Autumn in Austin
Now that the buzz of Halloween has simmered down a bit and we’re in the full swing of a true Austin Autumn I can only note the sheer oddness of 6pm nightfalls when it’s still warm outside. Coming from Pennsylvania where by the beginning of November it’s cold enough to make you want to stay inside or, at least, wear a proper winter jacket, the fact that I can have all of my doors and windows open and walk around outdoors in flip flops just feels wrong, somehow. Warm and good, of course, but wrong…
I also feel like I’m at a loss for something to do! If it were freezing cold outside and getting dark so early, I wouldn’t feel out of place. Late Autumn and Winter in Pennsylvania is the time of hot chocolate, Bailey’s and family movie nights.
But with warm weather comes the allure of bike rides, long walking adventures and sitting on restaurant patios enjoying evening drinks. When the night falls and I feel lured inside, it’s a taunting tug of war feeling.
Another observation is the lack of the trees changing in color. I’m very fond of the new paint job a northern Autumn gives the world every year, and in fact very much do revel in it. Perhaps it’s the balance needed to keep humankind out and about, enjoying the world, able to suffer through the fallingly chilling temperatures. As the leaves brighten up our world it takes the edge off of the reality of colder days and evenings, and it all seems to blend together long enough to make it to the New Years’ lights. Nature in this region doesn’t need to change colors because it doesn’t get all that cold. In fact, most people here complain about the ridiculously high temperatures in summer, as though we need to watch out for those and that this season is the best, in fact, the welcomed one.
I believe I’m finding that the natural progression of the seasons is probably very much instilled in my mind as how things should be, and without witnessing them, without being a part of that happening, my body feels a little out of touch with reality. Even to the point that I wonder what effect that might have on the human psyche.
For example, every year there’s a day when I first “smell Autumn” as I like to put it. Where you walk outside one day and it just hits you, now it’s Fall. The same thing happens for every season, at some point you can just feel that it’s changed, and with that, you feel the ever-present passage of time, which in turn makes you more aware of the fact that your life is limited and you should be taking advantage of what little time you do have. Eliminate that cue from nature and what is the repercussion? Is a lack of awareness of time more likely to make us want to do less with our lives, like a child on a playdate, it’s only once they realize they’re running out of time that they start to hustle around, sometimes trying to squeeze more out of life. But sometimes, they just sit and scream and cry and try to convince their parents that they should stay longer. Doing so rarely gets the parent to change their mind, instead, it just wastes more of the time that could have been spent playing.
I don’t have the answer for certain, but I would imagine a life of endless summer would at least give you more actual days to get out and do life. If those days are spent as well as a northern summer day, that is the question.
Freya
7 Nov 2008 2:47 pm
I’m so sorry you missed fall this year. It was, and still is, quite lovely. I’ve only put my coat on twice so far.
I don’t think I could live without all 4 seasons. It’s a point of contention in picking a place to live between JP and I. Snow is non-negotiable. I must have it.
aunt nykki
7 Nov 2008 3:31 pm
wow I so long to be with you guys! Fall is by far the best season of the year! It encompasses all of natures beauty to the extreme before it dies. I love the trees natural awe like fireworks leaving a grand finale of excitement and appreciation one last time before it’s time to stop celebrating life for that year.
Today I tasted winter. The smell was so fresh and brought life back into my soul. I can’t wait until that first crunchy snow fall. Just hearing those creaks and cracks under your feet as you tromple through it. Ah winter is setting in. Too bad your bypassing it this. I might come visit you guys while your down there!
Dan Wright
7 Nov 2008 4:14 pm
Wow, this is truly the great American Road Trip. Something my family would love but have never been able to do, so we’ll be trekking with you vicariously!
After you go to Flagstaff, consider visiting California’s secret desert and the largest state park in the country here at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Sunny days and extremely clear, dark night skies. Truly one of the best places in the country to see thousands of sparkling stars spattered against an inky black sky.
We would love to put you up here at The Springs at Borrego RV Resort, one of the nations premier new RV destinations.
We’d love to see you here in sunny Borrego Springs!
Nathan
7 Nov 2008 6:08 pm
@Dan: Thanks for the offer, Dan! That’s quite generous of you and I can’t imagine we wouldn’t take advantage of such an offer. We’ve been planning on spending quite a bit of time in California, anyway, and with few plans, I’d be excited to check out your area.
