It has rained for the past nine days. I am preparing to line up my animals two-by-two and build an ark. While the area where I live has not had bad flooding and is just “mushy,” what I have noticed more is that the temperatures are more like they are in damp March than the third week of May.

So while riding my Harley is not in the picture due to all this rain, leather is. Yeah, the rain has caused an unseasonable drop in ambient air temperatures, so keeping warm has my leather …

… return to my wardrobe again.

One may ask, “at your age, and since you say that you do not go out to bars or social events, why do you still wear leather?”

Good question.

Yep, since what I see in my “nightlife” so-to-speak is mostly the insides of my eyelids (since I hit the sack no later than 2100), and since I am a bit older (let’s say “mature,”) compared with the young dudes on the leather scene (whatever is left of it), why do I “still” wear leather pants, shirts, vests, and jackets (of course, with boots, but boots are always my choice — never sneakers or silly flip-flops)?

Three top reasons come to mind:

1. I have made an investment. Quality-made leather gear isn’t cheap. I like to wear my leather garments to continue to get the most use out of my investment.

2. Leather is my “versatile style.” It moves with me, comfortably, since my usual gear has conformed to my body type and size. Since everyone I know has seen me wearing leather pants, shirts, boots, and jackets, no one says a thing about seeing me in it. I have long quit worrying about “what other people may think or say.” I choose, though, where I wear it, such not to a family’s first communion church service for their son, but I will wear it when I escort my lovely old ladies to the grocery store or when attending a candidate forum for our upcoming primary election. Seriously, who cares?

3. Leather is very easy to maintain. A quick wipe with a “leather wipe” and occasional treatment with conditioner is all that is required. Leather may get splashed in rain, but dries when I hang it in a well-ventilated area (out of direct sunlight or blowing air.) Since I have enough gear to outfit an Army of Leathermen, I can wear different leather garments while some gear dries out. (Sort of like the old “rotate the boots” situation.)

While our rainy spell of weather is unusual, the bright side (to me) is that the “opportunity” to wear my gear has returned.

Life is short: wear your gear and get a major return-on-investment.