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I’m cold. And I’m miserable. For decades, people have been telling me, and I’ve been accepting, that a Chicago winter “builds character.” After 20+ years, I’m calling bullshit.
Here, the theory goes, we are such hearty stock that we can get through a six-month period of cold, gray weather and come out the other end as stronger, better people. Twenty-some years later, I am not only not stronger and better, I am a weak wreck, a cold, dry, pale, whiny, worse person all around.
I’ve bought the character-building BS for so long that I’ve even taken to booking cold-weather locales for my January getaways. Russia, Estonia, and Finland were my most recent overseas adventure, and a ski weekend in Utah was my last fling before going back to work this past week.
Don’t get me wrong – I embraced the cold and snow as part of the whole Nordic package, and I happily skied down windy slopes last weekend. I’ve come to realize that I can handle the cold – even enjoy it – as part of an adventure, but I no longer have any interest in it as part of my daily life here at home. I’m the hardy soul that relished two straight weeks in unheated huts along the trail to Everest Base Camp, eight days in a chilly tent doing the Paine Circuit hike in Chile, and the toe-numbing city walks I took this month in Russia.
But I’m done now. I’m back to work and can barely tolerate the short walk from the parking lot into my building. I don’t want to walk the dog, not even around the block. I put off grocery shopping, exercising, and errands because I can’t bear to leave the house. My brain is as dull as the gray haze I see outdoors, and my mood is as flat as the light at 42 degrees north. Celestial Seasonings has stopped making my favorite tea. My limbs are stiff, and I feel so sluggish that I want to nap mid-afternoon … and I am very much not a napper. I am given to complaining all the time, and have even resorted to using my upbeat blog as a venting venue! And with that unpleasant realization, I bid you adieu – see you in about three months or whenever I next head south!
Amy Sampson said:
I work at home and I can barely tolerate opening the door to let clients in during the winter. I want to move.
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lexklein said:
Me, too – desperately!
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estelea said:
Remember this pending invitation for the Philippines? 🙂
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lexklein said:
Oh, yes, i certainly do! Did you think i was kidding?! 🙂
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estelea said:
That’s my gal !
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Alison and Don said:
(((((((Hugs)))))))
I totally get it. I lived in Canada’s far north for nearly 10 years. I happily x-country skied all winter. I was one of those hardy souls.
Now I don’t care if I never see snow again. In fact I’d prefer it.
Alison
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lexklein said:
I’m not far behind you, Alison! Bring on Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, and Australia … and the sooner, the better. Meanwhile, I’ll live vicariously through you and Don!
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williamayoung said:
Don’t give up! Cold lands breed warm hearts!
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lexklein said:
Now that made me smile and is ALMOST enough motivation to stay … but I’m already too soft-hearted for my own good! At your latitude, you must be a character-filled bundle of warm-heartedness!
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thirdeyemom said:
And it is even colder in MN! But the last two weeks have been amazing!!! I have lived in Mn, Chicago and Madisonmy while life except for some time in France. We are here for the long haul. Although winters are long, I run, ski and get outdoors all winter long no matter what. Otherwise I couldn’t live here! Living in Chicago was harder for m as it seemed grayer and there is no where to ski and not much snow. Anyway the cold is hard but the quality of life is wonderful and our summers are better than anywhere. I’m lucky too to get out often I the winter. Plus I know I am outside more than anyone I my family who lives in warmer climates. 😊
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lexklein said:
See – you got the character building! I missed it … or it’s worn off over the years! As recently as two years ago, I was running outdoors all winter long, but I’m just tired of it. And I don’t actually find Chicago terribly un-sunny or gloomy; I just don’t want to get home from work and put on all those layers to recreate outside any more. I’m giving you 10 more years to catch up with me and we’ll see if you’re singing the same tune …! (Haha, but really, I think I’m just not temperamentally meant for this climate, and you probably are!)
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thirdeyemom said:
Ha ha. I’m 43 and have lived my entire life in Minnesota, Madison and Chicago except for a year in France. I would love a warmer climate but got to get the kids through college and my hubbies job is in MN for the long term. So I just have to make it work. But I’m fortunate to get out a lot especially in the winter!!!
