My Cozy Cave by Nannette Croce

I’m sure I was meant to be a bear. Every winter I slow down, hole up, and put on some weight around the middle (stored energy for my hibernation?).

Each fall I scurry around, readying my cave–cleaning out cabinets and closets, rearranging furniture–in preparation for holiday entertaining. Come the first warm days of spring, I’m clearing my garden, sweeping walks, trimming vines.

I love going out on summer evenings, wearing simple summer dresses and bare legs, when the sky is still streaked with light, sometimes after 9:00 PM. In the winter I accept invitations or plan to go out for dinner or a movie with my husband. Part of me wants to break the monotony, but when the time comes to leave the fire and change out of my baggy jeans and sweatshirt into pantyhose and heals, my mind starts searching for excuses.

You’d think the perfect remedy would be a trip to some warm spot. I tried that a few years back, but instead of feeling energized, I felt at sixes and sevens before leaving and especially after returning to snow and sweaters and cold dark nights for several more weeks.

So what's to be grateful about?

A few years past the half-century mark I know myself and my cycles well. Confident that my energy and desire for social interaction will increase along with the daylight hours, and even the extra pounds will drop off with summer activity, I no longer fight this phase of my annual cycle. I indulge and enjoy it, throwing on the same old clothes several days in a row, spending afternoons reading in front of the fire, often with a cup of hot chocolate, and engaging in simple contemplation.

The active days of spring will come soon enough. For now I'm cozy in my cave.