Where Is The Sun?

I have always taken the sun and the warmth of the sun for granted as I have always lived where the sun is seen often. I now find myself in a state where the sun is not seen often due to the rainy winter season. I have been in Oregon for a couple of months and since I have been here I have seen more rain than I have ever seen in one season. It rains almost daily and the sun is nowhere to be seen, even on non rainy days. When I first got here I didn't understand why people were so affected by not seeing sunlight. I have always been told to be careful of the sun because it is dangerous, but here people feel the opposite about the sun. Everything looks and feels gray and gloomy most days. On my way to work the other day I was looking at the sky and tried to think about what the sun looked like or felt like on the skin. It took quite a while for me to remember as I have never thought the sun was that important. While I have been here I have spoken to many locals and they say that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is very common in this area during the winter. I could not understand why the sun was such a big deal but our bodies need the sunlight to function normally. Our immunie system as well as the vitamins that our body needs are taken from the sun. Living in areas where the sun shines every day we tend to take it for granted until we see and feel the need for sunlight. I have never personally liked rain but I have gotton used to it now since it rains so often. I don't think I could function well living in this area for more than a few months at a time. Especially during the winter rainy season. It is a very beautiful state to visit for a couple of days or weeks at a time if you enjoy hiking or seeing beautiful landscapes.