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Kendra S said:
I’m with you – every winter I feel like chewing out my parents for bringing the family from the Caribbean to Canada. They had the whole world from which to pick and they chose an area of Canada where it gets lots of snow AND lots of freezing cold (windchills in the -30C not uncommon). Apparently it is all about the layers, which is true. But my question still is, why do we live in a place where the air hurts my face??
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lexklein said:
Exactly – why?!? Yes, we have jobs here, but I’m ready to take a pay cut just to warm up!
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Madhu said:
I find snow covered landscapes appealing, but I know I am too much of a tropical creature to survive in those conditions for long. And yes, too old! Sending sympathetic hugs 🙂
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lexklein said:
Thank you for your support! Yes, snow-covered landscapes are beautiful and serene and photo-worthy (just see my recent Russian post in which I waxed euphoric over a snowy park!) WHILE ON VACATION! As you said, they are not for surviving in for long!
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Hoarder Comes Clean said:
I’m smiling because I remember the day years ago when we left Kansas City on a snowy winter day, and I cried because I had to move to Atlanta where I wouldn’t get to scoop snow anymore. “Spring won’t MEAN anything when it hasn’t been really cold” I wailed. But now, I’m acclimated and glad to be warmer and to have forgotten how to drive on snowy roads (well, except on rare occasions when Atlanta is paralyzed by an inch of snow and people are stuck on the freeways overnight). I still visit the midwest in winter, but carefully.
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lexklein said:
I look forward to such a day!
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lisadorenfest said:
This post totally cracked me up, especially because I hail from Chicago. I love the tag ‘whining’ and the fact that while you can embrace travel in extremely cold places, a walk from the parking lot to your car in Chicago is drudgery. As I write this while traveling New Zealand, I very much miss my hometown, but only the summertime version :-).
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lexklein said:
You’re killing me! Just thinking about sunny, beautiful NZ while looking out at my slushy surroundings is torture. But really, I’m glad you got a laugh, and I know someday I will miss very many things about Chicago, too. It’s a beautiful, fun city!
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spiritofdragonflies said:
It has been snowing here in NYS near Albany for two days. This on top of what we had last week and are expecting Thursday. Although I love snow I am not looking forward to the freezing temps they are predicting. In the negatives is not fun. So stay inside, wear your under armor and wool socks, sit near the fire if you have one and wait it out. Just think we only have about five more weeks of this:)
Stay warm!!
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lexklein said:
Haha – thanks! I think I can safely say that upstate NY is NOT on my list of possibilities for a future move! But I’m sure it’s lovely, too, in many ways 🙂 You stay warm, too!
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Tina Schell said:
Somehow being frozen at home or at work is WAY less interesting than being cold when on exciting adventure!! We have good friends in Boston and they are getting SLAMMED this year. I knock wood every time I go outside here in South Carolina 🙂
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lexklein said:
I so agree with that first statement! Yes, I will admit Boston is getting it a bit tougher than we are this winter … and I am, of course, envious of you down south. My parents live on St Simons Island off the GA coast, and I feel like accelerating my own retirement to join them! (But that might bring on a different kind of whining …)
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rommel said:
Ahihihi … Well at least you have good reason to complain. I’m originally from a tropical island. It’s hard for me towithstand cold. Right now, it’s chill winds and icy cold rains here in Greece. So I share the same sentiments. Good thing I’m in good enough position at work not to be staying outside working. Ahihihi 😀 You seem like an adventurous fella. But as for me, weather will never deprive me of going places. 😉
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lexklein said:
Nope, me either! (The going places, that is … it’s dealing with it at home that sucks!)
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DebraB said:
As a person who grew up in Wisconsin and now lives in Minnesota, I totally get it! i can’t help but wonder what I would be like if I lived in, say, California. Would my disposition be bland and sunny rather than tough and “full of character”? I guess we’ll never know.
This winter is a little odd, though. We are having a relatively mild winter, while the east coast gets repeatedly bombed with blizzards. It feels a little “off” being concerned about OTHER people’s cold and snow conditions.
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