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From: preece@uicsl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Back East vs. the Coast - (nf)
Message-ID: <3133@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Oct-83 22:56:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.3133
Posted: Wed Oct  5 22:56:52 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 9-Oct-83 17:15:29 EDT
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#R:pyuxss:-16200:uicsl:4300091:000:2397
uicsl!preece    Oct  5 09:10:00 1983

I can testify to the opposite pattern to Steve Summit's. I've lived
most of my life in the Northern parts of the U.S., specifically
New England and Illinois. But I spent three years in Santa Barbara,
so I know about California weather, too.

Sure we complain about our weather (what's life without things to
complain about), but the absence thereof is no panacea. First off, they
complain about the weather out there, too. They complain about rain,
during the brief periods each year in which it happens, and they
complain about heat, even without humidity and in moderation.

But the seasons, in their full vigor, keep you in touch with the
passing of time and give a diversity to the flavor of life that is
missing in the tempered climate of Southern California. The seasons
there aren't strong enough to have the same psychological impact.
I'd be happy to get rid of the extremes of weather that we get here -
a winter that stopped at 20 deg F, winds that never exceed 30 knots,
summers with no more than 50% humidity and highs below 95 F - but
I would hate to lose the surrounding context - winters that are
noticeably colder than summers, snow in moderation, rain at any time
of year, Fall leaves, Spring mud. Most of each season is much more
moderate than the extremes that make the papers.

Boston, by the way, is much more moderate than the central part of
the state, but it still wouldn't be 'paralyzed' by an inch of snow.
I've driven into Boston during snow storms and delays didn't seem that
bad. Now, ten inches will shut down almost anywhere (Minneapolis, I
understand, can handle more than that without trouble). Santa Barbara
went crazy over a trace of snow. That's all irrelevant; you don't 
get used to the ten year storm, but you learn to handle the average
annual worst.

As to going to Florida in the winter time, you can appreciate a little
change in the middle of a season without wanting to eliminate the
season entirely. I've never been to Florida; if I were going to warmth
for vacation, I'd go to California or to an island. But when I got home
I'd be happy to see the snow, 'cause where there's snow there's going to
be a wonderful Spring in just a little while. I think in California
I missed the glory of Spring even more than the rest of the seasons.
You just can't appreciate Spring unless you've weathered the Winter...

scott preece
pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece