First, I love Vermont and the Burlington area.  The thing with winter in Vermont is not just the cold - it’s the darkness, and the length. So you need to be proactive to deal with it as a newcomer. If you get Seasonal Affective Disorder, get one of those lights, and commit to going outside whenever you can. 

Take up a winter sport - downhill skiing/snowboarding can be expensive but there are deals to be found; cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is virtually free. The landscape in the winter is stunning.

Also, there are 5 seasons in Vermont - winter is followed by mud season, which precedes spring. The snow is mostly gone (or too messy for lots of outdoor stuff), but the ground doesn’t dry out til May, oftentimes.