I didn't miss winter, but I did forget what it felt like
Aug 4, 2026
By Sam • 5 min read
Turns out, the climate in Uruguay is a bit more variable than California's Central Coast.
Life without seasons
We lived in one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the US before we moved to Uruguay. Depending on where you lived in Santa Barbara, California, there were mostly gentle breezes and beach days. Even the foggy season was fun and we'd find a reason to see the ocean. We'd see early winter for a few short visits back to Pennsylvania, but our real-life home was where people came from all over the world to vacation! The weather was so good you'd feel guilty for taking a sick day even if you were genuinely unwell.
Truth be told, it wore me down at times. Growing up outside of Boston, then living in some other variable-weather states, I had the cyclical flow of the seasons and weather. While I never liked the cold and weather fluctuations always made me uncomfortable, I didn't always feel my best in California, either. It felt like I was supposed to feel good and I didn't take downtime the way I maybe should have.
Winter in Uruguay
Anyway, now that I am in the middle of my first winter in almost a decade, I am aware that I didn't consider (or remember) what a change of weather might do to me. While we lived just a short distance from the coast in both California and here in Uruguay, there's much more rain and moisture in the air here. It's just damp and cold enough to make my old injuries sore, and I don't really have a new physical therapy / selfcare routine set here yet.
The upside of seasons, and living in a country where things slow down in the coldest parts of the year, is that there aren't a ton of expectations. I can wear comfortable clothes or stay in altogether most days as my clase de espanol is at the house. Seasons also make for dramatic weather and beautiful changes in scenery. Here on the coast of Maldonado, we had a beautiful weekend with bright skies and temps in the 60s, but today it's dreary and we had some major thunderstorms in the evenings. It's pretty damp, so laundry can be a little tough to plan if you're without a dryer.
Winter here in Uruguay is June, July, and August. My pals back in the U.S. are posting photos swimming under the sun and I am starting a fire in the fireplace and wearing an extra layer. That's a little weird, but it's also a little reminder that Spring is right around the corner, and it will be our turn to post our sunsets and beach days.
The weather near me as you're reading this:
There isn't one perfect climate
None of this is to complain as much as to say that our internet research returned similar results to a recent viral instagram post rating Uruguay as the most desirable climate for folks moving away from the US. This wasn't the only reason we moved here, but it was exciting.
The reality is, there is no best, most desirable anything. The US has tons of micro climates, just like Uruguay and todo el mundo. People have different wants and expectations, even when they share the same birth country. Uruguay is a beautiful country, and likely has a microclimate and community that would be comfortable for lots of people.
And of course, the world's climate is always changing, as we've seen in exaggerated weather systems all over the world. I really just wanted to remind you that no matter where you're headed, keep your long johns and thick socks (eww, I know) because they may be handy.
I'd love to hear your story
Did you recently move or visit somewhere and realize that barometric pressure is indeed a threat to your vibes and nasal passages? Tell me about it here!
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