Lummi Island, WA

1. Go kayaking. OK, I’m just being stupid here, because I just said in the title that it was too cold for kayaking. But really, is it too cold for kayaking, or are you just a fat chicken? There are lots of kayakers who don’t get a silly thing like freezing cold weather get in the way. If you want to join them, just be sure to educate yourself on the dangers of hypothermia and get some proper exposure protection. Of course, there is nothing wrong with avoiding the cold if you’re not going to enjoy it…

2. Make plans. One of the best ways to lift your spirits when you’re down is to make some fun plans for later – something you can look forward to. Even if your plan is weeks or months in advance, making plans can easily distract you from your sad kayakless state. Remember that you can plan for tides years in advance. Plus, there is a lot of other research you can do when planning a kayaking trip.

3. Retail therapy. This is one of my favorites. In some cases, you may be able to find good deals from people who are selling gear or kayaks during the off-season. You’ll have better luck buying online than in stores, though, since most brick-and-mortar stores will have cleared out paddling gear in favor of winter sports. It is, however, kind of sad to not be able to play with your new toys. But having acquired some shiny new piece of gear, you may reconsider #1 above.

4. Live vicariously. Read about other kayakers’ experiences, or watch videos. You can get lots of ideas from other people about where to go kayaking, what kinds of gear to get, skills to develop, etc.

5. Switch hemispheres. There’s always somewhere in the world where it’s warm, and some places in the world are always warm. If you are really dying to go kayaking, you can take a trip (if you can afford it). It may also be a great opportunity to have a change of scenery and explore some more exotic locale in your kayak.

6. Get training. If you can’t bear the cold outside, you can still develop your skills by taking classes or signing up for some pool time. Kayaking classes (particularly basic ones) are often taught in pools, which are usually much warmer.

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