I grew up in cold climates and have always loved the snow; always preferred being cool to hot (cue snarky comments about my temperate). But living in the Mid-Atlantic region for the past 20 years has cured me of my love of cold weather, as has aging. So here we are in mid-January and the daily highs have been hovering in the 40s and 50s for weeks, with only a smattering of gloomy or wet days. I’ll take this winter jackpot for my own comfort. Perfect getting-outside weather and for harvesting greens in the garden—still!

Sadly, climate change is the culprit. In the long run I’d rather sacrifice my comfort than live with the consequences of warm winters. Here, that means an explosion in the Lyme disease-carrying tick population to name one problem. More mice—primary hosts—survive in warm winters, although half my town’s population seems to take refuge in our walls, attic, and basement despite that it’s warm outside.

No matter the ambient temperature, though, sunshine is always welcome. Today is a good day, riding on the highs of a new president and some hopeful messages. Even the neighbors brought us some homemade Indian food. And a single person from Maryland won the $730 million Powerball jackpot yesterday. Jackpots—whether money, food, work, love, whatevs—are meant to be shared. May your jackpot overflow.