Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The northerner instinct

Salmon are born with the instinct to return to their freshwater birthplace to mate and die. Dogs are born with instincts - like my German Shepherd that needs to know where his humans are at all times. Sea turtles that hatch on the beach follow their natural urge to run towards the water. Humans, now there's a different lot.

I am not well read on the subject of human instinct but it seems we know very little of it. The only studies I've heard of, which doesn't surprise me, involve human sexual attraction. I do think there is one non-sexual human trait worthy of study. It appears in many of the human species born in snow country and is one I've found myself taking note of and checking in on frequently. It was happening this past weekend with the threat of snow storms and sub zero weather. What is this urge you ask? It is to stock up on bread, milk, eggs and toilet paper with impending bad weather approaching. Is this desire to make, consume and digest French toast during snow storms instinct or learned behavior? I'm going with instinct, pure as the driven snow instinct. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

7 comments:

Inside the Philosophy Factory said...

I vote instinct -- since there is no way I'd actually be snowed in long enough to eat that can of beans in my cupboard...

KFarmer said...

LOL! Come on down south... It's run to the grocery, buy it out and THEN get in their 4-wheel drives to "help" folks out of the ditch. Which, by the way, is usually where they end up~ all by themselves! Good gracious, but I do I love the South ;)

It's supposed to be 81 here tomorrow...

laurie said...

nesting! hunkering down! i know it well. it was -11 this morning when i got up. believe me, the craving for french toast is strong.

Anonymous said...

I have the instinct too, to sleep in, hunkered down between my flannel sheets!

Mrs. G. said...

You call in instinct. I call it good sense.

Katherine Dunn/Apifera Farm said...

It makes total sense to me. Way back when, we knew to store up on fat and reserves. I grabbed chocolate chips yesterday while we grabbed our other 'essentials' to get through blast 2 of the storm: good wine, milk, cat food, water.

cube said...

It's being smart. We Floridians do the same thing only for different reasons... hurricanes!!!

BTW I'm here via Throwaway Blog.