The picture above is real. It was taken awhile back when we had a 10" snowfall... the second large storm of the year.
Yesterday, I cleared the driveway twice as that beautiful white stuff whipped around. I don't really mind the snow or cold... although I used to hate to commute in the dirty slush that resulted. Now it is just another opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in a different way.One gets used to the cold or the heat. We keep our home at 67° F during the cold months... and seal off unused bedrooms.
When we have guests, we reluctantly raise the temperature.It's not about CO2 or saving polar bears... its about being sensible. As long as one is comfortable, it just seems best to keep the temperature differential between the indoors and outdoors to a minimum. It's less of a shock to one's system going between the two environments... and it does save money [not a bad thing either]. I seldom wear a down-filled coat; perhaps when it gets to 0° F I struggle into one. A few layers of clothing, warm hat, gloves, and shoes and I'm set to go.
Of course, a trip to Florida in the middle of winter gets me sweating when the natives are shivering... but I can get used to that, too.I suspect that our adaptability is not unique among living things. Ducks still hang around our lake cottage when the lake is covered with ice. Those squirrels are active on every sunny, clear day. We are told that nature is the delicate system that will fall apart with the slightest change. My observations... and the fact that life has been adapting to change for hundreds of millions of years... tells me that there are too many people who worry too much.
While it may be hard to get going when the reality of a January day hits you in the face, go out and walk in the snow... it's good in so many ways.
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