Lyn, just to add to other peoples comments, winter riding can be great fun on dry but cold days, no to bad in the rain either, but the key issue is good warm waterproof riding gear so you can concentrate on riding rather than freezing.
Riding in bad conditions will probably do wonders for your confidence when/if summer ever arrives, and also means that you won't feel rusty (though the bike may
)
Personally unless you got access to a cheap winter hack bike/dirt bike at the first sign of salt on the roads i wrap the Ducati up in an electric blanket and it only reappears after heavy rain has washed the salt away. Jons comments about his and his brothers bike say it all. Road salt makes a right mess.