These days my world is pretty chill. As in –
Chill
1. an unpleasant feeling of coldness in the atmosphere, one’s surroundings, or the body: “there was a chill in the air” synonyms
After all, I AM in Alaska this winter. Due to concerns about corona virus and civil unrest I consciously chose to stay here, even though I’ve really come to hate the cold and fear the ice.
It hasn’t been an easy winter. One challenge after another. But I don’t think I made the wrong choice. My concerns were very real. It was a conscious, well-thought-out decision.
There are three ways wild animals deal with winter’s cold – adapt, endure or avoid. I’ve TRIED to embrace the cold. To adapt. Really, I have. But I find I’m just enduring much of the time.
I have avoided winter for the last dozen or so years the same way some birds do, through flight. Call me a snowbird, I don’t care. I paid my dues. Ten winters in Alaska, five of them hauling wood and water for survival in McCarthy. And another fifteen or so in the mountains of Colorado. I’ve simply had my fill.
Another way to avoid winter is through hibernation. I’m doing a little of that this winter. Not the sleeping all the time, but I rarely go out and about. I’m definitely more interior-focused. Which brings me to another definition of
Chill
2. A versatile slang word that means calm, relaxed, easy-going, or cool, as well as a hang out. Other definitions of Chill: When used to describe a person, place, or thing, typically means relaxed or level-headed, with no ill intentions. Can be a verb that means to “relax or hang out” together.
It took me a while to really land this year. I knew where I wanted to be when I left McCarthy in October, but for various reasons, the housing situation did not gel until January. But I am FINALLY settled for the winter in Palmer.
Palmer lies in a great glacial river valley right at the base of the Chugach Mountains, which means I have the vertical topography I need and love, but the roads are mostly flat and easier for me to negotiate when they get icy. It means I can stay here warm typing this post while watching the alpenglow on the mountain in my backyard.
I’ve been very introspective lately. I am spending a lot of time learning this winter, and many hours are spent processing images and writing. I spend a lot of time thinking as I contemplate where and how I will move forward into the next chapter of my life.
I’m also spending a lot of time hanging out with an old friend. The last few winters I’ve lived a solitary lifestyle, traveling and housesitting. I visited a lot of friends in my travels but didn’t stay in any one place for too long, or spend much time with any one person.
It’s been rather serendipitous, my hanging out in Palmer for a winter. I’ve been able to help my friend out after a recent surgery and also just be there for her when needed for emotional support. SAD syndrome is real, and sometimes a person just needs company.
So even though the challenges continue (this week I had to throw down nearly a thousand bucks to repair my poor little desert truck, who hates the cold even more than I do), and even though the Alaska winter is more than just chilly – it’s searingly, bitingly cold – I’m feeling pretty chill about my life right now. I’m feeling I’m in a good place.
Sometimes you just need to chill.
Thank you, Sheetal Bravon of Sheetalthinksaloud, for this week’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, “Glimpse Into Your World”.
Living at the foothills of Himalayas, I think I know the mountains but nothing really comes close to the majestic grandeur of your photographs. It was a lovely post and I enjoyed this peek into your life. You are indeed a chill person and this was fun to read. Superb writing! As Helen Keller said , ‘Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows.”
Thanks, Sheetal. Glad you liked it!
Love you, love your blog!
Love you too!
Excellent ! Glad to hear you are chill@
Thank you for this honest and thoughtful glimpse into your world. As someone who hates the cold I sympathise with the challenges you’re facing, wintering in Alaska. But oh, the views you have as compensation! That backyard view is wonderful, and the photo you’ve titled ‘Alpenglow on Matanuska Peak’ just took my breath away 😲
Thanks, Sarah. I feel guilty for not getting out more to capture the beauty – then when I go out and my gloved fingers are too cold to function within 15 minutes and I remember why I haven’t got out more….
Hi, Dianne. Your post is wonderful! The images and thoughts about your life in the cold are marvelous! Once again, you’ve given us a fabulous glimpse into your world. The Alpenglow image and the snow blowing off the mountain are lingering in my mind as well as the frozen pine cones. Stay warm, stay safe. The spring is coming!
Beautiful photos. I love winter! (From within my ‘puffy’ jacket parka.) 🙂
Spring will come to you as well. Beautiful winter though.
What a beautiful post Dianne – I’m sure the cold borders on intolerable out there having spent a few weeks there during a previous August. I thought it was quite cold THEN so I can only imagine winter. That said, how very beautiful and pristine it is in its blanket of snow. And who can resist a moose with snow on his nose! My favorite image this week though, is your closing shot – really stunning. Glad you’re settled now for a bit – hope spring’s warmth comes for you soon.
Thank you, Tina. Glad you liked it!
Beautiful post, Dianne and brave of you to share your challenges. I’m glad you’ve got to a place you can just be in. It’s been a tough old year hasn’t it, the end of the world as we knew it and learning to embrace a whole new mindset, that stuff happens and we have no choice but to go with it. I’ve learnt a kind of acceptance of things I have no control over and I must say it feels pretty comfortable. I hope spring comes quickly for you. We’re having an early autumn which is a relief from the heat but I don’t like winter either, mild as it is. All the best xx
Thanks, Wendy!