I'm not in the midwest but I'll post anyway. Here there is so much snow accumulated that some roofs are collapsing from the weight of the snow: http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/345354 and snow banks are so high that children climbing them can easily reach electric wires.

I myself am a city dweller and don't even have to shovel because the owner of the building does everything. And I don't have a car and don't have to deal with spinning wheels and stuck vehicle. But as a pedestrian I used to get away with wearing hiking shoes during the winter but this year I always end up with snow getting in my ankles and wetting my socks so I will get myself a pair of Canadian combat boots that are just high enough. I see people wearing cumbersome ski-doo boots around town sometimes and that makes me cringe knowing that a pound on the feet is like 5 pounds in the pack and I would quickly oversweat in them.

But I cope with this never ending winter by going shopping for summer gear and preparedness like fli-flops, bug nets, sunscreen, straw hats and boonies, etc. while everybody is rushing on snow shovels and stuff like that.

Frankie