@Nykki: Come along and visit, for sure! I do have to say that I’ll probably miss the whole Yuletide season, the snow, the lights, all of it. But I will be happy to skip the January, February, March, etc. dragging on of winter.
@Freya: We were lucky enough to catch Fall in full bloom, since we went north before we went south, so we actually saw Autumn a few weeks before it’d really set in near Pittsburgh…but it seemed to last SO LONG this year. Usually it’s so fleeting, but it seems to have been a warmer than usual, longer than usual Autumn this year. Maybe Indian summer. :)
Jill
8 Nov 2008 8:41 pm
Thanks for taking time to put together this site. I’ve enjoyed reading through everything and will keep checking in occasionally to see what you are up to.
We have are behind you guys by a few months—bought a 5th wheel and truck in August, are finishing up things and doing the dreaded sorting & pitching routine now, and will be trying to get our house rented asap.
We’ve set a departure date of December 11th—when we will take off for Christmas in Denver with family, then head down south to Texas, NM and Arizona.
It’s encouraging to read about others who really have survived the pitching and packing and are actually ON THE ROAD!!
Happy travels to you…
Jill (46 yo homeschool mom) for Randy (47 yo self-employed software developer), and two homeschooled kids (the older 4 are away at college/grad school :-)
Dan Wright
9 Nov 2008 12:58 pm
Great, Nathan!
Please email me through the contact page at http://www.springssatborrego.com when you know more about when you will be arriving. After a couple of nights at The Springs at Borrego RV Resort, you’ll know why Borrego Springs and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are in the best place you never heard of!
Nathan
9 Nov 2008 2:26 pm
Will do Dan. We probably won’t be making it that far West for another month – three months but we’ll definitely get in touch with you!
Nathan
9 Nov 2008 2:42 pm
That’s great news, Jill. I wish you the very best of luck. Packing up your life and getting rid of all of the excess can be the most difficult, but it was also the most lethargic process for me, particularly when it was all over.
gramma Laurie and papa Ray
9 Nov 2008 5:49 pm
I’m sure we would miss the seasons too but it sure would be nice to enjoy nice weather a little longer. Dad has been cutting up and raking leaves for a while now and hopes this is the last time this year. We did have a coating of snow, about 3 to 4 inches already but it melted quickly. We can’t wait till you guys get here for Thanksgiving, we’ll just have to celebrate Christmas then. Kiss Tristan for us and give him a big hug too!
Karen
10 Nov 2008 11:39 am
As a Texas gal, I can truthfully say, I’ve never missed having seasons. I love being able to get out and do outdoor things year round. Oh, yes, it’s hotter than the hinges of hell here in summer, but people adjust. We learn WHEN to get out. Mornings and evenings are lovely and balmy.
Yesterday, when Nathan, Livvy, Tristan & I were roaming around Austin, we exclaimed several times what a glorious sunny perfect day it was, especially for November. The Drag was teeming with folks out walking, shopping, sightseeing. Most were in shorts or light jeans and short sleeved tee shirts – as were we! There really is something to be said for a nice, warm climate.
Bob S.
11 Nov 2008 8:55 am
Without seasons there is nothing to look forward to.
Still I hate ‘em. Give me warmth all year long and maybe I’ll come up and visit only to know that it wont last long.
–Bobby Stones
Bob S.
11 Nov 2008 8:56 am
WHY CAN’T I GET MY PICTURE ON HERE.
Make is so, Captain Monk!
Nathan
12 Nov 2008 8:49 am
This site uses Gravatar for images. Go to Gravatar.com and sign up for an account, and whatever pic you use there should show up automatically when you post with that email address here.
Ron Huss
17 Nov 2008 2:35 pm
Read about your adventure at Tribune-Democrat.com. Being from Johnstown I try to stay abreast of things in J-town. Have enjoyed your site tremendously and greatly admire your undertaking. Best of luck in all you do!
One problem I seem to be having, you may not be aware of. On your tite/home page most of the sub-titles are blocked out by a white rectangle. Under the tag line “A family’s worth of wanderlust” there are only three subtitles, the three on the far right side of the page, features, media and blog, plus the orange logo.
I have viewed your site using a pc (not mac) with IE, Firefox and Google Chrome. All appear the same way. Would like to know if this a mac to pc problem or what.
Ron Huss