Snowbirds May Be Geniuses

I reluctantly flew home after a week in the U.S. Southwest at the end of January-beginning of February. I now have greater respect for those who migrate to warmer climates in the winter. It's not as if I mind the cold -- I actually enjoy shoveling snow from my driveway and look forward to the delights of all four seasons. The lingering appeal comes from having enjoyed the open air and new terrain in comfortable temperatures. Before my travel, I had already developed my wintertime tendency to hole up in the evenings. The shorter days naturally drive many of us inside, seeking comfort from the dark and winter's chill.

Rather than curling up in my hotel room with hot tea and my laptop, last week my companions and I ventured out each evening after work. The highlight of my travels was a leisurely walk at Chandler, Arizona's Veteran's Oasis Park. The park serves as part nature education center, part exercise and fishing venue, and perhaps most valuably, part outlet for reflection and remembrance. Off to the side of the 2,500-foot walking path featuring a representation of the distance of objects in our own solar system, a community fishing lake, and a nature education center looms the "Field of Honor," a luminary veteran's monument that is best enjoyed after dusk.

Heart rate up and warmed by my various treks outside, I gained renewed appreciation for birds of migration -- human snowbirds as well. Surely, continuing to exercise and fill one's life with marvels anew is a secret to at least a much richer life, if not a longer one.