Cloudy and cool

It's a little chilly out in the deck this morning. It won't be long before my morning coffee will be inside the house and eventually next to the fireplace. 
Nope. I'm really not a fan of the colder weather. But I recognize that it is a part of the annual cycles of life when you live at the mid latitudes in the US. 

It's weird to me that climates at this latitude vary so much. I never really think that we at the same latitude as the southern tip of Spain or the northern part of Africa. The Mediterranean climates of northern Africa, southern Italy and Greece are much more moderate than the winter climate here in Southwest MO. And they have beaches!

As Midwestern climates go, life in the Ozarks isn't too bad. We get to experience four distinct seasons, the winters are not brutally cold, there are plenty of lakes, forests and outdoor activities to enjoy in the summers, the springs are pretty ideal, and the falls can be quite beautiful.
Personally, I wouldn't mind a little less distinction between seasons. The two seasons (rainy and not rainy) of the tropics would be fine with me. I much prefer too hot over too cold.
I do plan to spend a few weeks of the coming winter in the northern tropics of Mexico. That will be a nice break from the winter cold of the Ozarks. I am looking forward to it.

For now I will endure and do my best to enjoy the time and temperature of where I am. Today I will spend some time reading on the deck, smoking a good cigar, sipping an adult beverage, and just enjoying the experience of life.

John