In Search of Kingdom Living

The Weather

As a born and raised Torontonian, I figured I had a leg up on these wussy Vancouverites. I mean, I actually get FOUR SEASONS. I drive through snow and freezing rain. Using a manual transmission. Going up and down hills (you try driving up steeles between leslie and don mills when it’s freezing rain).

So I constantly laugh at my westcoast friends when they say their fair city shuts down with only a few cms of snow. 

not this time.

When I arrived in Vancouver, I think I brought a lil’ Toronto with me. There’s been a record snowfall (supposedly the first time in twenty years it’s been this bad) and due to few snowplows, the streets are not cleared of snow. In fact, my first day of school, I had to help my buddy get his car out of the snow. fun stuff.

Now, several days later – there’s still lots of snow, but it’s very Vancouver-ish. It’s been raining everyday, and the temperature has hovered at around 5 degrees. 

The clothes that match the weather

Putting aside my TO pride, I thought I could withstand the mild Vancouver weather cause I’m used to winters of -20 to -30 degrees. But Vancouver has a wet kind of cold, and the rain just splashes around everywhere – in your face, down your neck, maybe even up your pants. 

So here am I wearing my newly purchased rain jacket that’s also down-filled. And what do I see? CRAZY WEST COAST PEOPLE IN THEIR SHORTS. Yes. This seems to be quite common. I’m not only referring to the joggers/runners, but many university students, people walking around downtown, even one staff at Regent. I guess this is a west coast vibe thing.

I did have one day where it was sunny and the city is just breathtaking. You have a ocean view all around you. You can see the mountains in the distance. And the temperature was a good 20 degrees warmer here compared to Toronto.

Looks like I’ll be doing a lot more walking in these rainy conditions. So if you know what kind of good waterproof,  running/light hiking shoes I should get, please let me know.