I know that the weather this past fall and up through January has been unseasonably warm, but the past few days have reminded all of us in Boston that winter is here. To chase away my winter blues I’m looking at photos of people relaxing on the beach or poolside. I’d love to join this guy and jump into a pool.
Category Archives: GetMeTheHellOutOfHere Syndrome
I miss the summer
Time to dig out
Winter storm, Jonas, is wrecking havoc with people from Washington D.C. north on the East Coast. Despite the fact that snowfall estimates for Boston have been increased over the past 12 hours, it looks like we will miss most of the storm’s fury. Friends in New York, Philadelphia and DC aren’t nearly as fortunate and will need to start digging out from the record level snowfall.
Surviving a New England winter: Embrace the winter
The axiom, if you can’t beat’em join’em applies here. If you live in Boston you will inevitably have to make peace with the fact that winter is here to stay. Take advantage of the many activities available to you. The city has many public ice skating rinks and cross-country / down hill skiing is available outside of Boston.
Get tickets and check out Stowe, Vermont’s Winter Rendez-Vous, January 20-24. If skiing isn’t your thing, head up to the mountains and skip the slopes. You can still partake in all the apres-ski activities such as hot tubbing and cocktailing.
Surviving a New England winter: Museums
Boston has a number of fantastic museums that you can walk around and lose yourself in for several hours when the weather isn’t nice. I refer to these months as “Museum Season” because it is when I’m most likely to visit.
However the best museum to fend off winter blues is the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Their inner courtyard garden has flowers in bloom, flowing water and grass. The combined affect chases away the winter blues. Even if you don’t consider yourself much of a ‘museum person’, there are so many exhibits you might be surprised by what you find and how much you enjoy yourself. Below are a few other interesting museums you may want to visit.
Bad Art Museum: Located in the basement of the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. Admission is free with the purchase of an event ticket to the Somerville Theatre so catch a movie or show before or after touring the museum.
Harvard Natural History Museum: Your tickets to this museum can also get you into Harvard’s neighboring Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology so you could consider this a twofer.
Harvard Art Museums: Harvard has an amazing collection of fine art and it is free for Cambridge residents; MA residents can enter for free every Saturday from 10:o0 am – 12:00 pm.
JFK Presidential Library & Edward M Kennedy Institute for the Senate situated overlooking Boston Harbor the JFK museum in particular takes you back to the early 1960s; it is a must see for any political junkie.
Museum of Fine Arts Boston is the city’s largest museum with extensive collections that include interesting current exhibitions ranging from ancient jewelry, abstract landscapes and fashion illustrations just to name a few.
Surviving a New England winter: Find a cuddle buddy
Since we can’t all afford to fly away every week, one needs a more practical if not economical option as well. For this reason I strongly recommend identifying a cuddle buddy. Not only can this help keep you warm during those colder months, it has a number of other benefits that I don’t care to get into detail. Let’s face it hibernating is more fun (not to mention warmer) with another.
Surviving a New England winter: Chocolate
While many in New England love the winter and all the sports and activities associated with the season, it is hard for me to embrace the cold. If you too are battling the winter blues, take note of my “Surviving a New England winter” posts. I can’t promise that you’ll love winter, but it won’t seem quite so awful.
For those who don’t know me, I think chocolate is the cure for everything, and when the winter blues come – nothing fends it off better than a deliciously rich mug of steaming hot chocolate. Boston has a number of truly delicious purveyors of hot chocolate. Find your favorite by turning it into an afternoon activity with a good friend.
I know who makes my favorite cup of hot chocolate in Boston, and I visit them regularly in the winter. Do you have a favorite selected? Do your research – don’t waste your money and calories on inferior hot chocolate. If you have a particular place that you love, please share it in the comments section.
Surviving a New England winter: Book a trip
While many who live in New England love the winter and all the sports and activities associated with the season, it is hard for me to embrace the cold. The weeks that follow the holiday season are the most difficult for me. If you too are doing your best to battle the winter blues you may want to take note of a series of blog posts I’m going to share. I can’t promise if you follow these steps that you will love winter, but I can assure you it won’t seem quite so awful.
Today’s post is in many ways a re-posting of my How to avoid the winter blues: Vacation post that I shared back in October. This past fall I urged anyone who read my blog to make plans to book yourself a get away at some point in January, February or March to break up the season and have something to look forward to. You will be amazed at how therapeutic it is to get away – even if only for a long weekend – to someplace sunny and warm.
Destination Boston
After spending two weeks in sunny, warm Brazil today Sergio and I arrived back in Boston a few hours ago. When we left in mid December, Boston’s weather was eerily mild – in the low 60s – but today’s temperatures are 25-30 degrees cooler.
While the weather has been relatively mild to date for Boston, it is always this month, January, that tests my limits because of how much winter lies ahead of us, the low temperatures and dry air as well as the inevitable snowfall.
