Tag: winter

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6 REASONS TO DISLIKE SPRING

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this has been the longest, darkest winter that most of us can remember.  We’re longing for spring, when many will have been vaccinated and life will get back to normal.   But wait a minute.  The winter months aren’t all bad.  Have you forgotten the problems that we face during the warm weather?   Here are 6 reasons to dislike Spring:

1. Mosquito bites

In my state of Indiana, mosquito season starts in early March.  This means I’ll have to slather myself with bug spray if I walk in the park.  Some people, aren’t especially bothered by mosquito bites, but they can make me miserable.  Mosquito bites can also be dangerous, causing serious diseases like West Nile virus.  Note to self: stock up on anti-itch salve and bug spray before the season begins

2. Bee Stlngs:

Bee stings can be deadly.
Bee’s start pollinating in the Spring. If you get in their way, they will sting.

Starting in April, bees get busy pollinating.  If you get in their way, you’ll get stung.  Bee venom causes pain and swelling around the sting area that  doesn’t stop for a couple of days.   Many people are allergic to bee stings, which can cause severe immune reactions, and even death.  If you get dizzy and sick, or have trouble breathing after  a bee sting, call 911..

3. Tornadoes

While tornadoes can occur anytime, anywhere, they’re most apt to occur in March or April.  I lived through a tornado once on April 4, and it was terrifying.  First, you hear a sound like a freight train. That’s when you dive for cover in the basement or the Southwest corner of your house, or the bathroom.  When it was over, and our house was spared, we saw that the tornado had zigzagged around the neighborhood, totally destroying houses at random.  Luckily, no one was hurt.

4. Road Construction

Watch out for road construction in early March.
Road construction begins in early March.
Drivers and riders are often killed when someone doesn’t slow down or stop.

The season starts in March and last through November. How many times have you set out on a road trip, only to get stuck in a traffic stall due to road construction?   We don’t travel much anymore, but when we did, we were prepared with urinal devices if we had to stop at an inconvenient time.

Warm weather months bring major road projects, and a  lot of danger for drivers and workers. More than four out of five people killed in constructions areas are riders and drivers. A four lane road that’s reduced to two lanes increases the chances of a head on collision. Rear-end collisions  can happen when a careless driver rushes into a work zone and hits someone who is stopped or obeying the reduced speed limit.

5. Yard Work

In our city, homeowners typically start mowing their lawns in early April.  Some people enjoy  mowing  their lawns, but most  don’t.  If you’re one of those people who hires a lawn service, your monthly expenses are going to increase between now and late fall.  And if you opt to mow your own lawn, be prepared for frequent mower breakdowns, which can be frustrating and  costly.

6. Taxes

Spring is tax time.
Even if you hope for a refund, filing your tax returns can be a headache.

Even if you’re hoping for a refund, preparing a tax return is a hassle.  Gathering the proper forms and documents is time consuming and nerve wracking.  Many people have their taxes done by an accountant, but that doesn’t save you from assembling the necessary paperwork.  Even worse, you may still owe more taxes!

And if you’re a homeowner, you’ll probably be getting a bill for your property taxes.

And so, my friends, don’t look out the window and long for Spring.  Enjoy the benefits of Winter  for just a little while longer.

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FORMER SNOW BIRDS STAYING HOME

Why are two former snow birds staying home this winter? Before our retirements 20 years ago, my husband and I  dreamed of spending the winter in a warmer climate.  As we trudged our way to work through blizzards and freezing rain, we were comforted by the promise of escaping northern winters once and for all,  once we began collecting social security.

That dream finally came true when we spent our first two winters in Costa Rica. What a beautiful romantic country with so much to see, charming people and near perfect weather.  And yet, it seemed unwise to stay so long in a place where our health insurance wasn’t good, and our children would have to fly down to rescue us if we got sick.

We spent one winter in Florida, but it wasn’t right for us.  Way too much traffic—so bad that the “natives” were forced to grocery shop in the middle of the night . Going out to dinner entailed long drives to get the the restaurant, and slow service once we arrived.

Next, we alternated between rented condominiums  in Jekyll Island, Georgia, and South Padre Island, Texas.  For the first few years, while  our health was still good, it wasn’t a big deal to load up the car and drive to our destination.  And, we didn’t mind the inconveniences that come with staying in a rental unit. We enjoyed shopping, walking the beach,  enjoying a change of scene, and making friends from all over the USA. .

Island vacations sometimes disappoint
FORMER SNOWBIRDS ARE STAYING HOME THIS WINTER

But all of a sudden, I knew it was over.  We couldn’t face packing up the car and  driving  through miles of hectic traffic, in  snow, sleet, and rain;  hampered by  failing eyesight and slower reaction times.   The positives of warmer weather and a change of scene  now seemed outweighed by the negatives.

Here are a few things we won’t miss about spending the winter on a southern island:
  1. Not having our local newspaper and the Indianapolis Star delivered to our door..  On an island, you’re lucky to have access to a USA today, if you’re wiling to get dressed and either walk or drive to a gas station.
  2. Small screen TV with a finicky remote, frequent blackouts, and only a few channels.
  3. Barely comfortable furniture, and no big recliner.
  4. Driving miles across a bridge once a week to load up on groceries. .
  5. A too small refrigerator and freezer . Sparse kitchen utensils and silverware.
  6. Iffy weather, accompanied by erratic heating and cooling. I’ve spent many a cold day inside with my coat on, waiting for maintenance to “fix” things.
  7. Forwarded mail arriving 7 to 10 days late.
  8. Uncomfortable beds
  9. Nothing but a walk in clinic across the bridge if you get sick.,                                         For years, it seemed that  the effort to go South for the winter was worth it.  And then, it didn’t.  As Dorothy said to Toto, “there’s no place like home.”