That’s such an interesting perspective, Susan: reclaiming a tourist town as your own in the winter. I imagine that is relaxing and refreshing! And yes to critter cuddling. 🐶
Absolutely! It made sense to follow weather and resources in order to survive. It feels like a matter of survival for me even now, to want to go where the sun is.
Nov 22, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
Thanks for the mention Liz! I watched some geese flying overhead as I read this and pondered on why we don't migrate. It feels good to have folk in my sphere who are weathering winter and trying to make it suck less, your post was really appreciated.
Nov 22, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
My thoughts precisely! Why do people live here year-round. It's #puremichigan in the summer, but unless you're an outdoor enthusiast when the temps drop, it's HARD. I resist and lament constantly, which doesn't help. So excited to hear about your son! Looking forward to hearing of your "wintering" adventures. ❤️❤️
Thank you, Lynn! For me it gets a little bit more fun when the snow falls and I can get out cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with the dogs. But then again, I’m not the one who has to shovel!
Nov 22, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
For me it’s the summer! Because Texas. But when I lived in NY, whoa my god, the seasonal depression made me so cranky. I hated waking up to a bright blue sky and relaxing it was 20 degrees outside. The dry skin. The dry eyes. The dirty snow. The early afternoon shift to darkness. The scarping of snow plows. None of it this Texas girl enjoyed. So I left. And suffer in the summer instead.
I’m glad to know it’s not just me, Joy! And I was thinking about that. I went to college in Miami, but I couldn’t imagine being there in the summer. You are trapped inside with the air-conditioning. There are very few climates that are ideal year-round, which is why I vote for seasonal migration!
Nov 22, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
I say “If you don’t like winter, don’t live in NH”. I am 72 years young and I love New England weather. If you get involved in outdoor activities year-round, there should be no reason to complain. Winter, spring, summer or fall, dress appropriately and get out there! Enjoy all that New Hampshire has to offer. You’ll never get bored!
Thanks Denise! I do my best to get out. I spent five winter seasons peak-bagging the New England Hundred Highest from 2013-2018. I’ve been on mountaintops in -25°F air temperatures and 50 mph winds. I’ve slogged 20 hours through 3 feet of fresh snow carrying a 40 pound pack at 0°F (the sunset photo in the Liz Explores logo is from that hike, on Mt. Coe in Baxter State Park.) I feel like I’ve done my time, and I have no desire to do it again! 😂
Nov 23, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
Great post, and lovely to hear the new developments in family life ❤
I hope you don't mind me asking a technical question here, but I'd love to know how you insert the previews of older posts into your page? Still getting my head around the tech side of this platform and been looking for a way to do that!
Nov 23, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
Oh wow, thank you so much for mentioning my winter post too! We are definitely in good company on Substack :) I am going to settle down and read your lovely post properly tomorrow when I'm not in the office for work, but just wanted to say thanks now as I saw the notification :) Much love! x
Nov 24, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
I have now caught up and loved this post. It’s lovely to hear snippets of your adoption story, wishing you all the very best with that journey ❤️ As for winter, well I live in the UK so it’s typically a grey, grey time. Sometimes summer goes the same way! 😱 I’m more of a middle season person, spring is the best. I don’t like the HOT weather (no air con in the UK) but I also don’t love the cold. Gah!
The gray is the hardest part. I don’t mind a sunny winter day with fresh snow, but I guess you don’t get many of those in the UK? I agree that summer without A/C is brutal. Springtime is full of promise!
Nov 24, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
Hi Liz, I was going to say “I hope you didn’t take my last post personally.”, but I am the one who takes it personally. When I read negative comments about the weather I erroneously think people are talking about NH and I run to its defense. My bad..
It’s true; I struggle with the New Hampshire winters, much as I try to get outside. It’s the gray days and mud this time of year that get me more than anything. I tried to go for a trail run the other day and found myself in ankle-deep puddles. The dogs needed baths afterwards. I’ve stayed out of the woods since. But I did buy my season pass for Bear Notch cross-country, so fingers crossed for good snow soon! 🤞
Nov 25, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
Your journey, from the highs of the road trip through Alaska to the challenges of returning home, is incredibly relatable and resonates with the complexities of life. Thank you for sharing the highs and lows, and for embracing the beauty in both.
Thank you, Winston! I’m glad this piece resonates and doesn’t just feel whiny. I wish I’d had a more nostalgic homecoming, but it felt important to acknowledge that it isn’t always blissful to go home. I appreciate your thoughtful comment!
Nov 28, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
This was a wonderful piece. I’m so glad you’ve returned to writing! I went to college in New England and remember the winters well. It’s a little different here in Oregon, lots of torrential rain storms but I can’t complain terribly because it’s lush and green and beautiful. I only know bits and pieces of your infertility journey and adoption story now but your son sounds remarkable and I look forward to reading more. I was very attached to the idea of having a daughter and now with two sons am smitten. ❤️ I trust you will be, too.
