Weather and seasons

Q: What is the weather like today? A: Fairly mild, actually, a bit overcast but nothing dramatic — the kind of day that doesn't really demand anything from you either way. I noticed it was cooler than yesterday when I stepped outside this morning, which was a small relief after how hot it's been this week. Nothing to complain about, put it that way. Q: Which season do you prefer? A: Autumn, without much competition. There's something about the light at that time of year, and the fact that you can actually be outside without either freezing or melting, that makes it feel like the most livable season. Summer looks better in photos, but autumn is genuinely more pleasant to exist in. Q: Does the weather affect your mood? A: More than I'd like to admit, yes. A grey, low-light stretch of days genuinely drags my energy down, whereas a bit of sun seems to fix half of what's bothering me for no obvious reason. I used to think that was a bit dramatic of me, but enough people have said the same thing that I've stopped being embarrassed about it. Q: Has the weather changed in recent years? A: It does feel less predictable than it used to, yes — summers that run hotter than they should, winters that don't really commit to being cold. I can't say for certain whether that's a genuine pattern or just me paying more attention now that it's talked about so much, but something does feel different from when I was younger.