I love the cold. I love rain and drizzle, and since I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, I know plenty of words for describing various nuances of precipitation. I’m not enamored with snow, but that has more to do with an aversion to laborious shoveling. But I love overcast skies because clouds spark ideas in my head unlike anything else I’ve ever known. Reading, writing, sipping tea, and sitting by the fire are all activities fitting gray weather. And you need all of that grayness, so that you can savor those precious and magical moments when the sun comes out in middle of winter, and it hits the damp ground and illuminates the world with a warm glow. With its stark contrast, it’s one of the best things of all.