When we moved to Florida a lot of people we knew who had visited the state repeatedly told us: "Oh we visited last winter and it was soooooooooo nice." This was specific to the town we were moving to, in particular, and so when we moved here in summer and it felt like we were swimming through the air with 95 degree temperatures and 50 billion percent humidity, I would cling to the thought that winter was only a few short months away and that then it would be "nice." After all, it might be 110 degrees back home, but it was 110 degrees with dry air, which does not feel nearly as unbearable as the soaking wet, instantly coated with sweat heat of South West Florida.
And I have come to the conclusion that we have a very different idea of what "nice" is. I think it may have something to do with the difference between living in a place and visiting that same place.
On Christmas Day the weather man told us it was going to be 85 degrees. Yesterday it was supposed to be 80 degrees and we were going to get .7 inches of rain (and I'm sure we did because it poured). While there was a brief break in the mugginess in November, the humidity appears to be back with one weather lady saying "we have a high pressure system moving in, so it's going to be nice!" in an annoyingly chipper voice, while I thought about throwing my shoe at the television because this... this... is not "nice."
I will admit that I love cold weather. I own skis and a snowboard. I grew up making snowmen and having sled runs through the backyard. Then we'd huddle round the fire pit, which had the snow cleared away, and make s'mores.
I usually love warm weather too. What I actually enjoy, I think, is the change of the seasons, and not the perpetual muggy warmth that has two modes: hot and hotter.
I do now know when Paul asks: "Where do you see us living?" that my answer now includes: "Some place with seasons! Four of them!!!"
More than that, let it be someplace where my yarn based crafting skills can be put to use and appreciated. Who wants a cozy hand knit baby sweater in Florida? Or a snuggly afghan. No one! Because it's just too hot to even think about snuggling up in anything wooly. It's more like year round spandex (swimsuits).
I think it must be different for people who were born here. They seem to be used to the thick heat and are content with the perpetual summer (broken of course, by an occasional tropical storm).
So for all of you who had snowy white Christmases... enjoy the cold for me! Have another cup of hot cocoa and snuggle by the fire! I think I need to go turn the air conditioner down before it gets too hot today...
Personally I hate cold weather. I grew up in warm wet weather. Josh wants seasons.
ReplyDeleteGet me a cold beer while your at that sweetie! Its too hot to move.
ReplyDelete~Thomist
Here in drought-stricken Texas, "nice" is rain, rain, rain! Or even an overcast day for relief from the sun. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteI understand you. I think vacationing in Florida sounds like a punishment...lol. My family thinks I'm crazy but I just don't do well in that kind of humidity. I'm not incredibly fond of perpetual Winter (which it seems like what we have in NorthEast Ohio) but I think I'll take it over perpetual muggy Summer. It's snowing outside today. I'll think of you as I fire up the wood stove in a little while. :)
ReplyDeleteI personally did not enjoy Florida/Georgia when we visited. (We weren't even in Georgia that long, only driving through, and I thought the trees were an ugly color of green). We were there in June of course, and it was so hot and muggy, that it rained every afternoon just to shed the moisture. (It sometimes gets really muggy here in Minnesota, but usually a good storm comes through and that it that).
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could live in the South. Even Arizona was way too hot in the summer. I have an Aunt and Uncle who live in the Mountains, and by 9am it was still over 90 degrees. By afternoon, or if you go down to Phoenix the heat becomes oppressive. It becomes a dash from the air conditioned car to the air conditioned building. It was "nice" there over New Years one year. Us northerners were in the outdoor hotel pool, while we got the strangest looks from locals. It was 60 degrees and the pool was heated so I don't see what the problem was. =)
I feel your pain. I grew up in Colorado, half the time in Denver, half on the Utah border. So I am used to 4 distinct season, and low humidity. God, in His inscrutable goodness, has deemed it right that I now live in the South.
ReplyDeleteI miss the climate, and the altitude, I'm ill-adjusted as a lowlander.
I grew up in South Texas and I love the heat. I just feel more alive when there is sunshine around. I think I appreciated the snowy days more because it was a rare thing in Texas. Here in WA state and in OR it is just a very mild winter. We'll be lucky if we get any snow at all this year. It must be hard to miss the snow and the cold.
ReplyDeleteI can SO relate! I grew up with four full seasons and snow every winter. I love it. I got stuck in the south and while I love the people I HATE, and that is NOT too strong a word for how I feel, the climate here. Hubby and I will be retiring NORTH, where there are seasons, and a really fabulously cold winter. He grew up there and so we are returning to his roots rather than mine, but when we go there it feels so like home to me that I hate to leave. I can hardly wait!
ReplyDeleteI love cold weather too. In addition to the snow and bundled coats and roasts and hot chili and hot cocoa.... there are NO BUGS! I can go out at night and star gaze and not get mosquito bites! I am SO with you on this.
ReplyDeleteI lived in South Florida for over a decade. The only time leaves fell was when our tree got hit by lightning. I used to like 4 seasons. After over a decade there I kind of feel like I've done my time in heat and will need about a decade of cold to balance myself out and be ready for 4 seasons again. I used to joke that South Florida had 2 seasons: Summer's Coming, and Summer's Here.
Those who have lived there a long time get used to the heat. In fact their bodies adjust so well that when it gets to be 65 you'll see them in coats and mittens. I had teachers in school who threw fits at students wearing gloves in class. The human body adjusts over time.
Personally though, I heartily sympathize. My best advice is to soak up the swim time and the beautiful sunsets/sunrises and enjoy as many Publix subs as possible and then rejoice, rejoice, rejoice when you move somewhere with an actual Autumn and Winter.
Yes. :(
ReplyDeleteI find life in Florida depressing. But since this very well may be the only life my children know, I try to button my lip. I would hate for them to love this state and for me to be the one who knocks it every chance I get. Still, I have a girlfriend that I unload to every once in a while.
Oh, and I too miss crocheting. I can't stand to even touch my yarn.