Being born in the Caribbean and growing up in Miami, I rarely experienced winter.
I lived in Dallas for ~10-years in the 2000s and it would get down to the 20s in the winter (and occasionally teens) – I hated it and having to put on layers (and gloves; head-covering; etc) and then having to take it all off when I got somewhere (and then have to drag my coat around in a SC and have it smell like cigs – I don’t recall the Dallas SCs having coat check-in) – beside the cold-temps, I hated the gray-skies just as much (found it depressing); in Dallas it would be windy, and at times misty, in the winter, making it even more miserable.
I moved back to Miami end of ’09 – I recall hanging out in South Beach around midnight in late-December and seeing people walking-around wearing tank-tops and flip-flops – ahhh – felt good to be back and being able to leave the house and just throwing on a t-shirt and that's it.
I’m okay but not without issues. My wife is about to lose her mind. Seriously...
Ever since the beginning of December it’s been either raining or snowing, not many warm days so we haven’t been able to do much outside and that’s vital to her sanity. Haven’t dined out since March 2020, haven’t travelled anywhere (over an hour away from home) that wasn’t work related either. I mean I have 2 cars and they’ve been driven less than 4,000 miles combined in the last year!
I have online poker, sports to watch, play an occasional video game, reading, I’ll clean or organize something, she just has work, she reads a lot and watches TV - that’s it. We both exercise but not as much as we did during normal times - during all this we always feel tired and kinda depressed, I always feel lethargic.
Once we both get vaccinated we will take a small trip and will be willing to dine out - but I’m guessing I won’t get it until late March to early May. She gets her 2nd shot next week.
It's bad here in Indiana right now because it's mostly too cold to go outside and take a walk all through winter. Normally I would walk around the building where I work but we are all teleworking from home now. That leaves stores that sell food, since they are considered essential businesses and are allowed to be open. More recently, shopping malls have reopened with limited hours. Last Saturday night I went to a Target store and just circled around the store several times.
This winter has been rough - I agree. Before the big snow storm - and low temperatures hit - I would take my dog on longer walks. It wasn’t as enjoyable as it was in the warm weather - but it got me outside. Now it’s much shorter walks - as there is lots of ice.
It’s early to say it - but I’m hoping March offers a break in the weather.
It has been almost a year since the pandemic hit - and during that time - I’ve dealt with my father being hospitalized (not for covid) and his death - and one daughter going to college. It’s been tougher than I expected to have two very close family members no longer around (one permanently gone and the other away at college).
Working from home is ok, but seeing folks in the office would likely help lift my spirits. I doubt we will go back until late 2021 - or early 2022.
It's been a bit of a bore for sure. Renovating the hell out of the house which has been the savior. Guest Bedroom, Mud Room and now a bathroom. Learned flooring, PEX plumbing, and tile install. My state is pretty open so got brave a few times and went to a casino half a dozen times for a couple hours but, no bars or strip clubs. Did a two week driving trip last September which also gave me a break but, the same precautions and spent most the time golfing, hiking and bicycle riding; not my usual vacation. Being in an essential industry have been working in the plant the whole time; zero time off; lucky in that respect.
5 comments
Latest
I lived in Dallas for ~10-years in the 2000s and it would get down to the 20s in the winter (and occasionally teens) – I hated it and having to put on layers (and gloves; head-covering; etc) and then having to take it all off when I got somewhere (and then have to drag my coat around in a SC and have it smell like cigs – I don’t recall the Dallas SCs having coat check-in) – beside the cold-temps, I hated the gray-skies just as much (found it depressing); in Dallas it would be windy, and at times misty, in the winter, making it even more miserable.
I moved back to Miami end of ’09 – I recall hanging out in South Beach around midnight in late-December and seeing people walking-around wearing tank-tops and flip-flops – ahhh – felt good to be back and being able to leave the house and just throwing on a t-shirt and that's it.
Ever since the beginning of December it’s been either raining or snowing, not many warm days so we haven’t been able to do much outside and that’s vital to her sanity. Haven’t dined out since March 2020, haven’t travelled anywhere (over an hour away from home) that wasn’t work related either. I mean I have 2 cars and they’ve been driven less than 4,000 miles combined in the last year!
I have online poker, sports to watch, play an occasional video game, reading, I’ll clean or organize something, she just has work, she reads a lot and watches TV - that’s it. We both exercise but not as much as we did during normal times - during all this we always feel tired and kinda depressed, I always feel lethargic.
Once we both get vaccinated we will take a small trip and will be willing to dine out - but I’m guessing I won’t get it until late March to early May. She gets her 2nd shot next week.
It’s early to say it - but I’m hoping March offers a break in the weather.
It has been almost a year since the pandemic hit - and during that time - I’ve dealt with my father being hospitalized (not for covid) and his death - and one daughter going to college. It’s been tougher than I expected to have two very close family members no longer around (one permanently gone and the other away at college).
Working from home is ok, but seeing folks in the office would likely help lift my spirits. I doubt we will go back until late 2021 - or early 2022.