Tall Tales: Be careful what you wish for

As I frequently note, one of the biggest draws to retiring in the Upper Valley is my disdain for heat and appreciation for cold weather. I understand that I have made this statement as a Southern New Englander (Connecticut and Massachusetts) who has never experienced a full Upper Valley winter. While the calendar announces December 21 as the official first day of winter, I have used the power of deduction within my household to conclude that its arrival may be far sooner. To make this declaration, there are three conditions that need to be met, and each recently has: my car tire pressure light is illuminated most mornings, the dog is uninterested in long walks and my wife has started wearing her wool sweaters, indoors! While I consider myself soft by virtually every measure of grit, there are two areas where I have always prided myself on being hardier than most: enduring cold weather without complaint and driving long distances before having to make a rest stop.

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