We have lived in California for a little over a year now, and there are a lot of things I love. But, in the fall and winter time, I feel a lot of nostalgia for New England. Leaves change color a little bit in California, but nothing like the flaming reds and oranges of the east coast. And, with Christmas music playing, this is what I really miss.
I’m glad my three oldest kids will have memories of a time when we lived next to a forest, with a huge yard. I’m glad we have photos of snowball fights with dad, and of discovering leaves underneath a block of ice.
Anna doesn’t know what it’s like to paint with a *real* icicle, and she won’t be playing with snow on a tray on the kitchen floor this winter. Instead she rides in her stroller barefoot at school pick-up, because it’s warm enough that I can let her get away with it. There are some very good things about living in California, and my kids definitely spend more hours per day outside than they did in Massachusetts.
I’m glad that we learned to embrace the cold while we were in Massachusetts – just like we embrace the sunshine here in California. I love when it rains here, and I loved when winter temperatures rose above freezing in Massachusetts.
We are probably in California for good, but there’s always a chance we will move again – back to Massachusetts, or somewhere else. Either way, we do our best to make the most of living where we are. I try to experience all aspects of living where we live – just like I think it’s important to be present for all the different sides of being a parent – beautiful and painful.
Have you ever moved to a new place? What do you love about your new home? What do you miss?
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Oh, I hear you. I loved when we lived in New England. The biggest thing that is hard for me about living in the Southern Hemisphere is the heat of the Summer during Christmas!
The changing season are nice here. We moved from metro west to Cape Cod in after my son was born. There is a bit less snow and temp extremes but the biggest difference is not living in an urban area near Boston. I miss being so close to all that.
Cape Cod is really beautiful, but definitely more of a commute to Boston!
Beautiful pictures and memories. We are expats where we live and I am always comparing the weather too. Coming from tropical to a desert… I wish we could live somewhere where it snowed. Love your posts, MaryAnne! They are always so happy.
Thank you, Aysh!
We are from CA and miss our families badly but I know if we ever move back I will miss living in a place with four seasons. I am trying to enjoy it just in case we are not here forever.
We’re still close enough to our move that it hasn’t really sunk in what exactly we miss…for now we just miss the feeling of being home.
We are having an unusually warm winter in Idaho this year. It was 60 degrees here today! My family and I normally love to take advantage of the cold weather. And I do believe that my youngest prefers playing outside in the winter more than he does in the summer. The weather is what tells my brain which holiday to get ready for next. I’m a bit confused now. The calendar says Christmas and my brain says that I is time to start my garden.
I really miss the way seasons mark the passing of time – and I feel like winter does a great job of getting everyone to slow down a little.
Look at that beautiful snow and ice.
Born and raised and stayed in Texas my whole life! Imagine that. But I definitely have the travel bug and love to experience different places and cultures!
It’s snowing today in Boston but not the good kind that sticks. The wet yucky kind!
Love your new profile picture and the family photo on your about page!! :)
Beautiful pictures and reflections. I do miss cold weather at Thanksgiving and Christmas, mostly because I don’t feel like cooking or wrapping lots of presents when it’s hot outside. It’s our fifth year here in Australia, and it’s easier this year, but I think that’s more because of moderate temperatures at the moment, rather than me getting used to the opposite seasons this time of year. They actually play things like “White Christmas” in the shops here, which I find so odd!
We moved when I was pregnant with the boys, but they have been lucky enough to live in the same house their whole life. I moved to Texas from California when I was 10 and been in Texas since then.
I raised my kiddos in TN & moved back to CA 3 years ago. I only miss the spectacular leaves in the fall. It doesn’t snow where we are but are close enough to see it on the mountains.