Maybe I wouldn’t mind the snow and cold in January so much if I saw more sights like this along the streets in the South End.
How to avoid the winter blues: Vacation
Grand Cayman – February 2014
Every year around this time I write a series on how to fend off the winter blues; no small feat if you contemplate how severe our previous two winters have been. This year, I’m only going to post this one tip and will save the other suggestions for when winter finally arrives.
Avoiding the winter blues: Book a vacation now: Think of it as therapy, or for your mental health. The anticipation of the trip and the memories in the days that follow your return will help immensely. I recommend taking a long weekend if more time away isn’t feasible and look to book a trip in late January or anytime in February. This is when winter is at its worst here and a great time to get away.
Travel tips: Book now. Airfares will significantly increase in the coming weeks. Plan your departures / arrivals during the middle of the week; flights are often more affordable and if you go away for a week it gives you a short work week before leaving and after returning.
Warm weather pics from BosGuy readers
Yannou in Buenos Aires
Yannou is a friend who moved from France to Boston a few years ago. He recently moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina for work. This was his temporary home while he searched for an apartment in town. Looks like Yannou is doing just fine.
Julian (a.k.a. @justgngr) and Brian (a.k.a. @bpmoynihan) in New Orleans
While not exactly sunny and warm, Julian and Brian are two of my favorite Bostonians. They snapped this photo while visiting New Orleans last week. The weather wasn’t exactly hot but for Bostonians anyplace that doesn’t have 6′ of snow and temperatures in the 30s qualifies as downright balmy – have pity on us.
Peter in Puerto Rico
Lastly here is a relaxing photograph of Peter enjoying the shade provided by a palm tree in Puerto Rico. Thanks for sharing.
Warm weather pics from Brazil
I should have realized when I asked for pictures of people in warm locations that Brazil would make more than a few appearances. It is an excellent refuge from the Northern Hemisphere and I am lucky to have so many friends who live there. Below are photos of friends from Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Thiago at the Corcovado in Rio de Janeiro
You might think that Thiago is in the midst of the obligatory Corcovado pose, but if you look closely you will see him grinning. I think he’s inferring something else a bit more naughty. Perhaps his boyfriend Kirk (shown below) can clarify.
Kirk lounging poolside somewhere in Brazil
Share your warm weather photo with me by emailing me at bosguymail@gmail.com; include your name(s) and where you are.
More warm weather pics from BosGuy readers
Here are a few more photographs of friends and readers currently basking in the sun and warmth. Do you live somewhere that is warm year round or have you taken a vacation to escape the winter?
Miro showing off in Miami Beach
Thom and Ray vacationing in Hawaii
Share your warm weather photo with me by emailing me at bosguymail@gmail.com; include your name(s) and where you are.
Warm weather pics from BosGuy readers
Fabricio and Scott are all smiles in Rio de Janeiro
Here are a couple more photographs of friends and readers currently basking in the sun and warmth. Do you live somewhere that is warm year round or have you taken a vacation to escape the winter?
Email me your warm weather photo at bosguymail@gmail.com. All I ask is that you include your name (just first name is fine) and where you are.
George and Bruce soaking up the sun in Puerta Vallata, Mexico
Warm weather pics from BosGuy readers
Alvaro – Miami Beach, FL
Perhaps I reached a breaking point or maybe I’m just missing the recent vacation Sergio and I took to Grand Cayman earlier this February. Either way, on Monday I asked readers to share their warm weather photos and a few of you took me up on my request (thank you by the way).
Do you live some place that is warm year round or have you happened to take a vacation somewhere warm to escape the winter? I’d love to share a photo of you smiling in the sun.
Email me your warm weather photo at bosguymail@gmail.com. All I ask is that you include your name (just first name is fine) and where you are.
Mark and Joe – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Mark (on the left) lives in Deleware when he isn’t sunning himeself in Mexico. He also happens to be a blogger. You can check out online at Tales Of The Sissy.
Stephen – Palm Springs, CA
Stephen moved from Boston to Palm Springs last year. You may recall we had worked together to create a Boston Pride Retrospective last June.
I’ll keep posting the photos as long as there is a steady stream of pictures being shared so email your warm weather photo to bosguymail@gmail.com.
Send me your warm weather pictures
Email your warm weather photo to bosguymail@gmail.com
Boston has had a brutal winter so far (and there is no relief in sight). Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are awash in photos of friends traveling to warmer destinations (and even a few from people living in warmer climates inviting Bostonians to come and visit).
Email me your warm weather photo at: bosguymail@gmail.com
I’d like to post pictures of anyone who would like to share a photo of themselves in a warmer climate. All I ask is that you include your name (just first name is fine) and where you are. I’ve gotten things started by sharing a photo of Sergio in Grand Cayman at Stingray City. Now it is your turn to share a picture of you someplace warm.
BosGuy 