WINTER WORKS — The Weekly Opine

Nothing wrong with this…sunny day and snow. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Am I crazy?

Not MAGA crazy or certifiably QAnon crazy but just plain crazy? This time of year, many of us shoveling snow in below zero wind chills do our annual “to be (living in a warmer climate), or not to be,” ritual.

Within the last six months, two close friends moved to Florida. They were fed up with Midwest winters and could not bear the thought of enduring another season of coronavirus vaccine storage-like wind chills and mounds of snow. So off to the Sunshine State they went – like many other retirees do – in an American migration as old as the national pastime. So far, so good, they tell me as they integrate into new surroundings, and acclimate in balmy breezes that come with living just 30 minutes from Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Now, the warm weather lifestyle has me pondering; I retired from a fun corporate career four-and-a-half years ago. Why haven’t I packed my belongings and permanently headed to a warmer climate? Sure, I was born and raised in the Midwest. But that does not mean I am bound to stay here. The cruel double whammy winter delivered the past two weeks, featuring 11 inches of snow two weekends ago and sub-zero temperatures last weekend, certainly commanded my full attention.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Forum (sorry, couldn’t resist saying that). I started liking this weather. Winter became cool again. During the holidays, winter is sometimes hidden, overshadowed by Christmas trees, bright lights, shopping, and caroling. Now the lights, ornaments, and trees are put away. Winter stands bare, without obstruction, for us to see and feel (and enjoy).

Winter wonderland

When you look outside, first thing in the morning, and see 11 inches of fresh snow you react one of two ways. Either you hit the snooze button and hope you wake up in Southern California, or you get up and deal with it. Once you attack and move that much snow around the rest is easy. Four more inches a few days later? Not a problem. Low temperature below zero degrees three consecutive days? That’s OK because on the fourth day 15-degrees above zero feels refreshing.

One beautiful thing about single-digit temperatures is the sun is usually blazing. The skies are so blue it appears you see crystals reflecting in the heavens. My satellite dish, iced over to the point of rendering multiple channels useless, thawed quickly under the intense February sun the other day. And it does not snow a lot when the temperature is single digits. Flurries, but not bushels of snow. The rare snow that sticks when it is bitterly cold is powdery and much easier to maneuver.

Escaping winter for a spell is good. Summer all year long? Not so sure about that. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

There is not a more hopeful month than February. Everyone knows it is the shortest month. It is also the month you begin to notice, six weeks after the winter solstice on December 21, that the days are really getting longer. Light at 5:15 p.m. Light at 5:30 p.m. Still light and it’s nearly 6:00 p.m.! No matter the snow in February is piled high and deep and will not disappear until mid-March.

On the other hand, visits to Miami Beach in 2019 and 2020 were overdue escapes from the cold and snow in Chicagoland. Lounging next to the Atlantic Ocean or sipping a poolside beverage in 80-degree weather is immensely satisfying. However, it almost felt like I was getting away with something, cheating the weather gods by slipping out of town to a southern destination.

Nonetheless, visiting Miami Beach or a similarly warm destination during winter provides a wonderful, relaxing respite from winter. But would living full-time in what amounts to year-round summer become boring? Would endless days of warmth and sunshine dull the senses?

One of my all-time favorite quotes came from a college roommate. During the job interview process, in the spring semester of his senior year, he told our group of friends, “Shoot me if I take a job up north.” He recently retired after spending his entire 40-year career working in the Milwaukee area.

Oh well, if the Pennsylvania groundhog is correct, spring will arrive around St. Patrick’s Day. Gotta find my green tie.

In addition to producing yours truly, Indiana University produced Disney’s current CEO. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Disney CEO interview

Next Friday, February 19, I will moderate a discussion with Disney Chief Executive Officer Bob Chapek, a fellow Indiana University alumnus. The livestream starts at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. You may register to attend this online event at the following link:

https://college.indiana.edu/landing-pages/chapek-interview.html.

Hopefully, you will join us. I spoke with Bob a few weeks ago and he has a compelling career story, having graduated from IU with a degree in microbiology and now leads one of the world’s greatest entertainment brands. It should be informative and fun. This will be the second major interview for The Weekly Opine, following my sit-down with former U.S. Congressman Lee Hamilton in the fall of 2019.