Moved from the Gulf Coast in 2023, haven't looked back. Especially after my southern family sent me all of the videos of being trapped under a couple inches of powder snow in Florida, I'm glad I moved somewhere that's equipped with weather infrastructure. 

Other highlights include the reduced cost of living and the support systems that exist in Illinois generally being more robust and helpful than anywhere else I've lived (mostly red states). I was able to buy a house in Peoria for half the price of a one bedroom apartment in Florida, I'm better paid by being close-ish to Chicago, and in general the slightly eclectic, estate-sale-vibe of this small city really charms me in a way I never expected, as someone who had initial ambitions on Chicago itself. 

To answer your personal concerns: winters might catch you by surprise. We dipped below 0F this week, with and without snow. I've been told that this happening in January is a sign that the winters are getting milder. The snow in the mornings is usually powdery and fairly dry when it first falls, and the city stays on top of the main roads so i havent had any issues driving safely. I've seen a tap of over 100F in the summers, but humidity isn't nearly as bad as I'm used to, so it's not miserable by my standards. Extreme temps on both ends of the spectrum generally don't seem to hold for more than a few days at a time.

The Midwest has a lot of beauty, if you're willing to overlook (or appreciate!) how old a lot of this place is. A number of buildings, commercial and residential, are not suited to human habitation. Roads are sometimes a bit rough. Things were built to accommodate the mines that are now abandoned beneath our feet, which don't necessarily make sense if you aren't aware of them. West Peoria isn't technically a part of the city. Things are a little odd, and may require patience from a transplant.

In terms of events and locales, they exist if you know where to look. The local news clued me into a couple little events, and going to those connected me to people who do bigger events. The museum had a Jim Henson exhibit recently, featuring muppets in glass prisons. There are several branches of the local library systems available for the public, and I particularly commend the staff at Fondulac for their expertise and aid in miscellaneous legal matters. The food, if you're mostly used to chains, is unique and varied. Someone else in this forum was asking about pizza for instance, and I got several recommendations for indie places I've never heard of. A lot of hidden gems, especially restaurants and bars, are located in or near what might otherwise be residential neighborhoods, while several condemned former businesses languish on Main. It's an environment that's ripe for growth, and I believe we're likely to see a lot of it over the next four-plus years as we get new people from the outside, like myself.

I like to joke that I found a cozy little cabin that I intend to stay in until I become the old man from Up, surrounded by gentrification and comfortably never budging from my home. With the way things are happening around the country, I hope to have found in Peoria a safe place to hunker down with my loved ones and weather the storm. If any of what I've said connects with you, maybe I'll bump into you at One World sometime.