It's the Weather, Stupid

I freely admit that I am absolutely terrible at making small talk and often resort to talking about the weather because I have too much social anxiety to be interesting with acquaintances. But lately it's not so much that I'm resorting to talking about the weather, it's that I'm already thinking about the weather anyway.

When I went to college in Boston in the early 90's, I used to go hiking. In the winter. For fun. Even during the worst winter I survived there, which, admittedly made it easier for my then-fiance to convince me to move to Oregon, I walked during my lunch hour. All winter.

And now? I will wear fleece if it's under 70 and there's a breeze.

In all the things I've read about turning 40, no one mentioned that I would no longer be able to stand the cold. I thought that was for 70 year olds.

This winter took years off of my life, I swear. Mostly because it feels like it's still not quite over. It's been in the fifties and raining (what used to be March weather here in Jersey) for the last six weeks or so. Before that, it was freezing.

I just want to go outside without a jacket on, is that too much to ask?

I don't technically have Seasonal Affective Disorder, well, I've never actually been diagnosed with it, anyway. But I have struggled with depression before, and I swear the way I felt when I woke up today and saw that it was chilly and rainy again . . .it felt the same. It was the opposite of when I moved from rainy Seattle to the much sunnier Kansas City. Even though I didn't know anyone and I was newly separated and my job was overwhelming and I had never lived alone before, I woke up happy on a far more regular basis.

Clearly I need to move to the southwest. Though I'd settle for anywhere that has a shorter winter. Except that I don't have that option right now (all bets are off when Hugmonkey graduates though). So, I'm begging you, internet peeps, give me some tips on how to cope with this weather. I know some of you live north of me; how do you stand these long-ass winters?

And if you can't answer that, then please give me some tips on small talk. I need a topic besides weather.

Weighty Wednesday: Yes, I'm Trying to Avoid You

I took some personality quiz a while back that was supposed to determine if you were an introvert or an extrovert (I would link to it, but since I just wasted 25 minutes on Facebook and couldn't find it, you'll just have to trust me). Apparently now there's something between the two, called an ambivert, which is what I supposedly am.

Unless you try to talk to me while I'm at the gym.

I'll be honest with you, here on the internet, in a way that I can't be in person. Yes, I'm trying to avoid you at the gym. Here's why:

• I have never looked cute while working out, not even when I was young and cute and slim(ish). I don't wear make-up at the gym, I sweat like a boy and my face turns bright red. This is not how I want to greet anyone, let alone the acquaintances that I always run into there.
• My workout is my quiet time. I don't have to answer questions or try to follow complicated stories; I can just read or meditate or stare at the CNN headlines. And I like it. 
• I'm horrible at small talk. I think I've forgotten how. Or possibly I've always been terrible at it and I didn't realize it until I had the wisdom you get from being over 40, I don't know.
• I'm trying to keep my heart rate at 80%, which means I'm pushing myself, which means I'm probably too out of breath to talk anyway. 
• I only have a limited time to work out. If I have a chat with you, I will lose workout time. And unless you're telling me what's going to happen next on Downton Abbey, my workout time is more important to me than whatever we're talking about. 
• I always wonder whether you're wondering how I can sweat so much so often and still be so fat. Then I start wondering the same thing, and the shame cycle starts and I wind up at Dunkin Donuts on my way home. 
• I don't want to do spin or Zumba or whatever class with you. Having an authority figure around when I exercise turns me into a recalcitrant teenager. 
• We're not close friends. If we were, you would already know that I'd much rather talk to you over drinks than over treadmills. 

I think it's safe to say that my introvert side definitely comes out at the gym. What about you? Do you like chatting with acquaintances while you work out?