Rock fever

It is like any fever -- one day you wake up with it! It does depend on what you miss the most - the level of frustration on a daily basis - the need for speed - and any number of factors on a personal level - I have known some people who never want to leave though and stress out when they have to go off island.

Yup. I've got it. It hits me hardest in the springtime.

The black, gray, and yellow morels should be up right now in the Virginia mountains. If not, they're only days away awaiting a soaking rain and a warm night. The pheasant's-back mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and gem-studded puffballs are up. Beautiful, delicate spring wildflowers are up - bloodroot, spring beauties, bluets, Dutchman's breeches, jack-in-the-pulpit, may-apple, violets, star-chickweed, rue-anemone, bluebells and so many others. Everything is turning green. The redbud should be in full bloom and lining all of the highways and country roads. The deer are shedding their winter gray coats for their summer red ones. The song birds are returning. The thunderstorms this time of year can be spectacular as gulf air masses battle arctic air masses for control. And the rivers flow timelessly on.

Yup. I've got it.

Some people miss the dramatic change of seasons!

Yup. I've got it. It hits me hardest in the springtime.

The black, gray, and yellow morels should be up right now in the Virginia mountains. If not, they're only days away awaiting a soaking rain and a warm night. The pheasant's-back mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and gem-studded puffballs are up. Beautiful, delicate spring wildflowers are up - bloodroot, spring beauties, bluets, Dutchman's breeches, jack-in-the-pulpit, may-apple, violets, star-chickweed, rue-anemone, bluebells and so many others. Everything is turning green. The redbud should be in full bloom and lining all of the highways and country roads. The deer are shedding their winter gray coats for their summer red ones. The song birds are returning. The thunderstorms this time of year can be spectacular as gulf air masses battle arctic air masses for control. And the rivers flow timelessly on.

Yup. I've got it.

Good night,

How lovely, Aussie. I wish I could turn the pages and keep on reading more. Very, very nice.

i get it especially in the fall and spring. snow, target malls book stores.........FAMILY

I get away almost every late summer for 2-3 weeks to visit family in Maine or Oahu. I really like late summer on the coast of Southern Maine and late November, early October in Hawaii. No rock fever yet. I dig being on and in the water.

There are changes in the seasons on St. Croix. You just have to look for them and spend some time getting to know the flora and subtle signs.

For example, the brownness of the hills has turned to green now that the seedpods on the tan-tans and samans have begun to drop. The mahogany nuts have mostly opened and dropped, leaving the trees to turn more full and green. And the flamboyants are starting to leaf-out.

I've never had rock fever, but then, I'm not a shopper, I get off the island every 5 or 6 months. Back in my metro-suburban days I had "metro-suburban fever" and I couldn't wait to get HERE. 😎

Thanks, swans 🙂 Just reminiscing….

It’s the cycles in nature, the seasonal patterns, and all of the symbolism held within the renewal of life that I miss the most. All of nature dances to the rhythm of that song. The pattern is predictable. You can anticipate within weeks when each plant will break ground, when the buds will appear on each tree, and when each migratory bird will return. People follow those patterns too. Throughout the mid-Atlantic, people are throwing open windows that have long been shut against the cold. They are doing their spring cleaning, planting gardens, pulling out their spring wardrobes, servicing lawn tools, and sewing crops.

Life on land is far more diverse on the mainland - many more critters, many more species of wildflowers, much greater varieties of trees and shrubs, many more species of songbirds. These islands are like the Beach Boys’ Endless Summer. The seasonal patterns here are absent or so subtle that they can easily be missed. Life on land is not nearly as diverse in the islands. The diversity here lies in the water. Put your face in a tropical sea and nature goes nuts! Too cool.

Anywho…I’m just reminiscing. I’m quite content with where I am for now yet I know that this rock will not be my last stop. There are just too many things that I miss. I’ve come to appreciate that without winter, there can be no spring…

Air fares are down in price. Book 30 days out and get relief.

have lived here for almost 20 years and i never had rock fever until the past year or so. now i have a chance to "cure" it and i am getting cold feet about leaving my "nest" for the summer. guess we are never happy.

Good morning.

Aussie, please tell us that you truly are a writer and didn't miss your calling.

Swan

LOL...thank you for your kind expression, swan. Perhaps I'll explore writing later in life. I've always wanted to try my hand at it. Right now, I'm following a different calling. 🙂

Best wishes to you.

I get it bad in September ... but then never do it anything about it 'cause I can't leave the four legged kids for any length of time in "Named Wind Storm Event Season". It passes. And what is really up there anyway? People who drink way too much coffee and drive too fast 🙂

Pamela

LOL...I thought y'all might get a kick out of this. I sent an email to my family telling them pretty much what I expressed in this thread about rock fever. My sister lives in Virginia and she was here for a visit last spring. Her response is as follows:

"Yep, the redbuds are in full force. I've seen violets, azaleas, bluebells and dogwoods in bloom. The cherry blossoms have come and gone. BUT, since last spring, I haven't seen any palm trees, coconut trees, banana trees, no sandy beaches, no gorgeous sunsets over beautiful blue waters, no shells, no incredibly warm water, no brilliantly colored fishes and corals, and no sea turtles. I think I have rock fever too."

LOL...point taken 😀

Okay, I am sending Beachbunny over here to get you guys to STOP COMPLAINING! 😛

😀

I understand that STX has three seasons;
last summer
summer
next summer

my kind of weather!!!

I think my trip to NYC last month made me more "feverish" than I had been for the past several months
I may try to get over to FL before my parents go North for the summer.. it's really nice to have family so close, but its still an expensive flight.

for me its alll about family - the trip to see them from here can actually be a lot easier/faster than from CA.

Rock fever hits hard when you don't have a car. I'm on STX and it drives me crazy at times! hopefully my move to STT will cure some of it. I move in a month or so, and I'm beginning my hunt for job, car, and apartment. Anyone have advice for me?