Mary and I live in Livingston just north of Yellowstone National Park. The wind in Livingston is like the wind you experience. It easily hits 40-50 mph gusts on rough days. When we first moved here, we stayed inside and out of the wind. But we have learned how to deal with the wind. When the winds calms down, we stop what we're doing and get outside. This has made the wind much less of an enemy and more of a creature that schedules our lives. I can live with that.
I have called the wind my nemesis for much of my life, but if I thought the Santa Anas were bad, they’re nothing like ABQ/New Mexico winds. The wind here is an actual entity, and while she may still be my nemesis, I’ve come to see her as almost goddess-like. I bow to her power, because I don’t want my head taken off by a rogue stop sign flying through the streets. (Det almost happened to my acupuncturist, and det is skörry.)
Living in red rock country, New Mexico, we were not fully prepared for the wind. We named it Bruno because we don't want to talk about it. But I like this perspective of it as a nemesis. (It's also much easier to have a friendlier detente now that we're no longer living in a bell tent ... )
Last night the trade winds returned, mild ones meaning gusts are only up to 28 miles per hour, says my weather app. These particular winds, in this particular location where my house is rooted, have the name āpaʻapaʻa - one of four for trade winds in Kohala district alone. They arrive with a rattle through the louvers of my windows, a deliberate leakiness that prevents the worst of the mildew smell that our damp, warm climate otherwise creates. People who donʻt live here ask how we stand the wind. I reply that we only complain about the wind when it gets still and the vog from Kilauea beings creeping up the coast towards us. Then everyone asks each other, as part of their greeting, at the post office and grocery store and coffee shop, "When are the trades coming back?" As the mele (song) says "Maikaʻi ka makani o Kohala" - good is the wind of Kohala. It is indeed a worthy nemesis.
I am in the profession of land surveying and work in all types of weather. Living in the PNW where it rains and rains for, sometimes, days on end in the fall, winter, and spring forces me to be my own cheerleader to get through the day. I have found that if I tell myself that at the end of the day I get to reward myself with a hot shower or a cold shower (depending on the season I am struggling to get through the day with) then my attitude shifts and I am not agitated by whatever weather event I find myself in. In my case, it is absolute truth that there is no bad weather, just bad clothing. But I would like to add to that statement that mindset also is a huge factor in getting through challenging weather patterns.
The winds at my house roar down our Mt. Diablo, aptly named, and last week, while bringing in my garbage cans, it knocked this 76yr old flat on her back in the street. Like my 8yr old self, I’m skinned and scabbed, but, thankfully, nothing is broken. Just another lesson learned in my ever aging frailty. Add the wind to my no stepladders rule. Next time it roars, the cans can wait- I’ll make it a “ window “ day! 💨🪟😂
I love wind, from the powerful strength in a hurricane to powerful snow blasting we're currently in, coming off the Great Lakes, it comes as bold, beautiful, and refreshing.
But I'm either getting older and less tolerant or I don't have the right clothing to go out in -4℉ with a windchill of -9℉ at the moment. Later today I'll test myself while doing a short hike to see which it is, old age or the wrong clothes.
I have never felt so seen! Wind is also my nemesis but we’ve learned to coexist. A snug warm hat and many layers have helped for sure, as long as she doesn’t try to snatch my hat off
Mary and I live in Livingston just north of Yellowstone National Park. The wind in Livingston is like the wind you experience. It easily hits 40-50 mph gusts on rough days. When we first moved here, we stayed inside and out of the wind. But we have learned how to deal with the wind. When the winds calms down, we stop what we're doing and get outside. This has made the wind much less of an enemy and more of a creature that schedules our lives. I can live with that.
I like the odd constraint like that!
I have called the wind my nemesis for much of my life, but if I thought the Santa Anas were bad, they’re nothing like ABQ/New Mexico winds. The wind here is an actual entity, and while she may still be my nemesis, I’ve come to see her as almost goddess-like. I bow to her power, because I don’t want my head taken off by a rogue stop sign flying through the streets. (Det almost happened to my acupuncturist, and det is skörry.)
lol 🙏🏼
Yes. We live in Eastern NM and the wind is indeed an entity worthy of respect!
I love learning new words! Psithurism. How cool. (Also, The Guardian! How cool!!)
Yes, I am quite chuffed!
Living in red rock country, New Mexico, we were not fully prepared for the wind. We named it Bruno because we don't want to talk about it. But I like this perspective of it as a nemesis. (It's also much easier to have a friendlier detente now that we're no longer living in a bell tent ... )
Bruno! I also love how many New Mexicans are here.
Last night the trade winds returned, mild ones meaning gusts are only up to 28 miles per hour, says my weather app. These particular winds, in this particular location where my house is rooted, have the name āpaʻapaʻa - one of four for trade winds in Kohala district alone. They arrive with a rattle through the louvers of my windows, a deliberate leakiness that prevents the worst of the mildew smell that our damp, warm climate otherwise creates. People who donʻt live here ask how we stand the wind. I reply that we only complain about the wind when it gets still and the vog from Kilauea beings creeping up the coast towards us. Then everyone asks each other, as part of their greeting, at the post office and grocery store and coffee shop, "When are the trades coming back?" As the mele (song) says "Maikaʻi ka makani o Kohala" - good is the wind of Kohala. It is indeed a worthy nemesis.
Oooooh this painted such a good picture.
I am in the profession of land surveying and work in all types of weather. Living in the PNW where it rains and rains for, sometimes, days on end in the fall, winter, and spring forces me to be my own cheerleader to get through the day. I have found that if I tell myself that at the end of the day I get to reward myself with a hot shower or a cold shower (depending on the season I am struggling to get through the day with) then my attitude shifts and I am not agitated by whatever weather event I find myself in. In my case, it is absolute truth that there is no bad weather, just bad clothing. But I would like to add to that statement that mindset also is a huge factor in getting through challenging weather patterns.
The sweet treat of the right temperature water 💓
At least you get the snow! ❄️ We in Taos / northern NM get all of the wind and none of the snow.
Ben tried to sell me on Taos for years and I kept citing this.
The winds at my house roar down our Mt. Diablo, aptly named, and last week, while bringing in my garbage cans, it knocked this 76yr old flat on her back in the street. Like my 8yr old self, I’m skinned and scabbed, but, thankfully, nothing is broken. Just another lesson learned in my ever aging frailty. Add the wind to my no stepladders rule. Next time it roars, the cans can wait- I’ll make it a “ window “ day! 💨🪟😂
I love wind, from the powerful strength in a hurricane to powerful snow blasting we're currently in, coming off the Great Lakes, it comes as bold, beautiful, and refreshing.
But I'm either getting older and less tolerant or I don't have the right clothing to go out in -4℉ with a windchill of -9℉ at the moment. Later today I'll test myself while doing a short hike to see which it is, old age or the wrong clothes.
It was -5 when we woke up, and that was a bit much for me.
I never made it past just outside the door. It's brutal out there.
I take it you don't have a Föhn, or what here we call a Chinook. That's a whole different dimension for your nemesis.
Pass, no thank you.
I have never felt so seen! Wind is also my nemesis but we’ve learned to coexist. A snug warm hat and many layers have helped for sure, as long as she doesn’t try to snatch my hat off