Philip Duncan: Going against the grain is great

Snow in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado.

When it comes to life, not just the weather, but life, I tend to like things a lot of people don't - and hate things a lot of people love.

I don't do this on purpose, I'm just wired to love the weird and "normal" or "average" often seems repetitive and predictable to me.

I do like routine too... but you can have a routine nature to chaotic weather.

I love all seasons - and pretty much equally. It's usually a toss-up between autumn and summer for my favourite season - although spring is pretty much up there too.

Winter I only love if it feels like winter... which is why I don't enjoy Auckland winters. They're not overly cold, but they can sure be damp and cold feeling.

I'm not sure if this is weird - or just honest - but I'm continually wanting each season to reach its peak, then hurry up and get on to the next one. I love the change - and I love each season to have a touch of severity to it.

I love temperatures being challenged in both directions.

I love to visit cold places at darker times of the year.

I visit places like Nebraska, in the US midwest. I go there in winter, or fall, when it's bland and cold.

I love that no one is there. I won't travel much in summer - especially not to somewhere touristy.

I can't think of a worse nightmare than visiting a place like Disneyland in the middle of summer with everyone hot and sweating and waiting in lines all crammed around you.

I'd far rather be in a part of the country where no one else is, mainly because the weather has kept them indoors. Which is why Colorado and -15C meant there were no queues in any restaurant, shopping mall, movie theatre or airport.

I love camping - and I love small camping sites. I grew up camping at Hot Water Beach each January, then Hahei for about 20 years.

About 15 years ago I started camping in Tauranga Bay (Northland) for a while too, small campsite right on the beach.

If the forecast says 10 days of sun I get depressed.

If I see a tropical storm I get excited.

If I see a day of rain I feel content - as I love a cosy day stuck in a tent or caravan.

And if it's wet for more than one day, worst case scenario, have a Merlot at 10am and play cards. Unless the winds rip your tent apart (awful!) then I love the changeable weather. I think the only weather I'm not fan of when camping is windy weather at night.

Quite often when WeatherWatch.co.nz runs a poll about the weather - ie, "Do you love gales", or, "Do you enjoy fog", etc - I'm often in the minority. I love things that many others seem to hate.

It's good to be different - life has taught me that - and loving the weather many people dislike makes me feel like I'm tapping into something other people haven't yet discovered.

- Philip Duncan is head weather analyst at weatherwatch.co.nz.

- Business and civic leaders, organisers, experts in their field and interest groups can contribute opinions. The views expressed here are the writer's personal opinion, and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz