My job took me to Chicago where my best friend was a snowblower. Then to Dallas where one would die without air conditioning. Now back home in the Pacific NW is paradise (as you so eloquently described). The 3-4 winter months of dreariness bother me too - more than when I lived here when younger. So we escape too - next week we're off to Belize for some sun.

Great article as usual, Rodrigo.