Aww, thank you, Addie! I, too, always thought I wanted a daughter. But when it came to adopting through foster care, I told our case worker that I was open to any age and any gender. The most important thing was finding a child who fit our personalities and interests. He ended up being a boy, and I am thrilled! 😍
Yes to all of this. I have been cocooned for days in my fuzzy pink jammies. Twinkle lights are key! My husband is wrapping the house in Christmas lights today, so that should get me through the next few weeks. 🎄
Nov 30, 2023Liked by Liz Medford - lizexplores.com
Thanks so much for following me back and I’m sorry for the loss of your Palmolive bottle. It sounds like it had a great life.
I moved to Maine a few years ago and it’s officially dark by 4pm this time of year. I pour beeswax candles and fragrance them with custom blends of essential oils. I also have strings of soft electric lights and a fire to create a cozy atmosphere indoors. But other than enjoying more time to read and write, I gotta say that winter is just something we have to endure with gritted teeth up here!
I appreciate your sympathy, Lauren. I’m still grieving my Palmolive. I ordered a new one, but it will never hold those 15 years of memories.
I realized you were from Maine when I read your piece about the recent shooting. Your state has long been my second home; the place I visit at least once or twice every summer to baptize myself in the frigid north Atlantic.
Where are you located? What are your favorite places to go? I’ve been falling in love with the Phippsburg area lately--Popham beach and Hermit Island. We camp there every fall and participate in the dog parade. Acadia is usually my first camping trip every spring, before the bugs get bad.
I’ve been reading and writing 24/7 these days. I don’t think I’ve left my house in three days. At the very least, I’ll get a lot done this winter!
I'll have to check it out! We live in Surry, which is closer to Acadia. I haven't explored Southern Maine too much but really want to spend a few days down there.
If you're ever looking for a private place to camp when visiting Acadia, we rent out a spot on our farm! (I hope it's okay that I shared the link!)
No way Lauren, that is so cool! I would love to camp there sometime, if only for the excellent company, but I bet the scenery is beautiful as well. Thank you so much for letting me know! 😍
That’s such an interesting perspective, Susan: reclaiming a tourist town as your own in the winter. I imagine that is relaxing and refreshing! And yes to critter cuddling. 🐶
I really enjoyed the essay!
"Why have we not collectively engineered a society where we can migrate with the seasons?" If only!
Right?! It is certainly more possible to be migratory now than it was five or 10 years ago, but still.
Indeed. I'm guilty of citing the following book too much, but it talks persuasively of how annual migrations were a feature of our lives in our deep history (e.g. before we had cities): https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/oct/23/the-dawn-of-everything-by-david-graeber-and-david-wengrow-review-inequality-is-not-the-price-of-civilisation
Absolutely! It made sense to follow weather and resources in order to survive. It feels like a matter of survival for me even now, to want to go where the sun is.
Thanks for the mention Liz! I watched some geese flying overhead as I read this and pondered on why we don't migrate. It feels good to have folk in my sphere who are weathering winter and trying to make it suck less, your post was really appreciated.
Thank you for the inspiration, Helen! When I saw your piece and the others pop up this week, I knew we were all on the same wavelength.
My thoughts precisely! Why do people live here year-round. It's #puremichigan in the summer, but unless you're an outdoor enthusiast when the temps drop, it's HARD. I resist and lament constantly, which doesn't help. So excited to hear about your son! Looking forward to hearing of your "wintering" adventures. ❤️❤️
Thank you, Lynn! For me it gets a little bit more fun when the snow falls and I can get out cross-country skiing and snowshoeing with the dogs. But then again, I’m not the one who has to shovel!
For me it’s the summer! Because Texas. But when I lived in NY, whoa my god, the seasonal depression made me so cranky. I hated waking up to a bright blue sky and relaxing it was 20 degrees outside. The dry skin. The dry eyes. The dirty snow. The early afternoon shift to darkness. The scarping of snow plows. None of it this Texas girl enjoyed. So I left. And suffer in the summer instead.
*realizing not relaxing 😂
I’m glad to know it’s not just me, Joy! And I was thinking about that. I went to college in Miami, but I couldn’t imagine being there in the summer. You are trapped inside with the air-conditioning. There are very few climates that are ideal year-round, which is why I vote for seasonal migration!
I say “If you don’t like winter, don’t live in NH”. I am 72 years young and I love New England weather. If you get involved in outdoor activities year-round, there should be no reason to complain. Winter, spring, summer or fall, dress appropriately and get out there! Enjoy all that New Hampshire has to offer. You’ll never get bored!
Denise Carter
Thanks Denise! I do my best to get out. I spent five winter seasons peak-bagging the New England Hundred Highest from 2013-2018. I’ve been on mountaintops in -25°F air temperatures and 50 mph winds. I’ve slogged 20 hours through 3 feet of fresh snow carrying a 40 pound pack at 0°F (the sunset photo in the Liz Explores logo is from that hike, on Mt. Coe in Baxter State Park.) I feel like I’ve done my time, and I have no desire to do it again! 😂
Great post, and lovely to hear the new developments in family life ❤
I hope you don't mind me asking a technical question here, but I'd love to know how you insert the previews of older posts into your page? Still getting my head around the tech side of this platform and been looking for a way to do that!
