[mystree]

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Dude! 50??????!!!!!!
Dear LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Heat TO 50???????!!!!!!!!
If my house were EVER 50 degrees INSIDE I would be DEAD!!!!!!!!
I have heard from someone who lives in FAIRBANKS that they heat the house to 70!
70 is a normal indoor temp by ANYONE'S standards!!!!!!!!
Sure some prefer it cooler, & some warmer (like ME!!!), but I don't think ANYONE would complain about a 70 degree INDOOR temp!!! 50 indoors is good for a morgue!!!

I agree..lol I'm cold when it is 70

[soapboxsallysmom]

I know this may make most of you upset, but you all need to downsize to make it. Many have purchased McMansions without thinking it through. If you have a family you need space, but I am now living alone (there were 2 of us here at one time). I have a smal bungalow that is well insulated (my upgrades), has new low E windows, is well shaded on all sides, has no dishwasher (other than me) and I do laundry with cold water. Are you ready? My average elec bill year round is $68.00 per month. YEP, $68. I have all electric, the ac unit is a 10 yr old Carrier heat pump and I heat to 72 and cool to 78. I have ceiling fans in every room which help enormously to keep you feeling cool in the summer, and they reduce dead spots in the winter.

I had no choice but to downsize (early retirement), and am so grateful that I did. Of course, all other expenses drop proportionally when you have less space to maintain. Everyone who visits me comments on how they wish they had my little home. It's perfect for one and comfortable for two. More than that I couldn't handle (except when I cook for the family on Thanksgiving). The house is 750 sq ft (2 br, 1 bath, kit and LR). And the 650 sq ft Florida Room functions as our family room and dining rm for holidays. It is not air conditioned but is comfortable with fans.

We tend to become slaves to our possessions.

Like someone said before, you can be happy or miserable anywhere, depending on what you are willing to do to survive.

[GOODTOGO]

We own a 1 year home that has 2450 under air and just received our electric bill and was shocked to see it was only $115.00, last month it was $129.00 but I was out-of-town for 5 days and hubby took advantage of my absence and that was probably why it was $15 more than this month (he won't admitt to that though), but we keep it during the day (at least when I am home) around 81 and at night 79 and use our fans when we occupy any given room. We have a Rheem a/c unit and a humidistat that I think helps immensely. Also, this being a fairly new home, that also assists with all the energy costs....There is just the 2 of us residing here.

[Ron_Hasse]

Go wherever you like it. If you like snow, go up north, if you like hot weather, come here. You make the call.

[jackie8689]

I am renting an older house that isn't efficient at all. It's no wonder my costs are higher than I expected. The first bill wasn't awful, it was prorated for the time we moved in. The full month's bill on the next bill was way high, so we modified some things and this month's bill is a bit lower, so we are working on getting it better. Am I too optimistic to hope that the a/c could be shut off for a period of time? I live in SWFL (Cape Coral)

[Prichard]

Being in Florida all my life, I lack resisance to cold. I have friends that live up north and they say the cold isnt really a big deal and think im crazy for cooking myself in the Florida heat! How long does it take to build immunity to cold so you wont feel cold in 50 degrees?

Being a Florida native myself, I STILL lack the resistance to the heat of July, August, and most of September. It was HOT down here when I was born and it's still HOT! Perhaps if we didn't have such nice winters, I would get used to the torturous summers. But, I never have. I got in my car just a couple of days ago (Sept 25), and the car thermastat said 106 degrees!! It was over 95 degrees outside.

I've been in 17 degree dry cold, and it doesn't hurt. 100 degrees hurts! It hurts when you step outside. It hurts when you get in your car and get 2nd degree burns from the steering wheel and seatbelts. You have to have a swimming pool just to cool off every 15 minutes when you are doing yard work.

Give me that cold weather any day, even in the teens if fine with me.

[elfyum]

soapbox - What part of FL do you live in?

Prichard - Ok - I give you ALL the cold weather! Please- take it!

[soapboxsallysmom]

Originally Posted by elfyum

soapbox - What part of FL do you live in?

Prichard - Ok - I give you ALL the cold weather! Please- take it!

Elfyum, I am in Tampa.

[cltsig]

To all those wishing for that snowy, cold weather: Come back to this thread in mid-January and tell us then that you still love that cool weather.

[jackie8689]

So true Citsig. This is the thing. It's one thing to visit for a little while, especially during the time when weather is beautiful. Sure, the fall is beautiful or if one wants to "taste" the winter for a week or so. Try living in it for several months, year in and year out. No thanks, I'm done with that. I guess the same could be said for folks that live in the warm all year and feel that, that's old, too. Both sides to the same coin, I suppose. I'll take the warm and I'll visit when or if the mood ever hits