Winter warmth
Even as this is being written, the snowbirds are dusting out their suitcases and getting their vehicles in shape for the long trip south. Six weeks to six months this winter will be spent out of the country by retired people who seek to avoid the chill one can expect on our northern plains. They say they don’t need snow shovelling, they want to use their feet and seats.
Their feet they turn to golf courses and their seats to chairs around bridge tables shaded from the warm sun.
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Some who stay behind snidely question the patriotism of people who take long holidays out of the country and miss municipal elections, picketing on Parliament Hill, day-to-day shopping with GST and PST, pouring coffee at turkey suppers, driving for meals on wheels, and buying chocolate bars from gap-toothed kids who need support for hockey teams. However, the migratory folks point out that their health is consistently better in warmer climates making less of a burden on medicare.
If the predictions about El Nino bear fruit and we have unusually warm weather, we may taste balmier winter living. Perhaps some western Canadians will be golfing on New Year’s Day and others will tackle a mid-winter barbecue.
If this does transpire, we’ll be able to send the Arizona trailer occupants pictures of our brown Christmas and Aunt Prunella sunning on the lawn in January.
Could it happen? My parents told me the year I was born they took me to a Christmas concert in a buggy because there wasn’t any snow for a sleigh.
In short, it could happen, but don’t bet your farm on it.
