The weather has turned cold and foggy with rain and the result is my house has become an iceberg. It has electric, radiant heat in the ceilings, most of which are very high, that costs me an arm and a leg to run. Rather than mortgage my future to PG&E, I mostly use the wood stove to provide warmth, but in the mornings it can take a while to get the stove going again. While I wait bundled in my warmest clothes, freezing my ass off, I can't help but dream of warmer days back in Florida.
I was born and raised in the Sunshine State and didn't encounter northern California until the fall of 2004 when a whirlwind job relocation whizzed me across the country to this place. That winter was particularly cold and rainy and I remember thinking I'd made a terrible mistake in moving. Sitting in front of the stove this morning, I find myself wondering the same thing.
I have come to love California, though, particularly the quirkiness of Santa Cruz, even with the cold and damp. The mountains where I live are particularly beautiful, graced with majestic redwoods that silently stand over my existence. Culture and diversity abound where I live and I find myself feeling more at home here as an individual than anywhere else. Even still, spending winter or at least part of it in a tropical location sounds inviting, doesn't it?
For now, I'll brace for winter in my layered clothing while clutching my coffee cup with one frozen hand and perusing craigslist for potential new homes with the other. Hopefully the one I end up in will have central heat!
Stay warm! Rain's on its way!
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