We are finally slipping into “fall” around these parts. What I mean by this is one day last week it was only 79 degrees and everyone wore jeans and cheered. Now it is back up into the mid 90s.
Let me be clear. I love the weather here. I really do. I love to sun bathe, lounge in the pool after church on Sunday, and wear dresses and shorts to my heart’s content. I love warm evenings where you can take a walk or sit on the patio without a jacket.
I love the sun.
I like this…
But I am starting to think that after a few more years in the desert I might start to crave seasons again. We are going into our third Arizona winter and while I will never be mad about seeing sunshine almost every day for the next few months, I am starting to miss the crispness in the air that is supposed to come with fall. When I see pictures of friends wearing scarves all around the country, I am starting to get a little jealous feeling in my heart.
So the other day, I tried to think of what my perfect climate would be like if I could design it. This is what I came up with: HOT summers. Low 100s are perfect for me. But no humidity. I even like a fairly long summer (like May to September with hot temps, but Phoenix is more like April to October, which is perhaps a little too long…). A true fall where that crisp, cool air arrives, but the sun still shines constantly as the leaves change. Basically, I want to wear a cardigan and a scarf with sun glasses. Then I want a mild, short winter. I don’t want snow, but I want the chance of snow. I want to know that every once in a while {like every other year maybe} I will get to have a snow day and stay home from work and go sledding. But then I want all that snow to melt within 48 hours. Because snow that lasts longer than two days sucks. Let’s be real. And I don’t ever want to hear the word “blizzard” or “below freezing” in this perfect climate where I live. Then I want a true (and early… like February?) spring where the temperatures slowly creep up, and the sun shines a little brighter each day. I want to celebrate the “first flip flop day” of the year when it’s finally warm enough to slip into some sandals for the day. I love flip-flop day. In Arizona, it’s always flip flop day…
But I need a little of this too…
So then I thought, WHERE is this perfect climate? This hot summer, crisp and sunny fall, short winter with a small chance of snow, and flip flop spring climate? And then I realized…. I have already lived in that climate!!! What was I thinking? I basically just described Fort Worth’s weather. Fort Worth has hot summers, sunny falls, a rare chance of snow each winter and beautiful springs… and I have already lived there. The only small downfall is that it can be a little too humid sometimes, but those days are rare.
So now I know where I need to live, but my other problem is that I have friends spread out all over and I want them to live by me. So in addition to creating my dream climate, I also started thinking of my dream cul-de-sac. Who do I wish lived right next door to me? Who do I want to borrow a cup of flour from? Who do I want my kids to grow up playing with? I think I would need my sister on one side of me, my best friend Sarah on the other. I would want Heather across the street and my friend Courtney just down the road. Clearly, the Taylors would live on our street and Anne too! And Shaly B for sure. And if Josh and Britt wanted to move with us, we wouldn’t be opposed. And if I could convince Bekah to leave the beaches of San Diego, I wouldn’t be mad about it. And since all my other friends already live in Texas or plan to move there someday, my life would pretty much be complete.
Welcome to my daydreams.
Don't move to San Diego if you want seasons. Arizona oddly has more interesting weather. And dude. I'd totally love to live across the street from you. We could "borrow" sugar or tampons whenever the other runs out…
haha I love your daydreams!! I haven't been to Texas, but just moved to Iowa and I'm sorry to make you jealous for a minute but after living in the southern california desert…this is just what i needed! Gorgeous leaves falling every which place, and chillier days. Actual..rain! lol. I know the beastly winter will come, but that's ok with me. I just have to get used to it. 🙂 I can send you some red leaves? 😉
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We pretty much have the exact same "dream forecast". One more thing I need, more bodies of water!
girl I am with you on wanting seasons BAD! I love our mild winters but man do I wish we had a true fall. Jon misses it from Ohio, where you'd get fall folliage and jean weather. If there ever was low 100s without humidity in the summer…I am there!
I think living in Cyprus is pretty similar – the sun shines pretty much all year with the exception of a few rainy days. Even winter, when the temperature falls – it doesnt fall far and I am still wearing skirts and shorts and flip flops. I too love sunning myself by the pool and I adore summer, but boy oh boy do I miss Autumn in London when the leaves turn red orange and brown and the winter when the air is frozen but the sky is blue.
I love your ideal seasons! But not sure about texas??? haha. And of course wish I could be your neighbor! I am so excited for you to come visit so soon!
That would rock. In a way I kind of feel like that's how Josh and Micah grew up (not the rainy WA weather) – but literally with all of their best friends/family around them. Love ya!