[Crowbob]

The Michigan climate is daunting, expensive, uncomfortable and sometimes harrowing. But it's only for half the year.

People who freely volunteer to sit on a block of ice in front of black hole on a frozen lake will also tell you there's tons to do in a Michigan winter. Be polite to them. They are ill.

Others will tout the absurd idea that the benefits of ramming around on a snow-machine a couple months a year is quite worth the time, effort and doctor's bills to live in such an insulting climate year round.

But the pace is slower. The people friendlier. The values deeper. The seasons have more meaning and the challenges are more organic.

Easier it ain't.