Coming from Texas, but living in Ireland, I’m always asked the same question: did I find it hard moving from sunny Texas, to rainy Ireland?
The answer is no. Texas is too hot and you spend all of your time running from air conditioned shop to air conditioned car to air conditioned house. If you want to do something outside in the summer (like mow the lawn), you need to be done by 11am or you’ll simply roast. It’s usually too hot in the afternoon to do much physical without feeling like you’re burning up.
Ireland, by contrast, is usually comfortable. If it’s a bit cold, you simply put on a jumper. If it’s wet, grab a rain jacket or umbrella. But, unless it’s pouring rain, you can do just about anything with the right clothes.
The real challenge of living in Ireland is the winter. I really hate the dark winter months of December and January. It’s hard getting up in the dark, driving to work as the sun rises and then driving home in the dark or dusk. During the deepest part of the winter, you come to feel like a vampire–never seeing the sun except for a brief peek at lunch.
The darkness pulls at you, dragging you down and sapping your energy.
During the long, bright summer nights, I feel full of energy. I’m as active at 11pm as I am at 11am. I fell like I could go forever. Long walks after dinner, late night gardening or DIY–it’s all possible.
But, during these long nights, it’s the opposite. The endless nights drain the energy and motivation from me. Sometimes leaving the couch to get a cup of tea feels like too much effort. These long stretches of darkness feel good for little more than TV, reading or generally lazing about. I find it hard to motivate myself to do much on weeknights apart from eating and then tidying the kitchen after. Anything else feels like such an effort.
I know it’s all pyschological. But, it’s still powerful.
Before the holidays, Christmas helps to keep you going, drawing you towards it like a beacon of happiness on the horizon. After Christmas, it’s what the Irish used to call the “cock’s step” that keeps me going. That’s the slow, but steady lengthening of the day after the solstice. It’s only a few minutes more daylight each day. But, it’s consistent and just enough to keep hope alive. It means the longer days of spring and eventually summer are edging their way nearer. Even if at only the pace of a rooster’s footstep.