John:
That's one FUN THING about beekeeping, you can actually do the hobby Virtually (in a mannor of speaking) by watching the cycle of posts here in the forum, you know when people ORDER, INSTALL, INSPECT, TREAT, HARVEST HONEY, ETC.. You get to compare OTHER climates to your own, both normal and extreme seasonal variations - and even if you only keep bees a season or two, the urge to get back is the hobby is almost irrestible once you see a beautiful long blossoming Spring and know that you could have had a great prolific growth in your hive, etc..
Have fun here, check out the other forums too - lots to occupy your time besides bee stuff, I'm into the Zen part of our existance and enjoy pondering the meaning of life both here and likely else where in this big-old Universe we are so blessed to be a part of :)
Again, welcome.