I have lived in Florida for almost 24 years now. I grew up in Upstate New York in the 2nd cloudiest city in the United States, Syracuse. When I moved to Florida, I thought it would be a tropical paradise with non-stop sunshine. After all, it is known as the Sunshine State.
One difference I quickly observed between New York and Florida was how people spend their time during rainy days. In New York, the Malls and Movie theaters were crowded in rainy weather as people sought to escape the wetness by spending them doing leisure activities. When the weather was sunny, these destinations were deserted as people spent their time enjoying the rare summertime weather. In Florida, it was quite the opposite. During those numerous hot and humid days with the radiating sunshine, people escape to the air-conditioned malls and theaters to escape the heat and sun. When it rains, these venues are deserted as people don’t like to venture out when there is a possibility of getting wet. I think the reckless driving in wet weather has something to do with it as well.
In Florida, I quickly found that, especially in the summer, there is a daily rain shower. It may not hit the entire area. In fact, sometimes it only rains in part of our neighborhood for just a minute or two.
It is unusual for us to have all-day soaking rains, but they do happen occasionally. When I happen to be home and not working at my day job during those days, there are a number of ways I have been known to spend these days.
Netflix/Hulu/Amazon and Chill
I am a binge watcher. I have been known to watch an entire season of a television show within one rainy day. There is nothing quite as embarrassing as having Netflix prompt you to see if you’re still watching. It’s like the app is calling you a loser for sitting in front of the T.V. for that long. Of course, thanks to the dual monitor setup on my computer, I can happily binge and work at the same time.
My latest binge watching has included:
- Ozark
- Black Mirror
- Bird Box
- How’s it Made
- Ray Donovan
- Shameless
Read a Book
This is always an option. I’m a voracious reader. I used to read exclusively when I went to bed at night, but I’m finding that it’s becoming harder to stay awake for reading after working a 14 hour day. Now I read when I travel or just because I want to read. Rainy days are great for this. My favorite time is when we lose power due to a hurricane or storm and reading becomes one of the only options.
Cook
My ten-year-old daughter Lillie loves to cook. I love to cook with her. She is now able to bake several things on her own and has helped me make lasagna for family dinners for the past three years. It’s a fun time to bond with her and make some great food.
Eat
See the previous item. Eating is a comforting activity and something about making soup, stew or chili during the rainy weather helps take out the dampness in the air.
Oh Yeah, Writing
Writing is a great activity anytime, but when it’s rainy outside, I feel less guilt over other things I could be doing with that time. I can’t go outside. I might get wet. I just have to remember to save my work often in case the power goes out. Writing is the ultimate leisure time activity for me. I still enjoy doing it whenever I can. That’s a good sign after five-plus years of serious writing effort.
What about you? How do you spend those rainy days.
Either way, I spend much of my day at the computer. The main difference is that I walk inside on the treadmill when it’s rainy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing, Becky.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no! I’m moving to New York in the summer! Will it be as rainy as London? I’ll bring my umbrella. I love rainy days because it means I can have an “in” day and potter at home and write. It also means that I am forced to deal with my emails and paperwork which I loathe, but at least then it’s done. Katie
LikeLike
It depends on where you’re moving to. In upstate New York, around Syracuse, the city is lodged between Lake Ontario and the Adirondack Mountains. This generates lots of clouds and rain and about 160 inches of snow in the winter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Crikey! That’s a lot of snow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is and can last from October to May.
LikeLike
Goodness! I love snow but I do believe that it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely too much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Though I now live in the South-East of England, I was born and raised in Wales. To me, a rainy day is a normal day. The only difference the weather makes to me is how open the windows are, and how long I stay out with the dog.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great viewpoint, VIctoria. It becomes part of the norm until you move away from it.
LikeLike
True.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I lived in Florida all my life until recently, and I gotta say you got right about people staying indoors when it’s sunny out. Air conditioning is mandatory down there. Especially in your car. I don’t know how those early settlers in the 1920s drove around in those black Model Ts, which just absorbed the heat.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I don’t think I could have tolerated Florida before A/C
LikeLike
I grew up in Pennsylvania, where people’s reaction to rain is much the same as it is where you grew up. I currently live in Southern California, where rain is seen as a major event. I find it interesting that, sometimes, a rainfall is called a ‘winter storm’ here. When it does rain (which isn’t often), I find it comforting somehow. I stay inside and work, write, or sometimes check out some Netflix.
LikeLike
It’s safer to stay inside in SoCal when it rains. The freeways become a demolition derby.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Florida native here. Sunshine is overrated! Lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on DSM Publications and commented:
Check out this post from my author site
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Anna Dobritt — Author.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing this, Anna
LikeLike
Rainy days in Michigan are spent reading and watching Netflix. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree…two great pursuits.
LikeLike
I like rainy or snowy days so I can catch up on reading, watch movies, clear out emails, and do a little writing on current projects. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person