How could you deal with the extreme heat? (Phoenix, Miami: job, home)

[zenkonami]

I'm just going to be a bit of a curmudgeon and chime in with those who have already said it. No-one deals with the heat in Arizona. They stay inside. It's all about Air Conditioning, and once it's cooled down a little, it's all about swimming pools.

The fact is, however, most people don't spend that much time in the heat (and are often the ones who say, "It's not that bad," though not exclusively.) If you're a golfer, you hit the links early or wait for the winter. If you're a hiker or biker you do the same. 110+ degrees is hot, and that doesn't even account for the heat island affect in Phoenix that can bring the temperature up an additional 5 to 30 degrees (yes, the airport thermometer reads 110, but standing in that massive asphalt parking lot surrounded by cars is often closer to 140 to 150...of course, it's a dry heat.)

The thing about that dry heat no-one likes to mention is that once it's hot enough, it just sucks the sweat right off your skin. Evaporation is so fast, you never really cool down. It's like trying to cool off in front of a hair dryer.

Now that said, I quite enjoyed the dry heat More because it was a challenge and because it was one of the few "character" qualities the city has going for it. Drink lots of water (and I do mean WATER), wear a hat, don't over exert yourself, use any shade you can find, and make sure to cover your skin (thin, long sleeves, or at least sun block.) If you plan on spending time out in the midday sun, that is. Construction workers do it constantly (and often dangerously) and I'm not sure how they survive (occasionally, one doesn't.) Respect the heat and you can enjoy the heat.

Otherwise, stay inside...your house, your work, your car, your grocery store...whatever...In the air conditioning. That's how Phoenicians deal with the extreme heat.

Take with appropriate grain of salt.

-zenkonami

[Phoenix lady]

I've found, for myself, that as more years pass by here in Phoenix, I'm becoming less tolerant of the heat--not more. The first 5-6 summers were like nothing, but after that the cumalitive effect has occurred. I need 4 seasons or something like that. The cold is a bummer, but you can layer and be indoors. With the heat, no matter how low I turn the A/C on, I'm never cool. I 've also found myself dreading the appearance of the sun--don't recall snow ever doing that to me, although days of gloom and clouds can get to you. NOt the cold, snow, etc. but the cloudy days. Maybe people need to change climates every 10 years or so.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Phoenix lady

I've found, for myself, that as more years pass by here in Phoenix, I'm becoming less tolerant of the heat--not more. The first 5-6 summers were like nothing, but after that the cumalitive effect has occurred. I need 4 seasons or something like that. The cold is a bummer, but you can layer and be indoors. With the heat, no matter how low I turn the A/C on, I'm never cool. I 've also found myself dreading the appearance of the sun--don't recall snow ever doing that to me, although days of gloom and clouds can get to you. NOt the cold, snow, etc. but the cloudy days. Maybe people need to change climates every 10 years or so.

I do admit that I miss having a few more overcast days here.............but, as they say: one need not shovel heat. I hate and fear especially black ice.

[blisterpeanuts]

I've been here one year and I enjoy the heat. Well, to be fair, I was back east for eight weeks over the summer but still. It feels good to get out in the heat after all day in overly cold AC. We keep our house set at 82 during the warm weather to save money, yet it feels so nice to come inside from 108 outside. A few ceiling fans also help.

You learn to adapt to the weather--for 4-5 months out of the year, you don't do your mowing and gardening during the day--you get outside at 6am or do it after 8pm.

We moved from New England, too, and it is a different kind of pleasant weather up there. I liked the snow, especially after I bought my snow blower. I figure, if we miss the 4 seasons that much, we can always move back there in a few years. But right now we're enjoying Arizona.

Oh, and as others mentioned--Arizona has incredibly diverse climates. You can drive 90 minutes north of here and be 30 degrees cooler! It's amazing. In a mere two hours you can go from a blazing hot desert to a cool, green pine forest. You would think you're back in New England.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by blisterpeanuts

I've been here one year and I enjoy the heat. Well, to be fair, I was back east for eight weeks over the summer but still. It feels good to get out in the heat after all day in overly cold AC. We keep our house set at 82 during the warm weather to save money, yet it feels so nice to come inside from 108 outside. A few ceiling fans also help.

You learn to adapt to the weather--for 4-5 months out of the year, you don't do your mowing and gardening during the day--you get outside at 6am or do it after 8pm.

We moved from New England, too, and it is a different kind of pleasant weather up there. I liked the snow, especially after I bought my snow blower. I figure, if we miss the 4 seasons that much, we can always move back there in a few years. But right now we're enjoying Arizona.

Oh, and as others mentioned--Arizona has incredibly diverse climates. You can drive 90 minutes north of here and be 30 degrees cooler! It's amazing. In a mere two hours you can go from a blazing hot desert to a cool, green pine forest. You would think you're back in New England.

Flagstaff summers are to die for!

[Zonie5]

i moved to Northern Az. in 1993 from Nebraska . for 32 yers i worked around HOT temps . anywhere from a min. of 620F up to 2300F. when i got hot i would wrap a wet towel around my neck, run cool water on my wrists ,and cool wet rags around my ankles . now i don't even use my A/C duringsummer . just a fan suffices me . a very important part is i DO NOT DRINK COLD water .

[pac10devils]

In the past six years I have lived in Yuma, Tucson and Phoenix. Like the poster above stated, we just deal with it through air conditioning.

I'm an active guy, I still go out in the heat with a Camelback water pouch on my back and run in the blistery heat. It's probably not the smartest thing to do, but I'm constantly drinking water and hydrating.

Just because it's 110 degrees outside, doesn't mean you can't go outside and have some fun in it. Most people choose not to though.

[roundball]

Originally Posted by Zonie5

. a very important part is i DO NOT DRINK COLD water .

Do you have cold water during the summer? We don't. Unless we get if from the fridge or use ice.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by pac10devils

In the past six years I have lived in Yuma, Tucson and Phoenix. Like the poster above stated, we just deal with it through air conditioning.

I'm an active guy, I still go out in the heat with a Camelback water pouch on my back and run in the blistery heat. It's probably not the smartest thing to do, but I'm constantly drinking water and hydrating.

Just because it's 110 degrees outside, doesn't mean you can't go outside and have some fun in it. Most people choose not to though.

In all fairness: Tucson is significantly cooler than Yuma let alone places like Bullhead City; avg. daytime high in the summer of the first city is ca. 100F whereas BHC try 111F!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

In all fairness: Tucson is significantly cooler than Yuma let alone places like Bullhead City; avg. daytime high in the summer of the first city is ca. 100F whereas BHC try 111F!

Yes, BHC and LHC are notoriously, incredibly hot pits. Whats funny is that my last trip to LHC was in June, I believe 2005. Anyways, we went to Tombstone, which was nice and "cool" (around 100 degrees) compared to PHX. Then we went back to PHX and the next morning went to LHC. When we got back to PHX it felt quite a bit cooler than LHC, and PHX was almost 110 that day. Felt strange to say it, but PHX is "cooler" than LHC. Went to BHC once, but that was in October, so it wasnt nearly as warm as it normally gets.