You'd Think We Live In The Pacific Northwest...

We've had a wet year so far.

I grew up on the same street and for the life of me, I can't remember as a kid if the late winter/early springs were especially wet or not. They could have been, or they might have been dry years. I suppose I could do an internet search to know for sure (since I've got the collection of all human knowledge--or most human knowledge--at my fingertips...), but that seems like a lot of work.

This year, it's been wet. 

I like wet weather. I've made no secret of this. Too hot is too hot. I don't like it when outside inches closer to the approximate temperature of Hell. But hey...that's just me. Back in 1985 I moved to Europe for a couple of years. In preparation of this move, we were advised to bring along a raincoat--something I never see anyone wear anymore.

Turned out to be great advice.

In Denmark it rains every day, or almost every day. It's so low there the clouds fly in, rain, then rush out. This cycle goes on several times a day. A raincoat is needed. Umbrellas are nice, but hardly useful when you're doing things like...oh, riding a bike, or running to catch a train carrying a backpack full of books and such.

There are people in college right now studying weather patterns. They can look at data going back as far as records were kept. Maybe it's a trend. Maybe it's an anomaly. Maybe in the future dry late winters/early springs will be the exception. I personally don't know. 

Perhaps I should go get a raincoat...the ones at thrift stores are the best.

I Should Have Worn A Heavier Coat...

When I take public transportation to work, I try and see what kind of weather I'm going to face for that day. In Utah, the weather is pretty stable, contrary to those who think Utah's weather changes every fifteen minutes. It really doesn't. In the winter it's generally cold and in the summer it's almost always hot. Of course, spring and fall can throw a few curve balls.

That's why I check the Weather App on my phone before I leave the house. This morning the app showed cloudy and temperatures in the 50s. I chose a light jacket. Because another thing you don't want to heft around on a bus or train is a heavy coat when it's not needed.



Turns out, it got a little colder than the 50s it promised this morning. In fact, when I left my work this afternoon to catch a train, it was downright cold and raining. I should have worn a heavier coat.

Life--not just a commute--is different when you don't have a car in the parking lot. My car has protection from the elements, other supplies, and even a heavier coat. Had I driven this morning, I probably wouldn't have even checked my phone before I left the house.

Many people I know won't take public transportation--it's not for everyone. Luckily, it's a practical option for me. I've used it less and less the past couple of months, but I hope to use it more. It saves money as well as wear and tear on my car. It's just by doing so, there's things you've got to give up, like security from a spring storm.

Of course, if you just wear a heavier coat, taking the train's not that bad.