In My Opinion

I don’t mind wearing long pants, especially when it’s very cold. But my apparel of choice is shorts. Maybe it’s because I was born and raised in Florida where the climate is subtropical.

Thinking back to high school, I can’t remember what I wore. Shorts may not have even been allowed at my school. I do remember, however, that after moving away from Florida to California, to go to university and live I did wear shorts a lot. I surfed a lot and worked construction, an industry that allows one to wear shorts to work. A perk I enjoyed because I worked for small company owners that didn’t have to worry about union rules.

I remember one time when I went back to Alabama to drive my dying great-great aunt around for a month. She got upset at me because I was wearing shorts before Memorial Day or some holiday. She said that I wasn’t allowed to wear shorts before then. I told her that I did not live in that area of the country anymore, but in California where people can wear shorts anytime of the year. She was angry at me, but I continued wearing shorts for the majority of my time with her. The only time I wore long pants during our one-month drive around Alabama, Florida and Georgia was when we were at nice restaurants or meeting people where I had to dress nicely. (My aunt didn’t die for another 10 years or so. She was an amazing woman and is with God in Heaven now!)

Living in Japan and being a gaijin, I get lots of reactions and stares when I walk around and even more when I walk around in shorts in cooler weather after summer is over.

This morning, I played tennis, came home and showered, then put shorts, a T-shirt and sweatshirt on. I was and still am very warm. But that didn’t stop my student from making comment about how cold I looked to her during our lesson.

Later, when I go out of the house, I don’t plan to change my clothes. I will add socks and shoes to my wardrobe though. After all, I can’t get away with going around Japan barefoot. That is a definite NO NO!

On a last note, I find it actually a little funny that people here in Japan say anything to me about wearing shorts when it is cool outside. After all, just look at all the students who go to school in dead winter wearing short shorts and a jacket! Some kids’ shorts are so short they could be considered Daisy Dukes. Now those kids have got to be cold!

Wearing long pants in winter is only necessary when it is really cold. When it’s not cold, short, a shirt, sweater and jacket will do the trick. If you want to keep your legs warmer, then either put on some long pants or throw on some Ugg Boots.