Winter Temperatures - A Personal Preference

Weather temperature ranges and climates can be an individual preference in comfort.

I tend to feel uncomfortable when the temperatures drop. My comfort threshold is often based on a number of factors including my activities at the moment, sunshine being available and my mood.

I will list some of my reasons (excuses) for my dislike cold weather:

1) Clothing: a. Autumn colors and plaids in general do not make me feel special or attractive. I do not think they look good on me. I do not relish the look of lady lumberjack. When I have to layer my clothing to be warm, I feel as if I'm a UPS package-rather drab and square, maybe unintentionally mishandled. b. Dashing from house to vehicle to house or store means I have to dress and undress (sometimes quickly) in the vehicle with its heater turned on. Then there is my intended destination. Will it be too cool, too warm? What if??? Will I embarrass myself by being overly or under clothed to make myself comfortable?

2) Winter illnesses: a. At the office you will find that folks do come to work sick. Perhaps you do the same. Blame it on the employers' insurance policies, our health care system or the simple fact that we don't need to miss a full paycheck, but the fact remains - sick people come to work. You can try to avoid the coughing and sneezing sure signs but what about the contagious germs on the doors, microwave oven, office refrigerator and communal coffee pot handles? And did someone that is sick move your Tupperware lunch container around in that refrigerator to make room for their own lunch? Yuk! Germs are everywhere. b. More public places, groceries, box stores, etc., that may be larger than your work environment space may still have these factors that come into play to some extent. c. Children - they are both subject to your germs and sharers. Beware.

3) Limited activities: a. Our outdoor community activities, state festivals and such are at a low level during the winter months. This is in southeast Texas. That means that my fun times are limited as well. b. My gardening activities are basically nil and I love digging in the dirt. I do not enjoy house play (I don't call it play anyway). c. Gathering of friends declines because of all the reasons listed above. I'm a social being. I like gatherings of friends. Some friends enjoy outdoor fires (or indoor fireplaces). I have a hard time with fires. First and foremost, I am afraid of fires. Secondly, I like both sides of my body to be warm at the same time. A constant for me is that the smoke, visual or not, tends to upset my sinuses, allergies and eyes even though I am a cigarette smoker. d. Winds associated with our winter weather upset me. I am not comfortable with howling winds since our experience with hurricane Rita in 2005. I still have too many dead tree limbs hanging a hundred feet above me to be comfortable.

4) My bones get cold to the point that I cannot seem to be warm from the inside out.

5) Contact through the US mail is primarily limited to bills and catalogs. Lots of catalogs come my way but not always at my request. I spend a good deal of time shredding my personal information from them then trashing the rest. My area does not recycle for various reasons. I read some of the literature and gain very little workable knowledge.

I am sure that after I hit the 'Publish' button for these thoughts I will think of more to add to my dislikes.

This is, of course, an outline of my personal opinion of winter. There are many, and I include immediate friends, who enjoy the cooler temperatures.

If you would like to add your comments, either pro or con, on this subject please leave one here for all to see and share.

Tonight I will snuggle into my flannel sheets with the thermostat sat to my preference and enjoy my winter night.