SouthCoast’s Underwhelming Nor’easter Made Me Feel Like the Richest Dad Alive

It took me 38 years to come to the conclusion of what it feels like to truly be rich, and it has nothing to do with money or blessed bank accounts.

I’m writing this as the infamously underwhelming Nor’easter of ’26 is clearing up. What began as a ramped-up “take caution” storm didn’t deliver as reported, at least not in my neck of the woods in Dartmouth. I’m sure the shoreline properties have a much different point of view.

The weekend was surprisingly eye-opening as the rain tore through the SouthCoast, replenishing just the tip of the drought iceberg. Hey, we’ll take what we can these days. Every rain-filled forecast matters.

My house was cozy, and the sounds of my son’s babbling filled the parlor. It was a rare work-free weekend to focus on family bonding, something I wish occurred more often. During our bouts of laziness and house chores, we still found time to get outside between bouts of rainfall. The air was refreshing and shockingly on the warmer side, especially for fall. Lately, I’ve been grounding myself by leaving the shoes behind so I can soak in the earth. It’s something I did often as a kid and somehow lost myself along the way as I got older.

A Little Rain, a Moment of Joy

The sky was lightly misting, and my son was itching to get outside. His cabin fever was heavy, and the storm replenished our backyard creek. Barefoot with rain jackets, we all made our way down to the roaring stream where we couldn’t wait to dip our feet. Instant joy on my boy’s face once he felt the surge from the rainfall brush against his toes. That’s when it hit me. The soothing sounds of the creek washed away the noise in my head, leaving only what was right in front of me.

Life isn’t measured by financial profit or quick zaps of dopamine. You’d be surprised and equally impressed by the powers of self-grounding every once in a while. There’s something about a soft bed of wet moss beneath your feet that electrifies the soul and spotlights the little things. The coolness of the late September rain was pure caffeine on my legs as I waded in the shallow creek while my son held onto my fingers with two hands. I hope he never forgets this moment.

Everything I’ve Ever Wanted, Right Below My Feet

Thinking back on that moment keeps my head calm. Man, life is beautiful, and it’s these reminders that keep us in check. So the next time someone asks me, “How’s it going?” I can say with confidence that I’m living large. At the end of the day, I don’t need much, because I already have everything I’ve ever wanted in front of me and right below my feet.

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As for the nor’easter, the wind was minimal around my parts, and the rain was welcoming. Lessons were learned, puddles were jumped in, and core memories were made. Parenting win, in my book, and a reminder to #getoutside.