Cycling Weather

The last three days here in California it was lovely and warm. Apologies to those with snow on the ground or freezing daytime temps, but it was 70'F here. Yes, that's right: 70'F. I dried laundry on the line. I wore short sleeves. I opened up the windows and let the gentle breeze drift through.

This is why people retire to California. There's a LOT of California which relatively far from San Francisco and Los Angeles crime and home prices completely suitable for retirement living, enjoying the good weather like this week has been, and smirking at the snow storms "back East". Neighbors were out riding bicycles. If I'd had a scooter, I would have ridden it around laughing to "Girl From Ipanema" on the stereo. We're expecting rain this weekend, but for now, and on Thanksgiving, we will again have clear and warm days. Are you jealous?

We do have our troubles, and the drought isn't over yet, but we'll have rain on Saturday and Sunday, and probably snow Sunday and Monday, at least in the high country. The Skiiers will like that. As will the people running the resorts. Ski resort staff make their living doing that all winter, and then go back to waitressing or growing pot when the season is over. A reality of modern California, I think.

Still we have better weather than the rest of America and they are jealous. And when serious winter blizzards blow into the Midwest, retiring folk think: Why do we keep living here where the winters are so long, so bitter, so miserable when we could be driving around in a convertible 10 months of the year in California? And its true. And they DO move here. And they settle in little towns rather than the big loud angry cities, and life is good. We have cheap good wine. We have many more kinds of lettuce that get out of state. Our sports teams often win. You can go on vacation to all sorts of different places without leaving the state or our weather behind, usually within a day's drive.

Thanksgiving is going to be sunny and warm again. I'll be doing lots of cooking for the feast, including the bird itself. I joined 2500 other people for the Turkey Trot this morning and probably again after eating so my body is all set to deal with the high quality food. And there's a 49er's football game afterward, against Seattle. All very traditional.

I am a fan of this holiday, celebrating family, immigration, and our history as Americans. It is one of our high points as a people. I hope the other Americans reading this enjoy their feasting and remember what makes us a good people.