Tough question, Tim! I don’t like complete silence. Even when I have a raging migraine, some form of noise can be comforting. For that, I normally leave the TV on at a low level.

I love the sound of rain, waking or sleeping. Unlike you, that raging thunderstorm is my favorite. There is something in the raw power that makes me feel safe. I also enjoy the sounds of children playing or soft cooing of a small child sleeping.

Rain, too, or the sound of a motor. Not sure why, but I always fall asleep when I go by bus, car or train

Kevin: I like raging thunderstorms, but they keep me awake (mostly the shaking of the windows and such) — a smaller thunderstorm can be comforting at times, though.

Flip: I can second that. I love the sound of a train, especially. My aunt use to have a home right next the railroad tracks. It was peaceful hearing the trains go by.

I too like rain (in fact the sound of rain on the skylight above my desk is making me very drowsy). Thunder storms are nice too. I don’t mind the lightning and thunder. Somehow I have the sense that no matter how nuts the world is, God is still God and this proves it.

I don’t mind storms any more than simple rain. However, I spent too many nights out in the open to instinctively like the sound of rain. I prefer the sound of gentle to middling winds, minus the rain. I do like running water splashing over rocks, such as a brook. For years, my wife and I have slept under a fairly strong fan year round.

I guess I’m a weird one because utter silence and and complete darkness, for me at least, are heaven on earth.