Enjoying all the seasons

We are all blessed in North America and other similar latitudes world wide to enjoy all four seasons.

Back in the day we used to call seasonal affective disorder "Cabin Fever."

I have a reverse effect in that I often feel more energized in Fall, Winter and Spring (as short as it often is in MN). Plus I have a physical aversion to hot weather. Maybe it is just conditioning growing up here.

The longer daylight to engage in summer gardening, yard work and fishing are great, but we really relish our cooler and cold weather months. Others here do as well I would assume?

Life's pace slows down for reflection. We can enjoy some rather dramatic changes in daylight, sun angles, dark snow storms then clear skies, and bursts of invigorating outdoor activities in the cool temperature. Then when done, the relaxing, the fellowship with loved ones, the food and fire feel heightened.

When I was a young teen we lived in Hawaii for 2.5 years. I could't wait to move back home to Minnesota. It was fun and all, met some great people, and enjoyed the ocean activities as well. We have enjoyed going back for some visits, but after 10-14 days I am ready to leave.

 

Well put. The best part of summer is watching everything grow and bloom. Now if only that could happen without high humidity and temps above the mid 70s.

 

We had those summers when we lived in Hovland. No air conditioning ever needed up there. On the other hand I could not grow tomatoes or sweet corn...too many nights below 50f. One year we hit 28f the morning of June 21st 1.5 miles inland from Lake Superior at the homestead.

I love the smell of everything blooming in spring. It is truly amazing to watch the transformation from starkness to full bloom.

 

Hovland as in Highway 61 north of Grand Marias?

If so I remember that place well. Got a speeding ticket on our way to Thunder Bay once. Also isn't there a little market place just off Hwy 61? We had to pick bandages for one of the boys another time.

 

Yes that would be the place schlot. We still own 12 acres of the original homestead where our three children were born. There is a small store there now. It is new since we moved to the western suburbs of Mpls in 1998. We build a log cabin on the property in 2000.

 

I love the distinct 4 seasons, but having been to tropical parts of the world over the years, there's a few places I could live all year round. One of those would be Hawaii. If I could find a job in Hawaii, and have it make financial sense, I'd do that in a heart beat.

While I love winter, I'm so much more active in an environment like Hawaii. I bet I would lose that last 10 lbs I can't shake here in Wisconsin.

 

You are right about the climate in Hawaii Horkin. It really never got as hot I feel sometimes during the summertime in MN. The homes typically have a lot of open air areas because there are really no bugs to speak of. There is not a problem with humidity there at all.

The thing that got to me after a few years was the lack of seasonal change. It was fun few years though, and going back is always a lot of fun for us. If I could pick an island there to visit again it would be Molokai. It is largely undeveloped, and the skin diving, spear fishing, angling, and hunting is fantastic. We had an extended stay there for 17 days once while my brother and his wife taught school on the island.

My wife and I still feel that our favorite place to vacation in the winter, or anytime of year is our cabin in Hovland. We are thankful our adult children still like going "home" as well, and vacationing with us up there.

 

I spent 10 days on Maui, looking at Molokai just last Mid November. Yeah, I could see the lack of seasons to be a bit monotonous, but I'd be so caught up in surfing, paddleboarding, scuba and snorkelling, fishing, motorcycling, etc that I would be so occupied that it wouldn't matter.

 

I am in the northern Dakota Territory. My bride is a summer girl and doesn't let me forget it. All winter long! I swear I am reversed seasonal affective disorder. Yes I don't like bad winters with a month straight at -20°, eight feet of snow, and wind that cuts right through you. We had that 2 years ago. This winter and last have been good, and I love it. I made a job change years ago that finally got me inside and it isn't winter that it made better. Not being in the heat and humidity of summer has finally got me to the point of not hating summer. My wife could not grasp that. I had such an aversion to it that I would hate sitting outside after work. It messed with my innards and I could hardly eat, felt nauseous, lost 50-60 pounds every summer, and never mind what it did to my end digestive products. I was verging on summer depression because of this and my wife was in her glory. 6 months later she is ready for the loony bin and I was loving it. Now that I am in climate control for the work day, I actually can handle summer and am not a sick, miserable bear and can enjoy evenings with mama all summer long. Now she is the most vulnerable to seasonal issues and we try to deal with it as best we can.

 

Greenstick has she tried Vitamin D and/or light therapy to help out?

 

Every light in the house is daylight bulbs, and she tries to go out and get sun if it is over 20° out. Her next dr visit we are planning on asking about vit D and we have heard something about vit E as well. Hopefully we can find something to help. Between the seasonal stuff and crippling arthritis I understand winter isn't good for her, and just try to be as understanding as possible.

 

Haven't heard of it. What is it, an ointment? We were given a celebrex prescription by her surgeon and the insurance company refuses to cover it, said she needs to use aleive over the counter. We are so fed up it is unreal. Lost her job over a year ago because she can't hardly walk (4 surgeries on 1 foot), and it moves from joint to joint elsewhere in her body to the point she can't move some days. Osteoarthritis is what the curse is.

 

There are a lot of things SADS is not and cabin fever is one of them.

 

I agree. I don't remember when I first heard the acronym SAD, but it wasn't around when I was younger, at least I don't recall hearing of it. True seasonal mood disorders were lumped in with the term "cabin fever" from what I recall in my area. I had a cousin who likely suffered with it and I remember my grandmother telling her once that she had cabin fever and needed to get out and get moving, which probably didn't really help her much compared to the phototherapy, vitamin D, medication and cognitive behavioral therapy offered today.

There is a term now called reverse SAD, which is a condition in which people suffer more with mood in the summer months.

 

Norman E. Rosenthal - Wikipedia