It's hard to pinpoint exactly the best weather conditions simply because my preference depends of a wide range of variables such as my mood, what I'm doing, or what I would like to do. In a world of my own construction, where school or work or undesirable situations don't intrude on a person's well being, I would say that the temperature would be somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an ideal temperature for being outdoors, comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts, and yet not too cold for swimming. The sky would be a light shade of blue, the color of a deep and refreshing sigh, and it would be highlighted with the golden beams of the sun. The sun would dominate the sky, white-hot and penetrating every crevice it can reach. Fluffy white clouds, the kind that make parades of lazy shapes for picnickers, would appear intermittently in the sky to provide brief relief for sunbathers. I imagine that there would be a slight breeze swooshing through the trees every now and then. It would be a breeze that is just as warm as the air that it pleasantly circulates without whipping sand or flipping towels. The wind would carry the smell of fresh grass or beach salt, take your pick.
Of course, one must consider this situation to take place somewhere very green or wonderfully tropical. This would not be a pleasant day in a desert landscape and it would be terrible news in a typically frigid land such as Antarctica. This is a day that could potentially occur right here in Ithaca, or Florida...or the Bahamas...am I a dreamer or what! What has shaped my idea of the perfect day is probably the reflection of days that I have enjoyed the most; days of warm vacations on sunny beaches, summer fun with friends, and the last day of school to name a few.
Although this is my favorite kind of day, I think that the day that I have described here has been largely influenced by the wet snow and chilly weather that I have experienced over the past three months. I have a pretty good tolerance for heat so it's saying something when I start thinking 35 is warm! This is a day that I would like to have if I could have it all to myself, with no homework, no chores, nothing particularly strenuous to do...
And now let's jump back to reality.
Your description certainly does offer us a brief respite from the weather we've been having--a lovely fantasy. I enjoy reading all of the poetic descriptions that this particular prompt has inspired in many of you! The most interesting thing about climate is the way it conditions us to be able to tolerate certain conditions. Thus, you are more tolerant of some conditions than others based on what you've grown up in. For instance, you tell us, "I would say that the temperature would be somewhere between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is an ideal temperature for being outdoors, comfortable in a T-shirt and shorts, and yet not too cold for swimming." People who grew up in Phoenix, AZ typically see 65 as rather frigid. When I was teaching there, and the temperature would start to dip down into the merciful 70's and 60's (usually around mid-late November), my students who had grown up in the area would show up wearing jackets, gloves, and scarves. They simply couldn't handle the "cold".
ReplyDeleteOh, and I pick "beach salt" :)