Recently the MITA staff put together this part-serious, part-tongue-in-cheek look at what we do to make it through the cold, snowy days of winter. Check out our list, and then get in touch to share your own ideas! Comment on this post, or email madison@mita.org, with some of your favorite cold weather survival strategies. The best responses will make it into future blog posts, and onto our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Our favorite ways to get through the winter, in no particular order:
* Planning the next excursion for as soon as the ice breaks
* Organizing photos and videos from the final trip of last season
* Re-reading The Lobster Coast or another essential look at Maine history
* Monitoring the chatter from warmer climates on Active Captain
* Watching the AIS data flow around the globe wistfully
* Heading to a warmer climate ourselves – or moving a boat there
* Reading the Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast one more time
* Reading Chapman Piloting and Seamanship one more time
* Surfing YouTube for awesome boating videos
* Surfing YouTube for epic boating fails
* Worrying about whether we left the drain plug in
* Consulting tide and moon phase charts for the summer months
* Trying to convince the YMCA that it’s appropriate to paddle in their swimming pool
* Building a boat, from scratch
* Dreaming about boat improvements that we somehow never get to
* Reading catalogs about exciting new products that we’ll never buy
* One word: iceboat
* Just trying to keep a fire lit and the giant snowdrifts out of the driveway
* Finally catching up on back issues of WoodenBoat or Atlantic Coastal Kayaker
* Finally watching last season’s videos from Off-Center Harbor
* Meticulously cleaning and maintaining gear
* Just going boating already!
* Doing something completely unrelated to boating, like skiing – perish the thought
* Cruising the harbor in a Hot Tug
Now it’s your turn! Comment on this post or email madison@mita.org with your own winter inspiration.