(no subject)

Many years ago my best friend's brother moved to the bay area after graduating college. His degree was in engineering and he had a job in Silicon Valley but soon began experimenting with stand up comedy and writing. He did very well and ended up in LA, he has won an Emmy and works on really good tv shows. When he met his now wife, I remember my friend telling me that one of the things he told her that they had in common was their 'dislike' for the outdoors. I can still remember rolling my eyes at how pretentiously typical it was for him to say this. Who dislikes the outdoors? He said they liked it just fine, looking out the window as they drove by. It seemed so contrived.

I grew up on the east coast of Florida, a couple of blocks from the beach. After school, summers, weekends, I was either at the beach or riding my bike around, eventually getting to the beach. Or we'd be in someone's pool or boat on the river. It was just a given.

I moved to the bay area about 9 years ago. I joined various online groups, dating and otherwise and quickly learned from people's profiles that being outdoors was the number one pasttime. Hobbies generally include: skiing, hiking, rock climbing, wind surfing, kayaking and cycling. I remember being a bit intimidated. I came to see that "most weekends you'll find me (see above), wasn't always accurate but was always implied.

The weather here is usually about 50's in the evenings and about 60's-70's in the day, colder and rainy in the winter, summer nights can be colder. In general it's pretty great. It was a relief to get away from the blistering humid heat of Florida.

I guess good is never enough, or when you get used to something, you need more. I've noticed that people are so dependent on the weather, that if it's a nice sunny day, then nothing can go wrong and the upcoming weekend will be awesome. It will be talked about on Friday and Monday. When it rains, or is chilly, or the sun doesn't break through, the day is bad, moods are bad, the weekend sucks, it's so unfair. How are you? I'm great, it's gorgeous outside. How are you? It's so cold outside, I'm just tired.

Don't get me wrong. A glorious day is uplifting. It's not like Portland or Seattle where it's raining most days, or blizzard conditions. But, (whisper) I like to stay in a lot. I do enjoy a nice day from the window or porch. I read a lot. I write a lot. I like watching movies or catching up on Anthony Bourdain. I putter around and enjoy every minute. I don't always place myself outside. I enjoy taking walks here and there, or not. I usually don't care what the weather is like. It's so mild and beautiful here. I actually like a foggy chilly day. I don't mind the rain. Blasphemy!

I think about what my best friend's brother said, all the time. I completely understand why he said it and what he meant. I would say it too if I was braver.