I know what you mean about the winters. I lived in down in wells, maine for about 9 months when they experienced one of their worst winters on record. I'm used to southern weather and have never lived any farther that virginia. Man does it suck trying to dig out your car when its covered in 8 feet of snow and negative 30 degrees outside. Couldn't turn a bloody wrench for god sake. So I ended up building the motor in the basement instead of trying to freeze to death.
When I was in maine though, the first week when my car was driveable, before the red paint job, I had 8 squad cars pull me over just to ask why I had the #55 on my antique plates. Turns out to be the county number in mississippi where I registered the car. I couldn't even drive along the beach more than twice in an hour cause they threatened to write me a $500 ticket for some law put into place to limit cruising and exhibition of speed. Being in the New England states sucks for hot rodders, but I'm not sure about the other northern states.