love the fog, the clouds, the cold. Mostly, I love all the cool people who have chosen to be here, they've created a culture of arts, sports, and social awareness that makes this a truly unique place.

I also agree with the previous posters.  I just moved back to Duluth, my home town, after 14 years in Colorado.  When I tell people that I'm usually met with a very pointed, "Why?".  Excuse me, have you lived in Colorado?  Sounds fantastic, but in reality most touristy towns and areas are worse than Canal Park in July.  Way worse.  Year round.  Housing is expensive and sprawl is disgusting.  Traffic sucks.  Not to mention people just aren't as nice as they are here.  

I think Duluth's size lends itself to a more small-town feel, but with 3 big universities, there's plenty of opportunity for culture and diversity.  People are much more in tune with local politics and are active participants, they raise their voices and try to make a change.  Sometimes they're heard, sometimes not, but at least they're not afraid to try.  There's something brave and strong about weathering the long winters in Duluth, and I find nobility in that.

What makes Duluth attractive?
Greg Cougar Conley.

I'm not even looking at others comments before I answer.

I came to this city in 1987 from living off & on in Tempe, Arizona. Duluth, Minnesota is a FAR cry from Phoenix. But before Duluth I lived in Eau Claire, Wis., then back to Tempe, then off to Grand Forks , North Dakota.

Duluth, which I called the dull-youth when I was in HS, was really a sanctuary that I never knew. Duluth is the " you can run away from me but never from your fate" city for me.

I lived abroad for a couple years and never thought I would end up here. And if I had not become pregnant by a Duluthian, I would probably not be here. Ironically, the Duluthian sperm-donor moved on. I felt trapped here for so long by him & my situation, then realized that the pull had nothing to do with him. He left, I'm here.

Sure, my family, in addition to my son's family, lives here. But I love THE Lake. If you reading this grew up in desert, you know what I mean.

"What makes Duluth attractive?
Greg Cougar Conley."

word. he's one handsome devil.

Latching on to that snarky and cliquish comment:
maybe we should have a big PDD party this summer?
CB

I agree with Big E. i do not miss those hot and humid North Carolina evenings at all! I love summer in Duluth, it's pretty glorious.