Fair~Weather Friends

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According to the Urban Dictionary (www.urbandictionary.com) a fair~weather friend is a friend who is only a friend when circumstances are pleasant or profitable. At the first sign of trouble, these capricious, disloyal friends will drop their relationship with you.

In a more literal sense of the expression, fair~weather friends can also be those that you go out and do ‘fair weather things’ with ~ like (day)camping, a day at the beach, a picnic in the park etc. Those things that simply are a lot more fun when the weather is nice.

Either way, fair~weather friends are not around all the time. They tend to just show up when the circumstances are such that pleasant, fun, and beneficial experiences are to be expected. As such, fair weather friends are unlikely to ever become ‘best friends’, or ‘bosom buddies’ ~ mainly, yet not only because of the time sensitive nature of the friendship...

And then there are ‘foul~weather friends’. One might think they are the opposite of a ‘fair~weather friend’ ~ and may be surprised at how similar ‘fair~weather friends’ and ‘foul~weather friends’ really are...
According to the same Urban Dictionary, a foul-weather friend is the opposite of a fair-weather friend. 
A ‘foul~weather friend’ is someone who likes to be around you when you are unemployed, depressed and in the dumps. He/she feels sorry for you, and gets some pleasure out of feeling superior, handing out advice, berating you for having a bad attitude. As soon as you get out of the slump, get a job, get in shape, get a decent place to live, etc., the ‘foul~weather friend’ is jealous, and stops speaking to you.

My three cats most definitely are fair~weather friends.
Especially when the weather turns foul...

When the weather is nice, these independent creatures tend to roam outside. When they were younger they even felt that they could catch better food themselves than I could ever put in their dishes ~ but as the years progress the tasty snacks I buy for them are more and more appreciated.
Still ~ why come inside and cuddle up when the weather is good? When the sun is shining and the warm, dry afternoon weather can be experienced much more effectively under the shrubbery in the park?
But as soon as the weather turns cold and wet everything changes.
Suddenly I find myself being considered their very best friend ever! A big green eyed gaze is trying to convince me that my lap is the only acceptable place to be ~ and forgotten are the days when they had better things to do!

From their perspective, they enjoy the fair weather as long as it is there ~ then create their own ‘fair weather’ when they need it...
I guess there is a lot to be learned from cats...
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