I live in a beach town in FL and am definetely one of the palest people around.  Years back it used to bother me and I would also spend time working on my tan, but it's just not worth it to me anymore.  I do spend time in the sun but just try to do little things to avoid being scorched.  Like staying in around the noon hour and wearing hats, etc.  I try to avoid sunscreen also because all of those chemicals aren't healthy either (unless you are using something organic).  Your body absorbs around 70% of what you put on your skin.  I used to always have that tan=healthy attitude too, but when you feel healthy because of your diet, exercise, etc, the tan just doesn't matter. 

As for myself I am tan all year round!! I guess I got the best of both worlds. My heritage is Hispanic, but in my family tree we have also had a lot of Native American on my mother’s side and a Cuban on my father’s side. So I am kind of Carmel complexion, a lot of people have asked me what I am mixed with, and I reply, nothing. So I have never really had to work on a tan or worry too much about cancer. I know I read somewhere that people with darker skin are not as likely to get Cancer from being in the sun too long opposed to Caucasians. I do wear sunscreen though, just in case! As for all the other men/women who are not tan, I think that during the summer months it is nice to have a tint to your skin. In the winter give your skin a break, or just maintain a nice glow!