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Sunday, September 23, 2012

Do I Miss the Seasons?

There's so much about Hawaii to love.  Beautiful beaches, friendly people, casual lifestyle, island food and especially the mild weather (usually).

everyday temperature in Hawaii
Weatherman, Guy Hagi is always saying this is the place with the "best weather on the planet."

We bought this outdoor thermometer a while ago and after checking it several times, I'm wondering why we bothered.  It doesn't deviate by much.

When we go on our evening walks in January, Art never fails to say, "Can you believe we're walking around in shorts and t-shirts in the dead of winter?"

People in Hawaii often ask me if I miss the seasons.  There's a knowing smile in their voice and I think an expectation that I will say, "No, nothing beats Hawaii."

There is no doubt that Hawaii is terrific, but I loved living in Illinois and it wasn't just for the family and friends.  I did love the seasons although I could have done without freezing January and sweltering August. 

Our Illinois backyard sour cherry tree

You had to go through the long months of cold and shoveling snow to feel the joy, the euphoria, the wonder of spring.  When my cherry blossoms bloomed, so did my spirits.  Everyone is smiling in spring.  And there is that extra spring in your step.

Illinois woods

And now fall is here.  In Hawaii, it's the coming of the rainy season, but our thermometer doesn't change an awful lot.

In Illinois, we feel that urgency to enjoy the days of warmth we have left.  The leaves of the trees seem to echo that reminder that there are not many days left before the first snowfall.

Winter has its own pure beauty, of course and summer is packed with things to enjoy and places to see.  Every season is that much more precious because its time is finite.

In Hawaii, the sameness of it all makes the days fly by even faster and I can't seem to make it slow down.

Make no mistake that I love it here in Hawaii, but I loved it in Illinois.  There is truly something to love no matter where you choose to live.

19 comments:

  1. the trick is to love where you are living now and not long for other places ...lol!

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  2. they did a news poll for favourite season here, and summer won!

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  3. In your photo--The Woods, no?!

    I agree, Kay. I would miss having the change of seasons too. It is a chance for changing to different kinds of clothes and shoes too.

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    1. It's Harms Woods, Dina. I should have posted a photo of KC with Mrs. H picking acorns from the ground. What a magical day that was.

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  4. Feeling the drought of winter, makes the coming rainy season even better. I totally understand what you mean. But I would not mind if our thermometer would not go over the 30/85 mark...

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  5. I spent several years of my life Puerto Rico, with similar temperatures as you experience in Hawaii: hardly any variation, with no change of seasons. That was what I missed the most and appreciate so much on the mainland. Here in the Pacific Northwest we have the change of seasons with little of the things you mentioned like sweltering Augusts!

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  6. I supposed I'd be "used to" any climate I lived in, but changing seasons get high marks from me. I especially love waking up under the down comforter in the winter.

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  7. I must admit my two favorite seasons are spring and fall, and when we were in Hawaii we both thought we could get used to the same temperature every day. We felt the same way in Quito, Ecuador. 75 degrees all year. Southeastern Alberta is more like Illinois, very cold winters and very hot summers. But "any place I hang my hat is home"!
    Hi to Art and all the best to your mom.
    Luv, K

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  8. Living in the "moderate" Pacific Northwest, especially here in Puget Sound country, we have four seasons, but all of them are more temperate. What we tire of is the "big gray", days without blue skies. But then that makes us appreciate those sunny days even more.
    Yesterday started out damp and dreary, but by evening the sky was clear and we watched the half moon cross the sky while sitting in the soccer stadium in our sweatshirts.
    This morning the sky is clear, and we might reach 70, a rare day to be treasured here. A long destination walk is in the plans. It's nice that our football team, the Seahawks, will play on Monday Night Football, so I don't have to "waste" any of the day sitting in front of the TV.
    Yes, I love seasons too. And I am already resigned to the fact that my favorite season, summer, is past for another year. I look forward to autumn color and activities.

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  9. I would miss the different seasons hugely. We're lucky here in the UK to have moderate weather, generally the winters aren't too cold and the summers aren't too hot. But I love the spring and the autumn the best, the colours, the light, the smells, the feeling. I enjoy visiting hotter places but I don't think I'd like to live there permanently.

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  10. I would miss the seasons, though it would be nice not to have all four in one day as we sometimes do;-)

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  11. So beautifully said. One reason why we like to experience "winter" every year. It marks the passing of another year and countdown to our retirement.

    L. from W.

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  12. You did an excellent job of voicing the reasons to appreciate changing seasons. I think I shall try more to rejoice in them.

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  13. Lots of mainlanders have told me that they love the 4 seasons. Having lived in NYC for 5-1/2 years, though, I can definitely say that I hate winter. It's so depressing to feel cold all the time, and hurrying from building to subway to building to keep from freezing. I craved the sun and blue skies and was so glad to be back in Hawaii. If it weren't for winter, maybe I'd appreciate the 3 other seasons more. Lol.

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  14. Having lived a good part of my life in New York and Ohio, I know what you're saying. When people quiz me about my origins, I often sense that they feel sorry for me because I was forced to experience Winter. As my sister-in-law often said, "Lucky you live Hawaii." In all honesty, and not to undercut myself, I once told a friend that there might be ten days a year in Ohio as nice as 300 here in Hawaii.

    Weather aside, I have a couple of impressions of my own. 1) When I'm on the Mainland I realize that Hawaii hardly matters at all in the total scheme of things in America. Sorry, Hawaii is just not on anyone's mind. 2) As soon as I hit the first airport, I wonder how come so many haoles? I'm not very weather-oriented, but I do like the cultural mix in Hwaii--a lot! :-)

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    1. It's funny how when we first returned to Hawaii, the racial mix is something I did notice. I actually had to get used to it. It was weird. I do enjoy having the wonderful diversity of peoples and cultures here. However, I think our neighborhood on the mainland has a mixture also which I like.

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  15. VERY well said, Kay!



    Aloha from Honolulu,
    Wishing you a sweet week ahead!
    Comfort Spiral
    =^..^=

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    > < } } (°>

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  16. Kay above all the debates of which climate is the best, I think the photographs of the woods and the cherry tree looks wonderful..

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  17. I've truly loved several places I've lived, but in the end the good weather wins out in the end.

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