After enjoying another wet vacation, my only regret is that Western Washington doesn’t get more rain.
Last week’s trip to Long Beach (not the one in California) was extremely relaxing and enjoyable, thanks primarily to what most people would describe as the crummy weather. It rained steadily for two days, which generally kept the streets clean, clear of younger people who don’t like to hang out in the rain, and wide open for older folks to look in the shops or enjoy the ocean scenery. There weren’t any cars full of joyriders screaming down the main drag, it was easy to find a seat in a restaurant and shop owners had time to give individual attention to customers.
I’ve been to Long Beach on those rare, sunny, weekends, and it’s a madhouse. But this time we hit it lucky with two days of downpour. The motel we stayed at midweek had two cars parked out front, ours and one other. The huge outdoor hot tub was unused because people don’t realize the joy of sitting in hot water in a rain storm. The indoor pool was equally abandoned because people don’t want to go out in the rain to get to the pool. Everything was all ours. Had the weather been sunny, we never would have used the facilities due to the throng of people.
A walk to the “world’s longest beach” required only a light parka and a waterproof hat, and the experience was unique in these modern times. No cars driving down the beach, nobody flying kits or tossing Frisbees, no horses galloping through the froth. There was in fact nobody as far as you could see, just miles of sand and rolling waves. If Lewis & Clark had come back for a visit, they wouldn’t have noticed anything different except the asphalt path to the beach.
The rainy day experience is hard to beat, but isn’t appreciated by most folks. Native born Northwesterners generally understand and are less likely to let rain stop their plans. Rain makes picnicking, golfing, camping, fishing and shopping more challenging, more memorable and more fun. Kids love playing in the rain if adults will only lighten up and let them. And older people enjoy the peace and quiet it provides; suddenly, modern life isn’t nearly so hectic.
Our rain is not celebrated enough nor appreciated enough. As the rest of the country sizzles in summer heat or shivers in winter cold, we generally get by just fine in a steady drizzle. Our rain is friendly, like a welcome guest, not frenzied like a tropical downpour.
With the proper marketing, our rain could become our number one tourist attraction, not that I’m suggesting such a thing. But in recent years we’ve noticed more visitors who say they come here for the weather, and the cooler it is the better they like it. Perhaps climate change is doing our marketing for us. As the rest of the world dries up and starts to blow away, our rainy weather looks mighty good.
Fortunately, the rain isn’t so predictable that someone can promote a Rain Festival and expect it to rain. When we really want rain, we usually get something else, so our weather is safe from promoters. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have even more rainy days, just for the peace of mind it brings.
