Real Estate Corner - VIBE MAGAZINE Winter 2025
Article Written by Bernadette Donohue, REALTOR® & Contributing Author

Winter in the Mt. Washington Valley offers enchanting adventures for locals and vacationers. Outdoor adventurers and nature enthusiasts, (and kids, of course) yearn for the arrival of the cold white blanket that covers our towns with a fresh new outlook on life. While many of us look forward to the abundance of outdoor fun and adventures, we also know that this invigorating season is short-lived. With our many layers of warmth, and despite our exposed and cold nose and cheeks, we continue to seek and find thrills amongst the chills of our winter wonderland in the Whites.

Since I was in my mid 20s' One of my most cherished winter adventures is cross-country skiing under a full moon in the Mt. Washington Valley, with friends. Although not every full moon in the winter months is clear enough or has the right ski conditions to venture out, last year we had an ideal one. Our night-time adventure started out just a little too early on that crisp and clear evening as it was still pretty darn dark before the moon was high enough to see well. Some of us weren't wearing a headlamp and learned that lesson the hard way with a few too many spills. As the moon rose over the mountains, and we had just crossed the covered bridge a snow groomer passed on through, creating a magical "Currier and Ives" scene caught by the few of us slower pokes in the group. Back inside our friends' beloved abode, we enjoyed hot drinks and shared some very funny stories of misadventures that brought tears of laughter to all, making for yet another wintertime memory, not soon to be forgotten.

Home Improvement Tips for Winter:

Winter is also a wonderful time to focus on home. A time to sift and sort through belongings that no longer serve your needs; to move out the old and make way for the new. Once the holidays are over and the new year has been rung, winter is the perfect season for seasonal home projects, winter organization ideas, and preparing your home for the year ahead. In the seasonal lull, it can be a great time to make some headway on the list of home improvement projects that will ultimately bring you more joy at home (in addition to an increased resale value).

Finding Gratitude and Joy in Winter:

Winter can be a time to nurture yourself and lean inward toward a more reserved and reflective state of mind. Paying attention to some of the simpler, most basic pleasures in life serves to remind us of the many things we have to be grateful for, starting with a roof over our heads, running water, and heat. When we find things to appreciate, we will begin to see even more things to appreciate. "What we focus on will grow" is a well-known phenomenon. Whether you call it "The Law of Attraction" or use a more scientific terminology, like the "frequency illusion", it serves to explain the cognitive bias of why your brain selectively attends to the things you pay the most attention to. This being the case, a mindfulness practice intentionally leaning into what you want is a meaningful and productive way of taking responsibility for creating the life you desire.

As the snowfall can get deep in the Mt Washington Valley, so can the analogy of winter describing a season of challenges. Often used to describe a time of life when people are sad, grieving, ill, or lonely, it can be a time of unsettled uncertainty. Like harsh unpredictable weather and political and global turmoil, winter can represent a time of extreme contrast which can give us good reason to pause and regroup while sheltering in place for a little while. It is a time for resting and recovering our strength and perspective. As a normal and cyclical season in our human experience, its stillness can also show us many signs of hope. Like the bright red cardinal that is more easily seen against the stark white snow and bare branches, signs of hope and renewal are everywhere, if you are willing to look for them. They serve as a beacon for our souls to remind us that better days are indeed ahead. As Albert Camus writes "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible Summer."

Hunkering down at home can be a nourishing retreat for mind, body, and spirit. Home is more than just a place; it's also a state of mind. It's where you start and end your day, a sanctuary where you can recharge and reflect. Aligned with your personal and family values, it reflects your inner life as well as your personality. Home allows you an abundance of opportunities to create more joy in your surroundings and allow you to open your doors (literally and figuratively) to share a connection with the people you love.

Simple Pleasures That Make Winter Memorable:

Whether you find yourself cuddling up by a cozy fireplace, sipping on a hot cup of cocoa and reading a flavorful novel or watching a favorite movie, winter can remind us of the simple pleasures that bring the longest-lasting sense of happiness into your heart and home. A reminder to all to "enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." - Robert Brault

EnjoY the Winter Issue of the Vibe... CLICK HERE

Ready to call the Mt. Washington Valley home? Start your search online for Mt. Washington Valley homes or reach out to Bernadette Donohue today for expert real estate guidance and make your dream a reality!

Bernadette Donohue
REALTOR & Certified Residential Specialist, CRS

Contact Bernie at Badger Peabody & Smith Realty

• BernieD@BadgerPeabodySmith.com
• Office - (603) 356-5757 x 310
• Cell - (207) 542-9967