Anticipation or dread of winters arrival?

[greenpassion]

I don't know about some of you out there, but I have to admit that for the first time in 40 years, I am really dreading winter coming. I live in Vermont, and have worked at the same place for 21 years now. I have to drive 26 miles each way to work, on 91, and am NOT looking forward to the icy snowy roads. My driveway is a rather long one, on an uphill grade, and I have no neighbors nearby, so when the plow guy doesn't get to my place before 11pm ( I get home around 12:15 am) I then have to park down on the road, and am sometimes plowed in by the town trucks! I am used to all this, but maybe its because I'm getting older that I am appreciating the struggle less and less. Then there's the drive on 91 to or from work during snow storms, little to no visibility, and the windshield freezing! One would ask, why not move? Well, I've been in my house for 35 years, raised my 2 daughters there (by myself literally) and well, I can't imagine starting over someplace else. On a positive note, I have acres of wooded trails all around my house, hills, etc, and one of my dogs, Loki, loves to go up into the woods year round with me, and this has been a blessing beyond comparison when I'm sick with cabin fever!

[Leafmite]

I am not a fan of snow and ice unless it is on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The rest of the year, please, no. The one advantage of global warming is that we have been having warmer winters and less snow. I hope that it stays that way.

[greenpassion]

I have read that this winter will be MUCH snower and colder than last year for New England. It's the. El Nino effect on weather currants. Global warming has so many devastating effects world wide. My complaints about snow pales in comparison to what animals and habitats are and will suffer through. I CAN'T get started along THAT topic!😦

[Dollythehun]

Only 26 miles?

[Leafmite]

I agree. I was just trying to find the only possible silver lining.

I hope we are not included in that snowier, colder forecast.

[greenpassion]

Originally Posted by Leafmite

I agree. I was just trying to find the only possible silver lining.

I hope we are not included in that snowier, colder forecast.

I think you guys are sort of on the cusp of that.

And Dolly, that's 26 miles one way, which (at least for me) can be super anxiety provoking when having to drive that distance at 8 miles an hour over slick icy roads at night! I drive a total of 208 miles a week to work and back. This has added up so fast!! Anyway, I guess one thing having to get thru these New England winters has given me is a great appreciation for spring and summer-and fall!

[camille1585]

Living out in the countryside has a lot of perks and it's great in the spring, summer, autumn. And super pretty in the winter when you don't have to go anywhere. You sound a lot like my mother, who lives in a hilly, very rual area in France. Winters are often snowy and the roads are slick. She only has 10 miles to get to the train station to then get to work, but every winter she likes it less and less. Steep hairpin turns are not forgiving when it's icy. 26 miles must feel really, really long for you when the conditions are bad.

I miss New England winters, I grew up in Connecticut. Up until last year I was praying for snow every winter (which doesn't happen much in the Netherlands, it's too coastal). Since July I have a job that I have to drive to, and it's 60 miles one way. Not so bad since it's almost all on the highway, but colleagues have told me that as soon as there is even 1 snowflake, it's hell. I've already had my 1 hour 20 minute commute turn into 3 hours on bad days, and I've been told it will be just as bad or worse with snow.

[jcec1]

Here the winters are relatively mild for being so North, we maybe only get a week or two with snow which usually amounts to a few inches, winters tend to be wet and stormy. The issue I have is the lack of sunshine, daylight may only last 6 or 7 hours in the peak of winter and usually days are cloudy so it can sometimes be weeks without seeing the sun.

[Dollythehun]

If I had to drive it every day I'd quit. It's 40 miles one way. If I could set the cruise should go...no problem. But, it's wall to wall truck traffic as we are a major corridor east to west. This morning we have snow and people will have to relearn to drive.

But I love my job, my clients and my boss. At my age, squeezing them all into one day works. We are opening an office closer so all that may change. I think we should all be thankful we have meaningful work, whether it's raising families or...😉

[rbarata]

You guys probably earn a lot of money and/or fuel is really cheap. Driving so many miles to work would kill my monthly budget. To work I must drive 1 mile, without snow.
Maybe I'm being robbed by the european politics.