One of the things I never expect to have any effect going someplace new is the weather / climate.  I take it for granted that when I research the weather of a place I’m traveling to, it’s just so that I can decide what clothes to pack.  In fact, though, weather and climate have a huge impact on our moods and level of satisfaction.

When I moved to Paris, I remember heading off with excitement to be able to live in such a beautiful city, but saddened to realize that many days there are grey, overcast and rainy, especially in winter.  Somehow, the grey sky sucks the color out of the city, and it made me feel sad and lonely.

On a recent trip to Normandie, I remembered the feeling of “the four seasons in one day” – mornings and evenings are often very cold, with the afternoons becoming vastly warmer.  Cloud cover can suddenly turn to bright blue sky, then back to grey.  The clouds in the Normandie sky however, are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen – there are so many different shades of grey I want to sit down and paint the sky there every time I see it!

So, what can you do?  Here are a few ideas to help you prepare, and live in, different climates:

1. Prepare – before you depart find out the year-round temperatures and seasons
2. If you’re moving to a new climate, say from Florida to Iceland, try either spending time on vacation in Iceland (in this case) or some other place with a similar climate.  Notice not only how cold/hot you are, but also how you feel. Are you happy, sad? What activities do you feel isolated from in this different climate?
3. Research local activities.  Find out what locals do. In the case of Florida to Iceland, say that you’re used to swimming outdoors in the warmth. Perhaps you can compromise by finding places to swim outdoors, or try an outdoor thermal spa!
4. Be open to modifying your current activities – it will help keep you from feeling isolated and lonely.
5. For the first year, at least, if your climate is vastly different, do your best to budget a vacation either back home, or to another place that has a climate similar to the one you’re used to.  This will be a great way for you to recharge.