Although officially over around September 21, our summer heat can last until Halloween. Cozy sweaters and boots mock us in advertisements, while our Pumpkin Spice Lattes are served iced :-(
The large crates of watermelons at the grocery stores are replaced with pumpkins, but the heat makes you wish for watermelon.
Drought conditions give the landscape a parched and unwelcoming look, making "getting out in nature" less than desirable. While other areas of the country are seeing a dusting of snow, we just have the dust. Recent hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico have increased our humidity and pushed a few sprinkles to our area, but the fire danger is beyond extreme.
 |
| Enough summer already! |
I've referenced "lasts" in prior posts, recognizing their significance in this final year before we launch. Some are big, some are small. Most of them raise a variety of emotions. This last late summer is big, and there are no mixed feelings.
One of the elements of our new lifestyle that I am most looking forward to is the ability to follow the weather - and to move away from the extremes. This is the last yucky September that we are forced to stay in SoCal, and I am so looking forward to having it behind us!
While a lot of fulltimers look forward to their last winter snow, their last months of icy roads - I am grateful that this is our last "extended summer". Next year we can be somewhere that the leaves start changing in September, where the morning dew is a little frosty before the sun is all the way up, where a sunny sky doesn't mean 90 degrees, where the critters are starting to grow a heavier coat, where Fall is everywhere before the end of October.
Yes, I know there will be occasions when we can't move for some reason. There will be "surprise" weather that we can't avoid. The road will not always lead us to seasonal perfection. I know. We will need the air conditioning sometimes. And the heater. But not for months at a time :-)
Fall is a week away. We are under an extreme heat warning for two days. It's awful. And it is the last time.
Next year at this time we will feel Fall in the air. We will see colors in the leaves. We will have a pumpkin in our shopping cart. We won't miss the watermelon.
Yes, Jodee, it is nice to move with the weather. At least we thought we would be all right in early September. Who knew there would be a record breaking winter snow in Jasper! Oh, well, these are some of the ups and downs of life on the road. We could have fired up the diesel and moved south but we enjoy cooler weather for hiking...just not below freezing :) You can keep your record breaking heat. I am not a hot weather person. Hope it cools soon for you:)
ReplyDeleteIt's like we're on two separate planets! Or at least different continents! Bill loves cold weather so I will learn to bundle up for those hikes - or just cuddle with Tessa and drink hot cocoa :-)
DeleteI lived in San Diego fairly close to the ocean all my life and I always felt the weather was too perfect. I looked forward to experiencing MORE weather as we travel...but indeed, we have pretty much followed near perfect weather for two years! I cannot stand the heat though and avoiding 90+ degrees is really important to us and we've done a pretty darn good job at that!
ReplyDeleteI've always said I wanted four seasons as well, but we'll see if I'm still saying that next year :-) 120 on the field for the football game in San Diego yesterday - glad you were on the Oregon coast instead!
DeleteYou have hit on one of the things I most love about fulltiming. We really have managed to avoid the heat of the horrible humid Virginia summers and to avoid the bone chilling humid Virginia winters. Sure hope we can continue to be in places where the weather is wonderful. Not every single day mind you but in general we are not in places for weeks when the weather is disagreeable. This is easiest to do if you do not have reservations.
ReplyDeleteI think we will handle some hot and cold knowing it is only for a couple days - there's something about not feeling trapped that makes it easier I think. With the exception of holiday weekends :-( and some areas in the summer, we are hoping to avoid reservations. We always want the option of turning left instead of right if we get the urge.
DeleteThe real difference between watermelon and pumpkin is that I can cut one open when I get back from the store and look forward to eating the heart out of it. Guess which one I'm talking about.
ReplyDelete:-))))) so true! I'm afraid those orange guys have been mostly decoration in my house, not a food source.
DeleteIt seems spring and fall are the shortest seasons ever but they are my favorite times of the year. Of course if there is a spring and fall, sometimes it just goes from hot to cold anymore. California needs a long drink!
ReplyDeleteMaura
When we lived in the desert my mother used to say that Spring was her favorite time of year - all five days of it! Indeed, a long drink would be wonderful. Predictions are for normal wet in the north but below normal again in the south.....it's pretty scary :-(
DeleteI keep saying the same thing to myself "this is the last time I need to do this...or this....or that...." Except I say to myself, "this is the last cold winter I will go through EVER." I do appreciate the weather of fall and spring here in New England, and yes, the leaves are really pretty when they start turning. But pretty soon after that, they fall off, and everything looks dead. And then the snow comes, and keeps on coming and coming and coming. And then it turns dirty and grey....so yes, lol, I'm done with winter after this year!
ReplyDeleteI know, the grass is always greener on the other side, isn't it? :-) I'm very sorry about the drought you guys are having though, wow, that is scary. Btw, I have a friend in SoCal who also hates the heat. I mean, HATES it, but with her job, she really can't live elsewhere.
Looks like your last winter is going to be another serious one so you will be VERY ready to call it your last! It's like the weather is making sure we never come back :-) !!
DeleteYep, it was our jobs that kept us here as well - and it's lovely when not frying in the late summer. We were lucky to retire early - waiting for the youngest to graduate, then gone!
Yes, the drought has been tough this year. There is another fire going on not far from our ranch in Placerville (No. CA), but not a threat to us. I sure hope it turns out to be a very wet winter. Oh, yes, you will be loving the fall on the road. Our first. We've just been teased with a little bit of colorful leaves and trees. We lived in Upstate NY for several years and just loved Fall. We'll be there next week for an extended stay and are really looking forward to Fall in NY, VT & CT. Of course, weather permitting :-) I also went through all the "lasts", last year so I know exactly how you feel.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear your place is not impacted by the fire! We're heading to NV at the end of the week and keeping an eye on the flash-flood warnings there (all or nothing!). How wonderful to be in the Northeast for the Fall - definitely on our list :-)
DeleteDebbie-I'm also glad the fires aren't impacting you. My in-laws live in NC and they post beautiful fall photos. I'm a bit jealous of them but I know that in a couple of years we'll be there to enjoy it with them.
DeleteWe prefer temps in the mid 80's. When we lived in the Bay Area, we had perfect weather, but we couldn't afford it with a growing family so we moved to Sacramento. When the summer temps are high we close all the windows, pull the curtains shut, turn on the AC and hibernate. I'm very much looking forward to enjoying perfect weather (when we hit the road) and not being a hermit!
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly how we "ride it out" - our place looks like a cave :-)
DeleteHot temps are the very reason I cannot live in Texas. Only two seasons there - hot and windy. Oh sure, there are a few nice days, a few cold days - but not enough to make me live there again. For me, Seattle is perfect. We are heading to San Diego - I hope it cools down a little before we get there! I'm not sure where in SoCal you are exactly, but we'd love to meet up if possible!
ReplyDeleteWe're in Valencia (Magic Mountain is here) just off Interstate 5 south of the Grapevine. If you're coming down Hwy 101 (a prettier drive by far than I-5) you'll miss us. I'm hoping this cooler weekend extends here as well as San Diego :-) My 25 year old son has been in Seattle the last year and loves it!! I'll keep an eye on your route to see if a meet is possible this time :-)
Delete