New York Winter

(JT status report: Still dancing.)

I've always hated New York winters. It's basically gray and 40 degrees and rainy for 5 months. Which wouldn't be so bad if I had a house with a playroom and my own washing machine and enough room not to be on top of everyone, but here in our teeny apartment it's just awful. We have to slosh around to wherever we're going, and constantly struggle to find someplace to go that makes it worth the soggy schlep to get there.

I wish I lived someplace snowy, where the kids and I could cross-country ski around the neighborhood to burn off the energy. Think of the thigh muscles I'd develop. Maybe I'd even push through my fears and force myself to learn to downhill ski.

Comments

[wood from sweetjuniper]

move to detroit. you know you want to.

er, I mean, you know I want you to.

[Kate]

Hey, if you check NY1 now you'll see that it's 53 and raining. So there! (Global warming has something for everyone!)

But I totally agree about the pain in the ass that it moving people into and through the rain in the city. That explains why only 1/3 of the people in my apartment are dressed right now. (And I am not.) I figure by the time we all get it together the rain will have stopped and it will just be windy. Plus at that point it will be time to move the car for alternate tomorrow. Isn't NYC the *BEST*???

[Ally]

But with a house comes a yard and with a yard comes mud and dogs that track the mud everywhere. Of course a mudroom would take care of that but in our house they come right into the kitchen. Yes, I wipe their feet but no, it doesn't help.

Gah. Rainy winters stink no matter what. Snow, give me snow!

[Dani]

Here in your state capital, we do experience those kinds of winters... usually. Snow, and lots of it, is the norm. But this year it's all just muddy and mild and gross, and from what I read, more and more winters will be like thin in the next few decades. When my 3yo daughter says, "When will there be snow all over the ground? Because I'm really glad we live in a place where winter has snow," then I seriously want to cry.

[Brooklyn Girl]

I always find myself craving a house this time of year...or if we have to stay in our apartment, at least a chauffeur to get us where we need to go with a minimum of trudging.

[m]

I want to live someplace HOT, SANDY AND WET and visit the snow once a year.

[Bethany]

No JT here, but the girls and I shake it to Ben Folds every morning. We are, indeed, rockin' the suburbs.

If you lived where I live, you could ski every day. I never ski, however, and after reading your post I feel a little lame about that.

Your vicarious life is much more interesting than my actual life.

[Jeff]

As someone who lives in a normally snowy place and is responsible for clearing the snow from all driveways and walkways, I can tell you that it isn't all it's cracked up to be. I for one am enjoying this green January.

(Actually, I want it to snow so I can play with my daughter outside instead of being stuck indoors. I just thought I'd commiserate and be cranky too.)

[micaela]

I just wanted to let you know that this is the first Winter since I've lived in Portland, OR that the rain has bummed me out. Usually I love it but it sure isn't fun when you're trapped inside a small apartment with a toddler who wants to RUN. ALL. DAY. LONG! And throw BALLS, and play HIDE AND SEEK, mami!!! Today it snowed but it was slushy and didn't stick, so we didn't get to go out and play in it.

(at least we have a washer & dryer in our apartment tho, so I guess I shouldn't whine too much)

[Rebekah]

O.k, this is a little late, but AMEN to everything said here. I'm a homebody, so it doesn't bother me to be inside for a day or two, but lately Aidan has gone BONKERS if he doesn't get out. And I'm sorry, but it's COLD out there and now that I have to pack up a baby too ... I really don't like to go out unless I have to.

I am SO moving to California.

[Liza]

Well, having gone from house-with-acreage-suitable-for-outdoor-exercise to small-apartment-with-two-people-for-every-one-bedroom, I am here to tell you that houses? And land? Are a great investment, blah blah home whatever, but what. a. PAIN. If I hadn't brought my front-loader washing machine with me when I moved I'd be losing it, though. There's just no way I could do three kids and no in-house laundry facilities. No. Way.

[Evelyn]

I moved my family from Brooklyn to South Florida in January and it's all I can do not to stick out my tongue and taunt you.

maybe a little taunting -- While you were trudging laundry down the street, I was in the pool teaching the baby to swim.