Dear friend, I know that you are curious about the character-building environment here in northern New England. I can assure you that it is full of challenges, all of which are great opportunities for personal growth. Living in a sunshine-flooded world dripping with citrus fruits and honey hasn't taught you the personal stamina that we Mainers know. I guess that's why you have to lift heavy objects for fun. When I want to test the vigor of my back and shoulders, I just wait for the next snowstorm.
Our furnace stopped working the other day. It got cold. This teaches stamina way better than any kind of bench press.
We got lots of snow the other night. Until we close on the house we're selling, I get to shovel two driveways. How many driveways do you get to shovel?
But look how pretty the trees are on campus. This kind of vertical snow adhesion happens when a storm starts out with mist and ice and sleet, and then the snow is blown horizontally, and it sticks to the wet icy surfaces. Your trees are pretty and all, with their "leaves" and their "flowers." But can they do this?