Ready for the Fall....

 

According to the calendar, and multiple social media posts, yesterday was the first day of fall. According to the kids playing in my pool yesterday, it is still summer. That is the quandary of living in Northeast Florida. The popular meme that is recycled year after year asks the question, "It's Fall in Florida! Know what that means?......Absolutely Nothing!" We realize it is fall because we are held up by school busses on our morning commute, co-workers are trash talking each other over weekend football games, and coffee shops are pushing pumpkin spice lattes.

Yes, I see the cozy posts with pumpkin spice everything, boots, hoodies and leaves falling from trees. (Okay, THAT we get with all the oak trees.) But we still run our air conditioning full tilt until well into December. Oh, we get the rare cool days. You know, the ones that dip waaaaay down into the 60's. That's when we dig out those boots and hoodies so we can look all cute. Then come afternoon we are swearing and sweating. Smart girls keep a pair of shorts and flip flops in the car, just in case. The hoodie you keep handy for those people who run the AC too low and you freeze inside.

                                                                                                                        I miss fall. Real, true fall. Don't get me wrong. Florida has fall. The days get shorter. (ish) The nights and mornings are cooler. (again, ish) But the absolute litmus test is when the humidity takes the last train out of here. Yes! We love temperatures in the 70's, heck even the 80's, if that dreaded humidity is below 75%. In fact, if the temperature hits 75 we turn the AC off.  

Fall was my favorite season when I was raising my children. It signaled a slowing down of the busy summer schedule, and the opening act of the glorious production called 'The Holidays.' Our family's masterpiece. We started school, kicked the season off with attending what we affectionately called 'The Fair' (the Washington State Fair), then rode the rapid paced roller coaster to Halloween, Thanksgiving, then the grand finale, Christmas. It was a blur of activities, family gatherings and festivities. 

New Year's was not the optimistic celebration for me that it was for many others. I felt it was the last act, the end of the greatest part of the year. Now we had to hunker down in the cold, wet of winter and wait for spring. And in Washington State, it was a long, gray, dreary wait. And wet. Did I mention wet? 

Often, while we lived in Washington, during this dreary, wet time of the year, we would take a vacation. Guess where we would take it? Ahhh, wise ones who guessed Florida. Or the Caribbean. Pretty much the same thing. We would bask in the warmth of sunshine, dry and toasty for a spell. When we boarded the plane to fly back across the country, to wait out the rest of the wet winter, I would be not a little envious of those who got to stay behind. Imagine, living in this glorious sunshine all the time. 

Now we are the ones who wave farewell to tourists who stop in, then go back to raise umbrellas, or shovel snow and wait for spring. While we, from June to October, envy their temperatures below 95, and humidity below 90%. 

My point? You could say 'The grass is always greener...' or 'Oceans waters are deeper beyond.' Another I find interesting is: 'Mountains hide more majestic peaks.' Basically, nothing is perfect this side of Heaven. there is a little give and take for everything. I love the idea of living on 50 acres in the outskirts, on a river, with peace and quiet. Downside? A two hour drive to the nearest Costco and sketchy internet. 

We choose our priorities. What matters the most, then live with the things we may have to sacrifice to keep those. I want a healthy heart, so I give up foods and habits that could compromise that goal. Sacrifice? Sure, but the payoff should be worth it.

Fall is a transition season...from summer to winter. I'll be fine. Because come winter, a lot of people are going to be wanting to be where I am. And that's okay....we have a guest room. Let me know when you're coming.