I grew up in SoCal, I never knew until I moved away, but I love having four seasons. That being said, there is a real range in the severity of seasons, I have only lived in places that dabble at snow, some big storms, this location and previously, we have seen many feet of snow and seen long power outages, but most common is 2-4 storms in winter and the left over icy roads and snow are gone within a week. I love the long days of summer, I adore the changing leaves, the crisp blue sky, walking through fallen leaves, getting the garden ready for winter. Snow falling is something I still find exhilarating, it still thrills me (never saw it as a kid.) When the first buds of spring swell on the branches, I love that, too, then seeing the tiny fresh green leaves progress to full dark green, I am content.
But, by the end of March, if the temperature is still in the 50s, I am ready for a break and DH is ready for more sun, not hot, just more sunshine. Over the years since I left SoCal, I have had occasion to spend weeks or months there and it’s still not for me. I find it too much the same, too boring. I love the seasons and if I never have anything, but sun, it does not seem like I appreciate it the way I do now. Maybe someone from Buffalo or Edmonton has had enough snow & cold that they can appreciate the sun year round.
Dog walking in the 50s & even 60s, if overcast, is perfect. A hot day for me, now, is a sunny 65-75.
If only autumn temperatures aligned with my school year calendar so I could enjoy them during the no-classes season! I prefer walking outdoors and only succumb to the gym when the weather is too hot/cold/rainy for that to work.
As a teacher I have a binary reaction to the start of school: part of me loves that I get to go back to the structure and the intellectual discussions, but part of me would be just as well pleased to continue my own unstructured summer explorations of ideas. And both parts of me would be contented to miss out on those bizarre eduspeak things the dean keeps trying to incorporate into our lives…
Though kids are long gone, and my work barely changes with the seasons, I appreciate the new energy that seems to arise in early September. Life feels better organized somehow. However, summer in this climate always seems too rushed. All the gardening, all the outdoor time, all the camping, the biking, visiting, etc is crammed into a few short months and it gets to feeling a little frenzied when working my normal schedule.
Somemom, I loved hearing your reaction to seasons, as I too, came to four seasons as an adult from Arizona and California. I adore the botanical changes, but winter has less and less allure as the years pass. as I live with unrelenting cold for months on end. As much as I want to be the hardy Midwesterner, it is always too cold, icy or slushy for so many outdoor pursuits. And I want to be outdoors, more than anything. In my heart, I’d like to be a snowbird. Someday!
Every year, this lyric ear-worms through my soul for weeks:
“We watched the season pull up its own stage
And catch the last weekend of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced
Another sun soaked season fades away…”
I actually love this time of year when the nights are pretty cool and the days get shorter. It’s a great excuse to hibernate a bit and not feel like you always have to be on-the-go. I also work at a university so the start of the year is exciting and filled with promise. Oh…and college football, pro football, and playoff baseball (maybe) all at the same time. LOVE IT!
Our neighborhood pool closed Monday. Tuesday it was in the 90s/heat index over 100. Just wish summer would stay a little longer, and our pool season were in sync with the weather.
School has been in session for weeks already. I love autumn–leaves, cooler weather, bonfires, etc. Can’t wait for the mosquitos and chiggers to go away. We Iive near a high school, so it is fun to hear the marching bands and cheering crowds from the stadium this time of year. But I dread the shorter days. This morning I had to turn on the light in the kitchen when I got up
I already have my Dawn Simulator Lamp set up, and I’ll be sitting in front of the light box every single morning by October 1. That’s how I deal with summer coming to an end and winter approaching.
I’m wondering if our budget can stand a quick trip to Arizona for some sun in January.
Interesting that what I wrote, as OP, is the opposite for some of you. Some of you mentioned cabin fever in the summer ( I was in Pheonix this summer when it we a 112 or more degrees. I can relate) vs winter cabin fever. The one big difference is the sun!
112 degrees and it is still sunny. Winter in the north, east and mid at least, is grey. The trees are bare and the ground is brown unless covered by snow.
I agree with those of you who said you have to make the most of it. I encouraged my kids to take up skiing. They did, and love it. D1 skied in NY, Colorado Rockies and the Switzerland Alps last winter.