Great question! Substack does it automatically when I drop a link, as long as it starts with the https:// prefix.
Oh great, thanks for the tip 😀
I was excited to figure it out myself! 😁
Oh wow, thank you so much for mentioning my winter post too! We are definitely in good company on Substack :) I am going to settle down and read your lovely post properly tomorrow when I'm not in the office for work, but just wanted to say thanks now as I saw the notification :) Much love! x
I’m always happy to share good writing!
This is all beautiful and the photos are incredible and make me homesick. I’m so thrilled for you and this new adventure!
Thank you, Angie! I’m glad you enjoyed my gratuitous mountain pics. Do touch get back to Alaska much these days?
I have now caught up and loved this post. It’s lovely to hear snippets of your adoption story, wishing you all the very best with that journey ❤️ As for winter, well I live in the UK so it’s typically a grey, grey time. Sometimes summer goes the same way! 😱 I’m more of a middle season person, spring is the best. I don’t like the HOT weather (no air con in the UK) but I also don’t love the cold. Gah!
The gray is the hardest part. I don’t mind a sunny winter day with fresh snow, but I guess you don’t get many of those in the UK? I agree that summer without A/C is brutal. Springtime is full of promise!
Hi Liz, I was going to say “I hope you didn’t take my last post personally.”, but I am the one who takes it personally. When I read negative comments about the weather I erroneously think people are talking about NH and I run to its defense. My bad..
It’s true; I struggle with the New Hampshire winters, much as I try to get outside. It’s the gray days and mud this time of year that get me more than anything. I tried to go for a trail run the other day and found myself in ankle-deep puddles. The dogs needed baths afterwards. I’ve stayed out of the woods since. But I did buy my season pass for Bear Notch cross-country, so fingers crossed for good snow soon! 🤞
Such a beautiful post, Liz - I'm so happy for you! 😊
Thank you, Rebecca! We are so excited to get to know our kiddo! 🥰
😊
Your journey, from the highs of the road trip through Alaska to the challenges of returning home, is incredibly relatable and resonates with the complexities of life. Thank you for sharing the highs and lows, and for embracing the beauty in both.
Thank you, Winston! I’m glad this piece resonates and doesn’t just feel whiny. I wish I’d had a more nostalgic homecoming, but it felt important to acknowledge that it isn’t always blissful to go home. I appreciate your thoughtful comment!
This was a wonderful piece. I’m so glad you’ve returned to writing! I went to college in New England and remember the winters well. It’s a little different here in Oregon, lots of torrential rain storms but I can’t complain terribly because it’s lush and green and beautiful. I only know bits and pieces of your infertility journey and adoption story now but your son sounds remarkable and I look forward to reading more. I was very attached to the idea of having a daughter and now with two sons am smitten. ❤️ I trust you will be, too.
Aww, thank you, Addie! I, too, always thought I wanted a daughter. But when it came to adopting through foster care, I told our case worker that I was open to any age and any gender. The most important thing was finding a child who fit our personalities and interests. He ended up being a boy, and I am thrilled! 😍
I love that, then just the right child could arrive.
I fill my house with twinkle lights, wear slippers constantly and eat vats of soup. ✨ happiest wishes for your impending adoption!
Yes to all of this. I have been cocooned for days in my fuzzy pink jammies. Twinkle lights are key! My husband is wrapping the house in Christmas lights today, so that should get me through the next few weeks. 🎄
Thanks so much for following me back and I’m sorry for the loss of your Palmolive bottle. It sounds like it had a great life.
I moved to Maine a few years ago and it’s officially dark by 4pm this time of year. I pour beeswax candles and fragrance them with custom blends of essential oils. I also have strings of soft electric lights and a fire to create a cozy atmosphere indoors. But other than enjoying more time to read and write, I gotta say that winter is just something we have to endure with gritted teeth up here!
We share a common dream of sunny Baja winters!
I appreciate your sympathy, Lauren. I’m still grieving my Palmolive. I ordered a new one, but it will never hold those 15 years of memories.
I realized you were from Maine when I read your piece about the recent shooting. Your state has long been my second home; the place I visit at least once or twice every summer to baptize myself in the frigid north Atlantic.
Where are you located? What are your favorite places to go? I’ve been falling in love with the Phippsburg area lately--Popham beach and Hermit Island. We camp there every fall and participate in the dog parade. Acadia is usually my first camping trip every spring, before the bugs get bad.
I’ve been reading and writing 24/7 these days. I don’t think I’ve left my house in three days. At the very least, I’ll get a lot done this winter!
I'll have to check it out! We live in Surry, which is closer to Acadia. I haven't explored Southern Maine too much but really want to spend a few days down there.
If you're ever looking for a private place to camp when visiting Acadia, we rent out a spot on our farm! (I hope it's okay that I shared the link!)
https://www.hipcamp.com/en-US/land/maine-northen-lights-farms-pw1ho67v?adults=1&children=0
No way Lauren, that is so cool! I would love to camp there sometime, if only for the excellent company, but I bet the scenery is beautiful as well. Thank you so much for letting me know! 😍
Woohoo! We’d love to host you 😁