dropbarfan, here in Montreal, it can be -10c or colder and on a nice day, the park in the middle of Montreal (Mount Royal Park, designed by the same guy who did Central park in NY) will be full of people skating, or toboganning or cross country skiing.
as you say, in winter, if you hold up inside, then you just become one of those complainers about how long the winter is, how cold it is, blah blah blah blah and blah.
bottom line, we get winter every year whether you like it or not, embrace it, get out and do stuff, move your arse and get some exercise, fresh air and some sun--thats the attitude you have to have.