Here is my dad standing beside his plough in the 1940s. He was a 'utility' driver for the BC Dept of Highways (as was) for over 20 years. He would not drive dump trucks because he got 'sea sick' when the shovels were loading the box, but he drove everything else - snow ploughs, graders, front end loaders, etc.
He was a man of few words, and not inclined to repeat himself, so as a kid I would have to pay attention if he spoke to me. As I reflect on my childhood, most of the things that made an impression on me were his pithy comments, where I would have to take the deeper meaning from his side on approach to conveying information - in most cases.
So things that he said that stuck on me are buried in my foundation.
In the 1940s and 50s, heavy equipment didn't come with things like cab heaters - notice the machine behind him didn't even have much in the way of doors, never mind a heater. Probably zero seat belt.
He was raised here, and winter was a hazard to be guarded against, not feared. He had a routine he went through on winter mornings. He would listen to the radio to get the forecast, then dress for the anticipated weather. Always dress more cautiously than you think it might get during the day. Too many layers could be shed, one layer at a time, but if you were underdressed, hypothermia could creep in. He respected the weather, planned for it, adapted to it.
He would wear good old Stanfield onesie, sometimes more than one, made from Kroy wool, then layer outward. He always wore a particular brand of work clothing - not denim. Denim was considered 'poor people' clothing. So he was a blue collar worker, and neither of us kids had denim, until my younger brother got fed up with being dressed in 'expensive' clothing for school - white shirts, corduroy pants, and on school photo day, a bow tie. He wanted 'play' clothes that he could get dirty playing in the dirt. I didn't get my first pair of jeans until I was 16.
I look at my 'wardrobe' now and realize I have gravitated back to wash and wear, usually knit - because knit cloth will have some stretch to it (although I hate the tendency to 5% lycra every damn thing). And I tend to wear my clothing *out*, not replace it when the new season colours come out. I'm all about comfort now, not fashion.
When I buy something, I prefer to get a better quality than most 'fashion' of the day. I have some t shirts that are poor quality, and I would send them to recycle except they aren't worn out yet. So even lower quality clothing has more than one season in it. In spite of that, I keep wearing those t shirts, mostly when I'm schlepping around the house/studio.
Anyway, the snow that fell the other day has melted. We are in the doh-see-doh part of winter cometh. Two steps forward, one step back. In mid-November. I guess we'll find out soon enough if we will have a more 'traditional' winter or more of this back and forth, freezing, melting, roads a mess. I plan on hibernating, if I can, get to the loom when I can, see how the next pain treatment works, and how well.
While the world enters the quiet season, giving the plants and some animals a 'rest', I find that same kind of 'rest' attractive for me, too.
Today I hope to begin threading. I have a load of tea towels to wet finish, although not, perhaps today. Tomorrow will be a 'treatment' day and I have no idea how my body will respond - this time. So I may just come home from the hospital and sleep as much as I can.
Human beings are incredibly adaptable - if they choose to exercise that ability. I guess we'll keep adapting to climate change because we don't seem inclined as a whole, to do anything about it.
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