Tell Me Again Why I Love It Here!

Winter has arrived in Western New York. Snow. Howling Winds. And yet, I've vowed not to leave this area. Not to travel to southern climates for winters. To stay put. Forever.

I must be out of my friggin' mind!

Saturday it was dry and cold. A day later it was snowy and COLD and miserable. And I had to go out in it to run an errand. I HATE WINTER.

So why am I going to stay here for the rest of my life?

Well, it's home. I guess that really says it all. Mind you, it didn't have to be home. My parents emmigrated to the U.S. before I was born. Of course, their sponsor lived here, so that had a lot of do with why they originally landed here. And the climate here was a lot different from where they came from. (Portsmouth, England.) Still, there was nothing really holding them to this area. Okay, gainful employment may have had a lot to do with that. But really ... WINTER. (Snow, snow--and did I mention SNOW!)

Still, there are perks. It's one of the prettiest states in the country. (Okay, it can't hold a candle to Maine, Vermont, and parts of New Hampshire.) It's also got the highest taxes in the country. (Ouch!) It's got cold winters and humid summers.

What we don't have: Earthquakes. Wild fires. Tornadoes (at least not often). Hurricanes. Mudslides. (Yea!)

Of course, besides my family members (and there aren't that many of us), the other reason I stay here is our family's cottage. I love that place. It's got the most gorgous view in the world (aside from just about all of Scotland), and it's quiet (well, at least when there aren't a lot of jet skis zooming by). It's got swans. It's got geese. It's got ducks. How come we never get sick of watching them? And what about that silly kingfisher who likes to beat a fish to death before he eats it? And the hummingbirds who visit each summer. (And have dogfights.)

Of course this time of year, there's no cottage. Well, it's there--but it's a seasonal place. No water. No heat. And remember I mentioned snow up above? Being on the water, it gets about TEN TIMES the amount of snow we get here (and I live about 2 miles from Lake Ontario). According to those who live there year-round, come winter it's like living on the moon. White sky, white world, bitterly cold.

But I think about that place, and hot summer nights, when the biting wind howls. I look at the painting my hubby did that hangs over my computer. It keeps me connected to that wonderful place on the coldest, darkest nights (and days) of winter.

Thinking about that little house on the water makes me yearn for warmer weather. I start to plan the bean crop I'll plant over Memorial Day Weekend. I think about planting the annuals in the window box (which are actually mounted to the deck, not windows). I think about seeing the two electric palm trees across the bay that delight us every night. I think about our neighbor's dock lights that come on at dusk. (Aah! Two minutes later than last night (in June) and two minutes earlier every night come fall.)

Thinking about that little house gives me hope through the long, long winter.

I can't wait for spring.