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Why We New Englanders Put Up With The Weather

Perspectives on our loyalty to the crazy weather

by Eric H.

On a recent trip to Melbourne , Fla, in the fall, the following weather thought crossed my mind: what the heck are we thinking living in New England?

The winter brings freezing temperatures and snow that gets tiresome after that initial pristine snowfall. Spring can't make up its mind if its winter or summer. Summer is really great with many sunny beach days, cookouts and waterfront restaurant lobster dinners, although by August the number of humid days gets tiresome. Fall might be the best of the lot with its brilliant fall foliage colors, pleasantly warm days and cool sleeping nights (for the most part, as the nasty winter starts to creep in November).

It seemed downright unfair coming back from 70 degree temperatures in Melbourne to a gray, 40ish degree day at T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, RI,. Our relatives in Florida were probably at the beach and in shorts while we drove in the cold through lovely industrial cities like Pawtucket, R.I., and Attleboro, Mass. -- and with hostile drivers taking exception to us driving too slow at 70.

I guess the way to rationalize putting up with the New England weather is to think of each season as an incentive. Just as the summer gets too hot, fall comes to the rescue with cooler days. Once those cooler days seem too wishy-washy (OK, it either needs to be hot or cold!), winter comes to the rescue with a chance to enjoy classic Currier and Ives-like snow scenes on our New England village greens and take the opportunity to get plenty of rest by our warm fireplaces. For the skiiers, winter is really a great time of year. Winter also provides entertainment on telelvision by watching the low-person-on-the-totem poll news reporter sent to the worst coastal locations and hide his/her resentment while the safe and warm news anchor sits smugly in the studio. I know, this isn't a reason to stay in New England, but it's just one of those little touches that we'd miss if living in Florida.

Spring represents a rebirth, reminding us that there is warm weather in New England, that flowers do have a scent, and that fun outdoor things to do are knocking at the door -- the beach, ice cream stands, Boston Red Sox baseball and walks around the block after dinner. Summer delivers on the spring promise, and then fall and its foliage, apple picking and cider, and windbreaker walks pleasantly prepares us for winter again.

As I look out my home window in January and see a New England flavor from every direction, the thought occurred to me, "What the heck were we thinking wanting to live in Florida?" Warm to hot weather year-round might be nice, but perhaps its best in small doses. For now, I'll take the diversity of our seasons, the village greens, history, preservation, Boston Red Sox baseball, and mountains and sometimes warm oceans any day.

Tomorrow I might feel different. Darn, it's going down to 15 degrees tonight and the oil company is breaking out the champagne!

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