It takes a unique sort of person to take to living in Wisconsin. Once you get used to it, you wonder why you hadn’t come here earlier, but it’s understandable that newbies might find themselves a little off-kilter when they first change their address. We’re a special brood up here in the Tundra and life as a ‘Sconnie takes a little adjusting.

Here are a few of the things you have to get comfortable with early on if you’re going to hack it as a Wisconsinite:

1. Fridays are for a fish fry.
Flickr/WBEZ
What started as a Lenten traditional has pervaded the end of the work week year-round. Sure, they're more prevalent during Lent, but you can get some fried cod and potato pancakes on a Friday in pretty much every part of the state. It's might be a Wisconsin stereotype, but it's right on the money.
2. How to pronounce Ashwaubenon.
Flickr/Kendra
And Oconomowoc. And Mequon. And Sheboygan. There's a whole host of other ones, but if you don't want to immediately stick out as an outsider, you have to pick up the lingo. Moving to Wisconsin requires a bit of a change in vernacular.
3. Make friends with someone who owns a boat.
Michael Pereckas/Flickr
Yes you want to be out on the water. No you don't want the costs or headaches that come with owning a boat. This is the secret to your happiness. Wisconsin has 1,100 miles of Lake Michigan coastline. Combine that with Lake Superior and the 14,000 inland lakes and 7,446 streams and rivers and you see why this is on the list.
4. There are two seasons - Winter and Construction.
Flickr/V
This is an old joke but it also rings true. We don't have a lot of warm weather and the harsh winters are tough on the roads. That means any time we're not coating the roads in salt, we're fixing them up and repairing the damage.
5. How to dress in layers.
Flickr/Rianne Lund
Just like the old joke about construction, the joke about waiting five minutes for the weather to change seems to hold true here as well. You'll never survive a Wisconsin winter without some really good base layers and any good 'Sconnie knows you need to be able to shed layers as the sun gets higher. The knowledge you gain in winter comes in handy for fall and spring cold snaps or those days where it starts off at 70 and ends around 40.
6. Your Bloody Mary will come with a lot of accessories - including a chaser.
Flickr/jchapiewsky
We're pretty proud of our Bloody Mary skills up here, so learn how to make one if you ever plan to have folks over to watch the Packer game or if you tailgate before a Sunday Brewers game. The garnish doesn't have to be as ornate as some do, but even the simplest Wisconsin Bloody's come with a pickle, olive and celery. And you're doing to get a sidecar or chaser. Bonus points if it's a pony High Life. The beer is a perfect foil for the thick Bloody Mary. That other people don't do this baffles us.

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7. How to measure distance in time.
Flickr/Ken Lund
Did you know that other people don't actually approximate road trips by time? It seems to be a strange Midwestern phenomenon that has to do with the fact that we probably aren't going to run into hours-long traffic jams. Whatever the reason, learn to understand that Madison is about 75 minutes from Milwaukee and not just 80 miles. We don't use mileage here.
8. What it means to go "Up Nort'"
Flickr/Matt Hintsa
Much like the boat suggestion earlier, in my opinion the best idea is to have a friend or family member with a Northwoods cabin. In the summer, you'll notice a lot of half-day Fridays as folks pack up their cars and head out of the city for the Northwoods.
9. Why we hate Illinois drivers.
Flickr/Woody
This one could well be an addendum to #8. Because it won't just be Milwaukee or Madison folks you see on the road up north - it'll be folks from down south driving like they're still on the Dan Ryan as they "escape" to the peaceful north while making driving more stressful for everyone around them.
10. If it can be deep fried, we've probably already tried it.
Flickr/Gloria Cabada-Leman
And we're not even talking about the Oreo or the Twinkie. Our State Fair has even had deep fried beer.
11. Sundays are sacred, but we're talking about a different kind of worship.
Flickr/MGoBlog
You'll notice a distinct lack of cars on the road in this picture. If you ever really need to get some grocery shopping done quickly, head to the store after kickoff. I wouldn't go so far as to say that things shut down - I'm sure there are some people somewhere in the state that don't watch football. But Packers Sundays are as united as this state gets. The stores are empty. The roads are clear. The Packers are playing. Wisconsin stereotypes die hard.
12. What we mean by cooler by the lake.
Flickr/Cheep Shot
It will only take one trip to the Summerfest grounds or Door County without a sweatshirt before you realize there's a distinct temperature drop when you're within a couple of miles of the Lake Michigan shoreline. When you're driving on I-94 east into downtown Milwaukee with the windows open, you can usually feel it around Miller Park or the Marquette campus. It rarely matters if you were sweating your patookus off during the day - when the sun goes down, things will get chilly.
13. Who makes the best cheese curds.
Flickr/Kriket
Listen - whatever cheese you had before you moved here pales in comparison. Embrace your newfound Dairy State resident status and realize you now have permission to sample ALL THE CHEESE to find out which one you like best. And when you're done with that, you get to try all the fried cheese curds. Welcome! Good decision moving to Wisconsin. Your tastebuds are going to be SO happy!

Did you have to learn any quick lessons when you first moved here? Tell us about it in the comments!

Looking for more unique things about living in Wisconsin? Check out 14 Things Wisconsinites Do That Seem Insane To Everyone Else

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living in Wisconsin

Meghan Kraft | June 13, 2020

Is Wisconsin a great place to live?

Wisconsin is considered a great place to live for its good schools, easily affordable big cities, beautiful natural vistas, and midwestern hospitality. The cities of Milwaukee, Eau Claire, and Appleton remain some of the top spots to raise a family in the United States. You can indulge in hiking, biking, and kayaking during the summer, and the winter season offers all sorts of chilly sport pastimes. The highly-rated schools make Wisconsin attractive to families, as well as the stark four seasons that cycle throughout the year.

What are the worst things about living in Wisconsin?

Most folks agree without a doubt that the most difficult part of living in Wisconsin is the bone-chilling winter cold fronts. If you decide to move to Wisconsin, you have to keep in mind that parkas, snow boots, and wool socks are of the essence. The sense of community is warm though, so if you make good friends you’re bound to make it through to springtime with a hot dish or two under your belt. You have to seek warmth in Wisconsin, but it’s not difficult to find it with such kind neighbors and locals around.

Do Wisconsinites have any strange habits?

Friday night fish fry is a non-negotiable, and wearing cheese hats? Required. The folks in Wisconsin have a few fun habits that are more humorous than harmful, although you may get embarrassed when you’re asked to pronounce words like “Ashwaubenon” and “Oconomowoc”. If folks are headed out of town they’re most likely going to vacation “up north,” and it’s hard to find a Wisconsinite that’s bothered by the snow or ice. It’s just the way life is up here in the good ol’ state of Wisconsin, folks!

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