Learning to cope with the heat.... (Phoenix, Tempe: house, to buy, school)

[_Mario]

Hey guy, if you have seen some of my other threads, I am currently trying to buy a home in Paradise Valley. I was wondering, how do you cope with the heat? 110 seems a bit too hot, but I want to move to Phoenix. I know it is a dry heat, but that still seems pretty hot. Thanks in advance!

[Ponderosa]

You cope by staying out of it mostly. Walking to and from your car, mailbox, or whatever is not a challenge. You notice the heat, but it is bearable, even pleasant, for a short time. Everything is air conditioned so if you stay inside the heat is just something you see on the news. Of course, that is the problem. After a few months of avoiding the heat, you get cabin fever and go insane. You can delay that by going in the pool (at night, as it is too hot during the day for even that) or hopping in your air conditioned car and driving north a couple hours to a nicer climate in the mountains. After a few years, even those diversions lose their appeal. So you just sit and be miserable because you're trapped and you curse the place until October rolls around.

[_Mario]

Wow, thanks for the reply. I will definetly keep that in consideration.

[ElleTea]

Or you look forward to it and embrace it like I do.

Just depends on what you like.

[_Mario]

Okay, because I know the heat index got to 117 here, and omg....it was horrid.

[sandy6879]

It all depends on your individual tolerance. I'm usually good til 105-110. Above 110, it's a bit much. Not miserable, but it gets tiring after a few weeks/months in the summer. I love the heat and everything about it but by September, I'm very ready for it to be done.

We will be in the pool all day (told you I don't mind it) on our days off. AC in the house. We try not to grill out much because when it's that hot, it's just not fun to grill burgers and add more heat. We also don't use the oven in the summer. Lots of salads/cool type foods.

But life goes on - you still need to go to work, to the store, etc. I don't hole up in the house all summer but I also keep curtains closed in the house to try to block out as much heat as possible.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by _Mario

Okay, because I know the heat index got to 117 here, and omg....it was horrid.

I find the heat index has little meaning around here. A 117 like I have seen in the southeast is much worse than anything you will experience in Phoenix in terms of misery. A real 117 is going to be a bone dry day with 2% humidity, a decent breeze, and just not that bad.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I find the heat index has little meaning around here. A 117 like I have seen in the southeast is much worse than anything you will experience in Phoenix in terms of misery. A real 117 is going to be a bone dry day with 2% humidity, a decent breeze, and just not that bad.

Often there is a negative heat index here, too! It might be 110 but feels like 102 due to low humidity

[Gritzen]

I just got done(not really even done) battling one of the coldest winters in NY and I will be in Tempe in just a little over a week and I must say I am looking forward to battling some opposite end of the spectrum tempts. Granted I'm sure there will be some days where I will complain but on those days I am going to try to picture myself running to my car in negatives tempts while jumping around like a school girl from the cold (true story).

[goolsbyjazz]

You do learn HOW to cope with it. Like another poster mentioned, you do have options to drive to cooler temps in as short as an hour (Globe). The heat begins to wear on you mid September, but a good monsoon season will balance it all out.