Commentary, musings, nature, Photography

Winter Lake

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When we left the Caribbean the temperature was about 30C (86F); here at home it’s 5C (41F), which is a rather significant difference but completely to be expected, of course.

A cold-looking Okanagan Lake.

Another big difference is that we’re now next to a lake, not an ocean, but I love how both bodies of water can exert themselves so strongly on our lives and consciousness, even down to their colour changes.

I very much like being close to large bodies of water (I was born next to and lived my early years near the Atlantic); I find them comforting and reassuring, even when they decide to whip up some good storms.

Breaks in the cloud cover allow shafts of sunlight to shine on an opposite bank – a beautiful effect.

I find it interesting that M finds the same sense of comfort and reassurance in the mountains; he was born next to the Rockies. Maybe we all have a sort of “birth set point location” that stays with us all our lives and for which we can unconsciously yearn.

Happy Sunday.

20 thoughts on “Winter Lake”

  1. Ah the challenge of coming home to the cold, a familiar feeling for us. Both Michaela and I were brought up in the English Midlands, far from the sea – but we now live on the coast and simply cannot imagine living away from the sea now. It’s just so therapeutic to be able to walk by the sea whenever you feel like getting out of the house.

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    1. Yes, you would be very familiar with coming home to the cold! Before covid, we regularly left the subarctic north (where I was then working) to go to the Caribbean for a dose of sun and heat. Going from +30 to -40 was even more extreme and we used to take it more in stride then, I guess because it was what we had to do.
      I love being near the water; yes, so therapeutic and relaxing. Cheers.

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  2. Nice to be next to the water, no matter what water it is Lynette. We are heading home tomorrow after being in easy walking distance of water for 5 weeks. We will miss this. Happy Sunday. Allan

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    1. Thank you very much, Belinda. I’ve noticed that people seem to gravitate to the same type of geographical conditions where they were born or raised in their early years. Maybe it’s the unconscious comfort level of the familiar. There’s certainly nothing scientific in my musings, but I feel best when I am near water. And yes, there’s something about that connection that seems to set things right.

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  4. I love being near water, too! We don’t live next to any water we can see from our house (unless the valleys flood), but we don’t have to drive far (15 minutes) to see the Puget Sound, which is lovely. Cheers!

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    1. You’re very near. It’s so great, isn’t it? Even huge storms aren’t deterrents – in my opinion bad storms can happen anywhere – as we humans seem to love living nearby regardless. Agreed – Puget Sound is beautiful. Cheers.

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  6. So lovely landscape where you are living! I also love water. I can sit by a water (waterfall, river, lake, sea…) for hours and sense the movement and sounds of water. I also enjoy swimming a lot. As you said, it might be inherited from childhood. I spent all summers by a sea.

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    1. Agreed! I can sit for a very long time looking at water and not thinking at all, just relaxing and calming my mind. It’s so wonderful, isn’t it? Science says that all life originally began in water, so maybe that’s why we’re drawn to it – very primordial.

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    1. I completely agree. I will watch the water whether it’s stormy or beautiful (and did – I spent half my time reading and the other half quite mindlessly watching the water!). And yes, a big temperature difference.

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