These are quintessential Old School Blogging posts. Filled with minutia of my life. Crammed with thoughts which only matter to me.
As I ready to move to Austin from Oakland Ive dedicated 5 posts to recounting the Top 5 Reasons I’ve LOVED My Time in Oakland.
I almost closed comments as all I really ask is you spend time—no matter how long—sharing & carrying these feelings alongside me.
people rave about the Bay Area weather. I was freezing.
The #3 reason *MOST* people love Oakland California is the weather.
Ill never forget (she types as thought it weren’t just 18 months ago) as we readied to move from Texas to California how people regaled me with how fortunate I was.
“You will love the weather! It’s perfect!” was a pretty consistent refrain.
“Nah, it’s not for me. I prefer the heat. I don’t love the hot hot days but I treasure the warm mornings and evenings.”
Repeatedly people would correct me.
At first gently and then semi-mockingly telling me I was “nuts” for thinking I’d not love the Northern California weather.
Often times these individuals would summon others (Hey Bob! Come over here! This is my friend, Carla. She’s moving to the Bay Area and thinks she wont like the weather!) as a sort of back-up (?) to their assertion I was crazypants.
she was ready to use her ‘brella for rain and not sun!
Fast forward to our move.
Fast forward to the fact I was frickin’ freezing (I came here after 12 years in Texas. I didn’t own the proper cold, damp weather apparel).
Fast even more forward to the fact I sweat like a motherfucker sweater (the fact no homes/restaurants/stores/ANYWHERE have air-conditioning did not mean it wasn’t needed. They just didn’t have.).
I wimpy. I bundled. I was mocked.
The child, however, love the Bay Area cooler temps.
She played outside in the summer (as opposed to hiding indoors and emerging come winter).
We hikedwalkedfrolicked.
shadows? yes. sweatingmeltingtemps? no.
She was able to debut myriad new fashion concoctions and styles without needing to fret about overheating.
And *loved* her new-found freedom with scarves and knee-socks.
Because of the Child’s love (& because so many do not share my *love* of the warm mornings/evenings) I’ve chosen to bestow upon the Sunny Side of the Bay a Your Weather Rocks!! and name that the #3 Reason why most NORMAL people would be sad to leave.
Bobbi says
December 12, 2014 at 1:15 amI love this post.
Linz @ Itz Linz says
December 12, 2014 at 3:39 ami looooooooooooooove warm weather!!
Runner Girl says
December 12, 2014 at 4:02 amBAY AREA ROCKS.
I love the cool and your posts 🙂
Hannah says
December 12, 2014 at 4:17 amYou would have frozen in SF.
Are you dreading the heat yet?
Liz says
December 12, 2014 at 4:29 amI lived in that area for a few years and thought the daytime weather was amazing.
I disliked how we never used our front porch at all as it was cold quickly after the sun went down.
Your Tornado is going to melt in Austin!
lindsay Cotter says
December 12, 2014 at 4:32 ami think i would bundle up if it were windy too. But maybe we can do a trade… Oakland in summer, Austin in Fall?
SuzLyfe (@suzlyfe) says
December 12, 2014 at 4:52 amI am one of those people that will find a way to be cold regardless, it seems, so heat is my jam. I grew up in ATL, hellllooooo
Irene says
December 12, 2014 at 4:55 amWe will miss you!!!!
And I want that tee shirt.
🙂
Vonnie says
December 12, 2014 at 5:40 amLMBO at that coat, Carla.
It is not that cold.
🙂
misszippy says
December 12, 2014 at 5:55 amShowing your open minded side, here! I am such a weather obsessor. I don’t like cold winters and I love sunshine, and I long for living somewhere with Austin-like temps. I would likely have a very closed mind to Bay Area weather. I’m glad you were open to opening yours!
Cat @ Breakfast to Bed says
December 12, 2014 at 6:09 amHot weather, like, hot hot, makes me extra ragey. Like, poke people with a stick, angry.
Susan says
December 12, 2014 at 7:05 amI am laughing at the fabulous #hellastorm that has been concocted just for your sendoff.
AdjustedReality says
December 12, 2014 at 7:44 amI am also in the like the heat category. I would LOVE me some cool mornings for running, but I do not love when it doesn’t at least get up to the 60s as a daily high. I’ve vacationed places in the SUMMER where the temps were in the 50s and that just would not fly for a permanent home for me.
mimi says
December 12, 2014 at 8:30 amTrust me, i would be with you, and freeze. Even here in the swamps i get cold. Yes, i know i’m not normal that way.
Sherri says
December 12, 2014 at 1:32 pmI always think it’s funny when other people try to tell YOU how to feel about weather, one way or the other. It’s SO personal whether you run hot or cold! I live in the East Bay, and have had some bone-chilling mornings that my midwest friends would scoff at. Loved reading this.
Chris says
December 13, 2014 at 2:37 pmA little while longer and you’ll acclimitize to the weather … just hang in there! 🙂
cheryl says
December 13, 2014 at 6:19 pmIt’s perfect running weather there…and you have the bay to swim in! I would SO love to live there!
Kim says
December 14, 2014 at 9:23 amI’m a warm weather lover living in Kansas – 3 months of the year are great for me here.
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero says
December 14, 2014 at 3:23 pmLike you, after 11 years in CHS, the bay would be COLD to me too!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude says
December 15, 2014 at 5:35 amI like that you could find a way to embrace the weather as one of the best things. And the Tornado’s fashion sense cannot be beat! 🙂