When I was on my road trip adventure/fiasco. I had this plan that I would “follow the weather”. In the hot spring and summer months, I’d camp out in forests and mountains where it was cooler. In the winter, I’d reverse direction and migrate to the warm deserts and possibly back to Florida. My plan seemed perfect. It would ensure I had ideal weather year-round while minimizing my need to travel frequently.
I was so naive that it’s embarrassing to think about it.
I screwed up big time assuming the desert would be as warm as Florida in the spring. It wasn’t even close.
I also assumed it would not rain in the desert – after all it is the desert. Wrong again.
I never imagined I would get snowed in – in June!
Most days I drove 200-400 miles searching for a place to camp. The worst days, I could log 800 miles.
Occasionally, I stumbled across the right place at the right time and enjoyed a day or two of great weather. All the other times, I was battling the never ending wind, the cold temps, the stifling desert heat, and the rain and mud.
I gave up after 60 days. I couldn’t outrun the bad weather.
That was nearly six years ago. Since then, I’ve lived in near perfect home in Raleigh. For 9 months of the year, the weather ranges from ideal to acceptable.
And then there’s winter.
I hate winter. I cannot stand being cold. I despise snow, ice and biting cold winds. I hate having bundle up in a parka, mittens, balaclava, and multiple layers in an attempt to stay warm.
Every winter during one of our weeklong cold snaps in January or February, I start thinking about “outrunning the weather” again. I check the weather in Phoenix, LA, Northern California, and Florida. I look at Zillow to see if there are any houses for sale in my price range. I weigh the costs of relocation – starting over again, the lack of affordable homeowners insurance, taxes, etc.
As much as I despise winter, I feel like I can’t start over again. My life has been stable and good these past 6 years. Raleigh is the nicest place I’ve ever lived. I don’t want to uproot everything.
So instead, I grind through the winter. The current stretch of 20 degree nights and 30-40 degrees days sucks. But I know, in a few days or a few weeks, I’ll be out walking the dogs in the sunshine and the temps will go up into the 50s. Then a few weeks later I’ll put away my winter gear until next season.
I just have to stick it out until then.
Besides, I already have learned, I can’t outrun the weather.