Guam in the Winter

     (Yes, I know, technically it's Spring now, but because life has been full and busy since my last post, it would simply seem out of place to ignore winter just to go straight into the Spring post. Hence, a slight overlap.  I offer this statement not as an apology or even an excuse, but merely as an explanation.)

Guam in the winter means...a continuation of the Rainy Season.  Or so it seemed this year.

Rainfall rolling off the roof onto our patio.

Guam in the winter means...it's cooler.  OK, maybe only a little cooler in a place that has a rather routine and boring forecast, but still, it's a nice time of year to visit Guam.  The ever-present humidity is a little  more accommodating a little more often.

Our patio umbrella in its glory days.

Guam in the winter means...a lot of wind.  The winds blow more during this time of year.  It also means that if you have a lovely patio table umbrella you'll want to make sure you close it up when not using it, or else you may discover some morning when walking out your back door that the 100 lb umbrella that you thought was secure in its cast iron stand (when it really wasn't!), lending a false sense of security to leave it open after use, shows up instead on your front lawn near the road overnight...in a semi-crumpled heap....curse you, Rogue Gust of Wind [sniff].

Guam in the winter means...enjoying the outdoors a little more, like sitting on your patio, minus the now broken umbrella [grrr] to read a good book or grill hamburgers and watch the clouds roll in from the ocean, and then play a game called Will We Finish Eating Outdoors Before It Rains?

Guam in the winter means...the surf is rougher.  This is a factor to take into consideration if you are a scuba diver.  Guam has an abundance of dive locations around the island, especially on the western side and southern end of the island.  Be prepared for some rough water during this time of year, and plan your dive accordingly.  Or, if you're a reluctant diver like me, you'll probably wait for calmer water anyway.

It also means to be mindful of safe water entry on the beautiful beaches around the island.  Sometimes water entry is banned altogether due to strong rip tides. Again, when visiting the beaches, plan accordingly.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Guam in the winter means...the absence of snow.  And that can be a happy or sad thing, depending on how you look at it.  It means you don't have to have that ice scraper and gloves in the car, but you probably will have an umbrella and a rain jacket.  There is no absence of sunshine, unless it's raining, so less chance of suffering from light deprivation.  But  more chance of sunburn.

Guam in the winter means...making reservations to take your Sweetie out [or be taken out by your Sweetie] to dinner on Valentine's Day if you want to go somewhere nice.  [The Hubs didn't do that and we went from place to place only to be turned away until we were accepted at Shirley's Diner.]  Reservations + nice restaurant + Valentine's Day = Happy Spouse.

Guam in the winter...