Yep...here in the San Francisco Bay Area, it's definitely shorts, sandals, and t-shirt weather. Before anyone gets upset with me, here's the back story. I was born,raised, and went to college in Central Illinois (snow, cold / freezing temps, ice storms in the winter and floods / tornadoes in the spring the on to heat / humidity that makes even a short-haired dog's hair curl in the summer.) Then, spent seven years in Poughkeepsie, NY (90 miles n. of NYC on the Hudson River)...repeat the Central Illinois scene. Then back to suburban Chicago...and more snow and colder temps than i'd EVER experienced!
One winter, by the time February rolled around, we were fed up with winter (couldn't see out the 1st floor windows), but the snow and cold continued to roll in. That was when I decided that even though February has either 28 or 29 days, in Chicago (at least), it's the LONGEST d**n month of the year! The snow was piled so high we had to dig down to reach the mailbox at the curb! I was convinced the green grass would NEVER appear!
Then, I went outside one afternoon, and dug into the bottom of the drift along the driveway. An amazing sight appeared from under the snow. The grass was a gorgeous shade of green and thriving! The snow had insulated it!
It was shortly after that, I made the declaration that my birthday, March 1, is officially the first day of SPRING -- no matter what was on the ground or what was the temperature! On March 1, that year, I put on shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals...and took a turn around the driveway. Then, I scurried back into the house and put on the sweat pants, sweatshirt over the t-shirt, and exchanged the sandals for shoes and socks.
Now, I live in a place that has a very mild and temperate climate. I admit I have learned to appreciate it...and have less than no desire to experience cold, snow, and ice. However, that all said, I would love to have some rain so that our grass will turn green again. Ah, the irony.
BTW, the first day of spring is this coming Sunday. Ha! Also, at this latitude, we've gained 90 minutes of daylight since Christmas! Stay safe and warm, friends.