Mrs.G, where exactly in RI are you, if I may ask? I looked up Providence, RI, it was Z6 with what sounded to be similar lows to here. Are you on an actual island?
I live up in the mountains here, and we too can (and so often do) see dramatic differences in weather between lower lying areas just 7 miles east. In the winter time people visiting or whatever are always so shocked at how dramatic the change can be. It can be just a wintery day down below with dry roads etc and traveling just 10 miles west can put you in what can look just like the Arctic Circle. Roads impassable by car, total whiteouts and two feet of snow on the road.
Your differences from Providence it sounds like are in a good way. If America was new and population density not an issue, I for one, would want to live somewhere exactly like your place. It sounds perfect to me from a weather standpoint. Oh, and I like fog…I find it calming…lol