(Artist) Winslow Homer; United States; 1882; Watercolor on paper; H x W: 31.6 x 54.5 cm (12 7/16 x 21 7/16 in); Gift of Charles Lang Freer (to Smithsonian)

I remember living in the east where it would be overcast on a very regular basis and rain a lot and it was cold, wet, and dreary for much of the winter.

Then I remember moving to Colorado where the skies were huge and blue and glorious and the mountains were just breathtaking. I felt my mood just lift whenever I saw the vistas.

But having lived in northern Arizona for a long time now (since 2002), where cloudy skies are rare and overcast skies are a “just a few times a year” occurrence, this fair-skinned, easily-burned person has had to retreat to the indoors. I’ve gotten used to not going outside much, not spending time among nature (even though I really want to), because I hate wearing sunscreen and I want to avoid burns and skin cancer. And that has significantly negatively affected my mood as well.

So that dreary weather is starting to sound pretty good again.

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