Sunday, May 17, 2009

Let's Talk About the Weather ...

I hate summer. I just hate it. I know this is an unpopular opinion, that everyone in the world seems to be desperate for the heat to arrive, but I'm just holding onto the cool and comfortable while I still can.

I live in New Hampshire. One season of the year--fall--is a veritable paradise. The mornings and evenings are cool and crisp, there are not words to describe the joy of long walks through gorgeous autumn leaves, and it's just so picturesque and peaceful that I find myself smiling all the time. Spring is much the same (other than I know what's right around the corner, so ...). Winter in New Hampshire is an adventure--snowy, often icy, temperatures averaging in the thirties ... but I've lived here my whole life. I enjoy the winter, even driving in snow. Yes, I think it'd be fair to say that my home state comes through for me three quarters of the year.

Then there's summer.

My biggest issue with summer, I think, (besides the fact that I'm deathly afraid of thunderstorms and we sometimes have a lot of them in the summer) is that it's just impossible to be comfortable much of the time. No matter how cold it is in the winter, you can always put on another sweater or add another blanket and you'll end up warm at some point. Even if you walked around naked in the summer, you'd still be dripping with sweat much of the time ... and there's not much you can do about it.

Yes, we have air conditioning. I guess that goes without saying, or else I'd probably have been assassinated by now since I'm such a witch when I'm sweaty, sticky, and uncomfortable. It's just that I like to be outside, and sitting in an air-conditioned room is just not fun. Expect excessive blogging this summer : )

What bothers me the absolute most, though, is that so many people here in New Hampshire spend the entire winter complaining about being cold and miserable and wanting summer to come ... and then when the temperature starts to warm up, all they do is complain that it's too hot to get anything done. I just don't get it.

So what's the weather like where you live (you can be general)? Do you have four distinct seasons? Which is your favorite? Do you find that most people enjoy the climate where you live? Does it bother you when people complain about the weather ... after complaining about the weather?

16 comments:

  1. I live in the Central Valley (California) To answer your question, it's 106 here today. The plants are wilting, I'm wilting, the grass is already brown. It's this time of year that I have to wonder why I live in a desert, an irrigated desert, but a desert none-the-less.
    It doesn't get that cold here in the winter, seldom freezing. We have fog instead. Spring and fall are very short, sometimes lasting only a few weeks but they are wonderful! Summer lasts from May to September/October no matter what the equinox says.

    Today I'm complaining because I'm not ready but I'll adjust and as long as it gets under 90 at night, I'll be a tolerable with which to live. : )

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  2. The weather here (Hertfordshire UK) caries between dull and frustrating. We get lots of grey, cloudy days: no rain or snow, just clouds. Then we get that apology for rain called drizzle.

    Just occasionally we get to see the sun for more than a few minutes. It has been known for the sun to shine for a whole two days.

    It short, it's grim, grey and dull with the occasional bit of 'real' weather.

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  3. I love the summer (sorry!) I like it when it's hot and you don't have to bother putting a bizillion layers of clothing on. You just grab your stuff, put on your flip flops and go. It's great. It doesn't really bother me when people complain...mainly because I complain about the winter. I like to look at the snow, BUT I hate to feel cold. Sometimes it gets so cold I can't get warm no matter what I do.

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  4. WriterMom--106? You've got to be kidding me!!!!! I wouldn't last an hour lol

    Martin--I love to walk in the rain, so I'd probably like it. I'm weird : )

    Marathoner--As long as you don't complain about being hot after complaining all winter about wanting summer, enjoy every second of it : ) and I'll be happy for you!

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  5. I'm a summer lover. I hate being cold...or even cool. I was in a Las Vegas casino during a hot spell (when it's it?) and as we walked out everyone coming in, said, "Ahhh! Cool!" Heading outdoors, I said, "Ahhh! Heat!"

    This is me: no matter how many layers I'm wearing in winter, I'm cold (thank goodness I live in L.A.!). But in summer, one jump in the pool and I'm no longer sweaty. Of course, I have to get out when I get cold. ; )

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  6. I live in Florida-sufficed to say, I hate winter back home! It's freezing, it's dark, and everything is dead. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the affect that at least 12 hours of sunlight every day has on the mood! It does freeze here (it was 18 degrees the night my furnace broke, for example), but the daytime high will still be in the 50s. Can't beat that!! If you don't like heat, I'd imagine it would be rough here-today was 92 and humid-but it works for me! I actually like being sweaty outside when it's hot. It's like a sauna for cheapskates :-)

    I do have two points of contention regarding your post, however:
    1.) I disagree about your "1 more sweater" theory-I get cold inside my bones, and nothing makes it go away except sitting in the shower for 45 minutes. Then if the hot water runs out before you exit, you're screwed.

    2.) You haven't seen thunderstorms in NH (recalling, of course, that I loved there for 22 years). You should see what the sub-tropics can do! The rain gets so heavy you can't see your hand in front of your face sometimes. The sun can be out all day, and then these storms pop up within 20 minutes, last 20 minutes, and within another 20 it's like the whole thing never happened. I like thunderstorms, so this pleases and fascinates me :-)

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  7. I was born and raised in Southern California, so I grew up with lots of sunshine and my share of scorching heat. Now I live in NW Montana and it's really nice to have 4 real seasons. By the time one is finishing up, you're ready for the next. I love them all -- :) Summer is probably my least favorite though. But yeah, I totally hear you on the complaining no matter what it's like. That gets old real fast.

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  8. I also live in a state of extreme climes: Minnesota. Like you spring and fall are utter bliss for me, but the winter and summer test the limits of tolerance.

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  9. Autumn is the best season of all. I assume spring would be nice too, but I live in Illinois where spring does not exist. It goes from freezing cold to hot in the span of about a week. So that one week of spring is pretty great.

    I can't really hate summer, seeing as I'm a student, and summer means I get to bum around and do nothing. I shudder to think how my life is going to be when I enter the real world, and summer break no longer exists.

    My state has notoriously spastic weather. Having taken a meteorology class this semester though, I seem to appreciate weather more. Also, I love Illinois. I wouldn't rather live anywhere else. Corn is my natural habitat. Always will be.

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  10. To adrcremer: my mom is from MN and I've been there 8 times. I've said that I'm grateful to her for moving to CA because I would DIE! lol!

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  11. Aren't I lucky? I live in the original, Olde Englishe Hampshire! Weather is a life long surprise here, as although the four seasons are well known, they sometimes huccup a little; snow on 1st June, one year; day in February nearly warm enough to sunbathe, another. It keeps us on our toes, but is usually ladylike enough not to go to extremes in this part of England.

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  12. I live in Maine, so I completely identify with your points; and, yes, fall is bliss. :-)

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  13. I am so with you. Winter is by far my favorite season. I do not like to be hot! Somehow though, my husband's job keeps taking us to hot places!! Egypt before and now the Bahamas! Is there a wince smiley face I can insert right here? lol
    (I'm still excited to be moving though... Another opinion most people don't hold with, but I love to move!)

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  14. I gives you another award. Sorry for cheating, but I think you deserve it.

    http://fromelysium.blogspot.com/2009/05/one-lovely-blog-award.html

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  15. Come on now you live in New England, we are a whiney bunch of folks!

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