I prefer the good book, fireplace and a glass of wine approach. Luckily we have a gas fireplace. Click and it is on.
Yes, real log fires are preferable. But this way, there is no ash or clean up. And H won’t throw his back splitting logs, We have been there and done that.
Again, getting away to sun for a week in mid winter is very good for the soul.
Having lived in Phoenix as well as the frozen north, I will take Phoenix in summer over below zero. Good point above regarding light, as there is plenty of it in an Arizona summer. You can get outside after dusk and before 8 am on the hottest summer days. I ran, and played tennis in the Arizona summer early mornings. But the best part is, too hot? Drive a few hours north to higher altitudes. From the upper Midwest, warmth is a number of hours away by plane in January. But all extremes become wearing after a time.
I can feel the change of the seasons even here in SoCal. My allergies act up and my house is a little darker but I love the coziness in my home that fall brings. I wonder if we’ll have the usual Oct. Santa Ana heat. Our weather patterns have been so strange. I’m ready to break out my slow cooker!
September is often the best summer weather even though the days get shorter. Just came home from the beach here on Long Island, absolutely gorgeous day, water calmer now that the storms are out to sea and compared to how hot and humid it was yesterday in midtown Manhattan, the beach was a pleasure. For me the fall is my absolute favorite time of year. I love days that are sunny but cool and crisp and there is always the new fall excitement about new shows opening in theater and museums and the NY Philharmonic season and so on. I don’t mind winter except for the grayness at the end in March and into April and if we get brutally cold weather with temperatures below 20 degrees. A cold sunny day in the winter with temps in the 30’s and 40’s is fine with me. I love the longer summer days but hate extreme heat and humidity and the bugs too.
I work in educational sales and with the new school year, there are always new beginnings and excitements, professional conferences start up and it is a busy and exciting time for us.
I am sad because summer is over . I had a good one in many ways , but the house is a little emptier and that always makes me blue. It is still hot and the pool is still open. It’s not that I don’t like fall, I just miss the excitement of summer
Sept/Oct are the best months where I live. The beach is a delight, and it’s largely uncrowded. Unfortunately today was uncharacteristically disgusting (hot, humid). I’m waiting for that beautiful clear air and blue blue sky.
I feel some languors at the end of summer but I just love fall weather and colors. The worst time of the year for me is Feb./March. I get depressed; no festivities to take your mind off of the darkness and the dreariness. Valentine’s and St. Patricks don’t cut it.
As I said in my opening thread, we are about to enter our most beautiful season. But it will be over very soon and then we have grey.
In my neck of the woods, spring, summer and fall is about 6-7 months of the year and winter the rest. The trees are w/o leaves at least 6 months of the year.
So my point is, I am sad summer is over not because it leads to fall. I love fall. But fall is so short and it leads to a long winter.
I don’t get the dislike of winter. Can’t you make a comfortable world inside, away from the elements? Don’t you have enough going on in the life of the mind? Read, sing, paint, create.
I LOVE winter - for a couple months. Love the first snow, love the holiday decor, winter foods, etc. However, I’m ready for it to end by February and many years we’ve had snow well into April and occasionally May. It just goes on too long in some parts of the country. Even if you create a comfortable world inside, its easy to get cabin fever after awhile. Then add in dry skin and other issues winter brings…I can see why its not appealing for many.
To me it has nothing to do with a “life of the mind”. Many people are affected by shorter days, less sun, less time outdoors. There are scientific principles behind it. I find those who do the best with it embrace it by being involved in winter sports.
I don’t mind the heat although this summer has been the worst. When you live here you get used to it, but it stinks sometimes to wait until 8:30 pm for it to cool down to 90 so you can go for a walk. But I love the long days. I feel like I don’t get anything done when it is dark by 5:30. Fall is my favorite with cooler weather, spring comes with allergies that keep me in the house for a couple of months.
My D is in school up north and is enjoying cooler temps. She now has the wardrobe for cold weather. Her biggest complaint is how early it gets dark in winter.
I need to be out and moving around. I do have a rich interior life, but the physical pressure to move (I’ve always been restless and wanting to be moving around-either my neighborhood or the globe, lol), is always there for me. I get stir crazy if I can’t get out and do stuff, and a bad winter day-ugh. I’m like a tiger in a cage.
