Yes, I know it snows in New England

Last fall, I decided to make a change in my life. This change would involve a major move from the coast of California to the mountains of New Hampshire. The drive itself was not that bad. I found it fun to see the sights of America that I only heard about via books or in movies. My mind began to wonder, thinking about the first settlers coming in covered wagon, looking for a new life. I was no different. I may have been in a pickup truck towing a trailer, but the hopes and dreams of a new life were basically the same.

I enjoyed seeing the natural beauty  of our country. Driving through the mountains of Utah, the breath taking views of Wyoming, where i spotted an American Indian, sitting along side of the highway, staring out over the hills, hands palm up, in meditation. He had no vehicle with him, no backpack as if he was hiking, just him and the view. His image was stuck in my mind for many miles. He was on his spiritual journey as I felt I was on mine. I continued through the heartland of America, with endless corn fields, seeing how many states i could drive through before I would have to stop for the night. Until finally, I made to my destination, New Hampshire! After five days, I made it…in the pouring rain!

Not soon after my arrival in my new town I got to meeting my fellow New Englanders. The first person was at the U-Haul where I had to drop off my trailer. After my warm hello, how are you today, he asked where was I from. I told him I just came from California. He said “Really! You do know it snows here in New England?” I of course looked at him like he had a tree growing out of his head and said “Yes, I know it snows here, it also snows in California too!”

No too long afterward, just about every New Englander, once they found out where I was from, all kept saying the same thing…”you know it snows here in New England.” This is when I learned that most people here believe that all of California is like an episode of Baywatch. That Californians spend their time running up and down sunny beaches in our red swimsuits with Pam Anderson (or someone who looks like Pam Anderson) on a daily basis then head off to the club scene. While I know that in Southern California has the best weather, sunny most days of the year, I myself was from San Francisco where cold, damp and foggy was more the norm. Not to mention there was no way that I was ever going to get into one of those Baywatch swimsuits!!

But soon those comments stopped, once the snow started to fall. By this time I had started a seasonal job with the postal service in town. My nickname was California and my coworkers couldn’t wait for me to learn about snow. The first snow of the season I thought was so cool! I enjoyed it and thought it was great. I drove to work with no problems as the plows had already done their thing so no issues there. But as soon as I stepped foot into the building- “Hey California! How do you like the snow?!?”  Everyone that night kept asking me about the snow. I couldn’t help but think there isn’t anything for New Englanders to do but to wonder what the Californian was going to think about the snow? This was now the new phase I get to hear for the rest of the winter.

I did learn however, that the all season tires I had on my truck were all season for California – NOT New England.  I learned this when I had to drive on the roads before the plows arrived. While I thought I was doing OK by going slow  that was before I tried to stop. I went to hit the brakes, but I kept going…and going…and going…then turning around and around…and around….I was on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.  Unfortunately, this would not be the only time I would go on this not so fun ride over the next couple of months. While I finally had to come to the realization that I need to replace perfectly good tires for the all season snow tires, I reluctantly did. Much to the relief of my neighbors, though amused, they did get tired of me spinning into their front yards when I tried to turn into my driveway.

That’s a Californian for you.

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