Michigan is Thawing (With Reminders It’s Chilly!)

I truly love where I live, but I am so over Michigan winters. This post is actually about the opposite, but let me first set the scene:

It’s not just that it’s cold outside in winter (though I’m not a huge fan of that either). It’s what happens socially. When our long winters drag on, people tend to stay inside more, and it becomes harder to socialize organically. Many go into hibernation mode, living a cozy, mostly indoor existence. But I love nature. And I love people.

I struggle with this dynamic because I’m very extroverted. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy cozy solitude at times, too. I embrace it. But, basically, I’m a golden retriever in human form. I tire of how much work it takes to set up social events when it could happen much more naturally if it were simply warmer.

So, that’s how I feel about winter.

But that’s not how I feel now. Why? It’s warming up! Sure, we’re barely above 50 degrees most days, but this process will continue over the next few months. What’s most obvious to me, though, is that the social hibernation mode is over and continuing to thaw. I’m running into more people when I’m out and about. There are more opportunities to spend time with friends, both one-on-one and in groups. Events are popping up. I love all of this.

On Saturday, I walked into the grocery store and bumped into a treasured friend I hadn’t seen in a while. We stood by the bananas and caught up. She’s an incredibly wise woman, also witty and hilarious. I loved every part of our conversation. She told me about a gigantic rally taking place just down the street—thousands of people gathered to promote democracy. After leaving, I drove down the street and honked at them with joyful abandon. I was so glad she pointed me in that direction.

But before I left, she playfully scolded me. “And put on a jacket, won’t you? It’s chilly outside!”

True.

Yet my dear friend, after many long months, socially, it is not. I’m so glad to be scolded about my jacketless existence, especially with a dear friend, right by the bananas.

— Renee Roederer