Seasonal Contractions

(Note from previous post: For those unaware of the term, LBYM stands for "live below your means".)

I have noticed a funny pattern to social interactions and have wondered if this is common everywhere, or just in areas where there are poor times of year (i.e., too hot or too cold to be outside much). I don't know anyone living in San Diego right now, but I wonder if they see the same phenomenon. It seems that we don't see too much of our neighbors or friends during the wintertime. It's just cold, it's rainy, sometimes we have snow, and it just feels like too much hassle to go out for a long walk in the cold (when we might see our neighbors) or to get the kids togged out and go for a playdate or lunch or dinner with friends. So, we just don't see many folks from about November through the end of January.

Of course that time of year also coincides with the holidays, and people just get plain busy with their own lives and families at that time of year. But there is a strong weather correlation as well. Here it seems like folks just want to cozy up in their own burrows and hibernate for the winter, and when it gets nicer outside everyone re-emerges and is ready to socialize again. If it gets rainy and muddy, people stay inside and have a hot cup of tea. The only exception to this seems to be spring showers, when it's finally greening up and new flowers are emerging--then folks don't seem to mind the rain and even rejoice a bit in the muck. Certainly my DD rejoices in it!

I just find it amusing...not that we are any different! I don't have much interest in bundling up and taking the kids out for walks in 30F weather. I know DS would be miserable, DD would complain about being too hot, then too cold, and she wouldn't want to walk back home. Far easier to entertain them inside and invite some friends over if the kids are desperate for a little company. I suppose that's why I look forward to springtime as much as anyone--I can get out and clean up the garden, putter around with flower seeds, and let DD run around to her heart's content. Even with all our modern conveniences, it's amazing how influenced we still are by the natural world.