whatever the weather...

When I tell people I am considering taking up residence in the Seattle area, an amazing amount of first responses go something like, "What about the weather?"

I have this theory about weather. When you move to a sunny place, whenever there's a gray or rainy day you are inevitably disgruntled by the disruption of your fair weather. However, when you move to a place with the expectation it will be gray and rainy most of the time, when the sun comes out you are overjoyed with surprise.

It's all about expectations, you see. Which would you rather be lulled into taking for granted -- the rainy days or the sunshine? Would you rather be surprised by rain or by sun?

In my nearly two months of Puget Sound living, I haven't had a week without at least a little sunshine. And when the sun comes out in the pacific northwest, people know how to enjoy it. There's no staying indoors with the windows tightly closed to conserve the air conditioning... No putting off that picnic because the sun will still be out tomorrow. It's windows flung open and sunny day activities only -- lawn mowing, kite flying, and only absolutely necessary indoor occupations. It's about making the most of a good thing while it lasts.

There's also something satisfying about living in a place where people aren't dependent on weather conditions for their cheerfulness. I'd like to be included in that camp of people who don't read their moods off the weather forecast. Sunshine comes in more colors than yellow -- after all, where rain meets sun there are rainbows... Much of my island sunshine these weeks has consisted of visitors from near and far (wearing specifically the colors orange and green) -- they bring more brightness to my life than the longest day of sunshine.

I read something somewhere about life being best lived by contrasts. It's one of the reasons I want to live where there's four seasons, and unpredictable weather, and people who still know how to appreciate a sunny day.

I probably couldn't prove it, but sunshine is definitely brighter after the rain.

:: "Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." – Anthony J. D'Angelo


[PHOTO BY RECENT SUNSHINE VISITOR STEPHANIE ZITO]