The reports are mixed, but on average the current temperature is 36°F. I am dressed as I am most of the year: business casual. A little more casual than many as my shirt sports short sleeves, but this is often a necessity. I am wearing one of my favorite shirts today, purchased this past August. It is blue, and has a silky texture, despite being cotton. I am not, by principle and habit, brand-loyal. However, I love Nautica. Not only am I beholden to their name and its invocation of sailing and watercraft, but I also find their use of color, fabric, and design meld well into my aesthetic preferences.
Friends and other readers (who may be surprised that there is now a new post here) will know that I write this from Austin, Tx. Friends will know that I am hot-natured. Until the thermometer drops into the sub-freezing range, I enjoy the change of pace and will gladly venture outside without a coat. While I own two very nice coats, there is hardly occasion to wear them. I've been this way my whole life, causing those close to me (mom, for instance) to constantly fret over my health. To date, I have no adverse effect to report.
I've much enjoyed the past few weeks of winter weather in Austin, and I will soon lament its passing. I had an encounter this morning precipitating this post. I walked into our breakroom/supply closet looking for a pen (another long story), and greeted a relatively new employee grabbing some coffee. I said good morning, to which she had an odd response. Her mouth agape and brow raised, she expressed incredulity that I sported short sleeves and asked whether I was aware it was cold outside. My first thought was to say, "leave me alone, crazy person!" Instead, I testified to the temperate climate and made a hasty getaway. I don't know how to avoid these inquiries and they seem to come from every direction. People seem brought to their mental knees by my absence of need for heavy outer garments. It seems strange this concern should take precedence over the observation that I'm of an age and level of intelligence sufficient to care for myself.
My head spinning from this latest in a string of encounters, I posed a question to a co-worker. Is there a sociological explanation for this behavior? After a little back-and-forth, we settled on the theory of conformity. An innate, subconscious desire requires that everyone adhere to a certain norm, which in this case looks something like "if it is cold, then wear warm clothing." It's another version of the principle that punished us in high school. I'm not comfortable with that, but it's the best idea so far.
Turns out, I don't disagree. When I am cold, I will put on a jacket or a warmer shirt. If I find myself in a position to be out of doors for a long period of time at low levels of activity given current conditions, I will probably do so. The duration of my time outside, however, is generally not much. The walk from my front door to the car, from the car to the office, and back again. There is a certain ratio of comfort to inconvenience. Until it is uncomfortably cold, I will not suffer the inconvenience of keeping track of a jacket or the possibility of suffocating in an office with an overzealous thermostat setting.
In the end, I appreciate your expressions of concern for my well-being. However, please understand that 'cold' is a subjective term. Thanks for listening, and it's great to live in Texas.
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