Recently, we had a lot of guests coming to Boston for the
wedding of our daughter. Many of them came from the warmer part of the country,
like California, and they were quite vociferous in their displeasure of having
to spend a few days in New England’s late winter.
This made me think—why is there such a resistance against
cold weather?
I not only have no problems with cold, I actually prefer
colder climate than hot. Perhaps it has to do with growing up in the extreme
heat of an arid part of India. In those days, an air-conditioned room was bliss
(we did not have any), and going for vacation in the cold areas, such as a
“hill station,” was heaven. Perhaps that experience has shaped me into being
who I am.
However, I am convinced that one does not have to be me to
enjoy cold weather; I feel that the resistance against it is entirely
irrational.
First of all, most of us get exposed to weather only when we
step outside. Our homes are comfortably heated or cooled and so are our cars. Many
of those who complain about cold hardly step outside these comfortable cocoons,
so what difference does it make to them whether they live in cold climate or
hot?
Second, when you do step outside, you can always protect
yourself against cold by wearing warm cloths. You cannot do that when the outside
is very hot. After peeling off that last layer of clothing, you just have to
endure heat. So, as it turns out, you are more likely to be cooped up inside if you live in a hot place than in a cold
one.
Third, it is more likely that the interior is heated in a cold place than cooled in a warm one. Air-conditioning is expensive
and not considered essential. I lived without it when I was growing up in
India. Even now I experience hot non-air-conditioned rooms in our own house (we
do not have central AC), or when we stay in inexpensive hotels in many parts of
the world. So, not only are you miserable walking outside in a hot place but
also being inside. The same will not be true if you lived in a cold place.
Fourth, you feel more invigorated and healthy in a cold
environment than hot. Being sweaty and perspiring does not lead to having a lot
of fun. Lethargy takes over and the level of activity is curtailed.
If, by these arguments, I have convinced you that cold is
not all that bad, and even could be good, you may be able to get more out of
your life.
For instance, I don’t know how many times I have heard folks
telling me that they would not go to Antarctica because they are afraid of
being cold. This irrational fear is
keeping them from experiencing one of the most magical places in the world. (By
the way, Antarctica in summer is warmer than Boston in winter.)
Also, unless you are living in the extreme north, most
places that have cold winter also have distinct spring, summer, and fall. This
four-season living provides you with constant change, and most people would
agree that change is an important element in being happy. One can get bored if there is no change, no matter how “good” the
situation is.
As an illustration, I go for walks on nearby trails in woods
and around ponds, camera in my hand. Every time I go, I see something
different. The leaves turn from light
green to dark green and then red and orange. Water turns to snow and ice. Birds
come and go. The sunlight comes at different angles as the year progresses.
Try to get this
variation and freshness in a place where the weather remains the same year
around.
