The Perfect Climate (average, warming, day, seasons)

[frogamigo]

Boy, I guess it really *is* all relative!

I'm very stringent about "not too warm". I don't seem to tolerate temperatures above 65 degrees F (though it can drop quite low before I really mind). Cold, rain, wind, snow, etc does not bother me except in a strictly automotive sense i.e. no one likes driving in it. Oh, I suppose if it can stay mild and away from being very cold, that is just as well.

Quito, Ecuador comes close to my ideal climate. But since we're limited to US locations I'll have to go with SE Alaska, e.g. Juneau, Sitka, &c.

- Chris

[ColdCanadian]

Originally Posted by frogamigo

Boy, I guess it really *is* all relative!

I'm very stringent about "not too warm". I don't seem to tolerate temperatures above 65 degrees F (though it can drop quite low before I really mind). Cold, rain, wind, snow, etc does not bother me except in a strictly automotive sense i.e. no one likes driving in it. Oh, I suppose if it can stay mild and away from being very cold, that is just as well.

Quito, Ecuador comes close to my ideal climate. But since we're limited to US locations I'll have to go with SE Alaska, e.g. Juneau, Sitka, &c.

- Chris

There are places in the lower 48 you might like... I remember a quote from Mark Twain saying the coldest winter he had ever seen was a summer in San Francisco. There are many places north of southern CA (Point Conception and north) that are generally cool year-round.

Take Eureka, California for example: January is 54 F day and 41 F night while August, the "hottest" time of year averages 61 F day and 53 F night. The cold Pacific combined with mountains seems to keep them from having distint seasons. I've heard all the way up to southern Oregon it's mild and cool year-round to.

You also might like coastal Maine/New England. Slightly inland summers might be low 70's F on average but the water is always stays cold (from a swimming point of view) which would probably mean temps above 80F are near impossible, at least on the coast. This far north summer is also quite short and thanks to the ocean, it probably doesn't start until July.

Hope that helps!

[elfyum]

Hey there ColdCan! That's funny that the two people on these boards who like it HOT like me (or close) live in Canada & Minnesota!!! What are you guys thinking?! I know, I know! The person from MN is in school so that's why there. Do you just love Canada so you wouldn't move or are you "stuck"?

As for Miami weather, the SUMMER is the good stuff!!!
And I LIKE that - our humidity is stuff legends are made of! Very true!!! But I HATE when it starts to drop! We're already getting into the 70's at night & I'm "burrr"ing left & right & putting on second layers!!! I mean, we still have the ac running - gotta have something! (Also my love doesn't quite like heat like I do ) But I AM looking forward to the electric bill dropping under 250$! Yay!!!

I've always thought it would be cool to live in the Keys in the winter (hey even the few degrees warmer is appreciated! ) and then somewhere near Death Valley in the summer!!!!!!! I wish there was a place that hot (IN THE US!) in the WINTER! I'd be there faster than you could say HOT!

Hey frogamigo- the coldest place in the US is Barrow! And in the lower 48 it's Tower (or is it Towner?) MN! Go for it! I actually would love to go to those places! I'm into extremes man! I just don't know if there are enough layers to put on! I mean, ya gotta be able to actually move around! I already have arctic thermal underwear that I wear HERE!!! Along with my space heater & electric blanket...And this is for 40's!!!

[Need_affordable_home]

Elfyum, heh you must really hate the cold! I dont like the summer heat. Winter isnt a big deal and the savings on a/c is well appreciated! Florida has good weather most of the time, so does south Cali

[ColdCanadian]

Elfyum:

What am I thinking? I'm thinking that I currently have no right to legal work anywhere that I'm not cold at least half the year. I also cannot afford to relocate without being able to work. I was born here and so were my parents. None of us enjoy our climate. Also the U.S. is one of the most challenging countries to legally immigrate to. Nowadays all the other nice English speaking countries are hard to immigrate to as well, regardless of whether you speak the language or not.

Have you ever thought of wintering in Australia? Our winter is their summer and they get mighty hot in many places over there. Some places reguarly see afternoons at or above 120 F. I think that would be sweet, as Christmas and New Years is in the middle of their summer.

Though I've only been to south Florida I know how that winter A/C can be brutal. I was in a Ft. Lauderdale scuba shop and was talking to the owner of what it's like to live there. He moved from New Jersey. Anyways he was telling me the first winter they had frost and he didn't even notice. The next year, he said he couldn't handle when it dropped below 50 F. He says your body changes after being down there for a few years. I had to politely excuse myself to go outside into the sunshine to warm up, because I couldn't handle how chilly his store was, after he finished telling me how Floridians like him are surpisingly sensitive to the cold.

I believe 44 F when beyond 50% humidity and a 10 mph gust is downright-frigid! I like to wear a heavy coat and gloves when it's that cold.

[Need_affordable_home]

Wow I will have a very hard time in winter if I move up north from Florida but ill immunize to the cold in a couple years

[SunnyDog]

Actually I prefer Miami's 88 degree humid breezy afternoons to the Midwest's 100 degree humid breezeless afternoons or the desert Southwest's 110-120 degree dry heat that chaps my lips and throws me into a dimension of thirst I care not to experience. To me dry heat is way overrated, I'd reather sweat in humidity than have my body crack and scale off in dry heat.

[greekeagle]

Pretty much if we take the comfort factor into consideration...you'll find that most people agree that coastal southern California has a near perfect climate. It is true that inland California deserts experience extreme temps during the summer yet they are dry. When it comes to comfort, you won't find many people preferring a muggy 95 deg day in NYC to a 105 deg afternoon in Palm Springs. It is much more comfortable in Palm Springs. While coastal "inland" areas can get hot, the heat once again is drier and bearable. San Diego, San Clemente, Laguna, Newport Beach etc. have a very consistent climate year round. Temps are generally between 60-80 deg [avg] most of the year. They'll have a few days warmer....and a few cooler. From the coast add a few degrees for every 5 miles. Thus, you have a 75 deg reading in Newport...and a few miles inland in Anaheim 85. Not at all uncomfortable. The worst heat in my experience since I have lived in many locales....Chicago, Toronto, New York City. The most miserable climate? The cities that hold the Annual Rain Festival ...held between Jan 1 running thru till Dec 31st ......Vancouver & Seattle. Two very gray cities where people do not tan...they rust....people see a 65 deg F /18 deg C day and they start throwing their clothes off in order for the sun to get a glimpse of their skin....When people say that they have heard of a disorder that is unique to this part of the world ..it's true. People actually get sent to solariums + Prozac in order to cure "depression" caused by the lack of sunlight. Basically, a near perfect climate is a climate where one does not freeze his butt off nor lose pounds thru sweat loss ...it's a place where you can plan a picnic or something else outdoors and you know you have a 95% chance it won't be ruined by the weather. And to be able to do this year round or at least most of the year. That is one of the good things I found when I had to move to Athens, Greece. Here, the climate very similar to California's...I get to enjoy the outdoors every month of the year! This includes the cooler winter months where it can be 70 deg at Christmas and 45 in February. Even a 45 deg reading though low, the bright sun especially here in Attica county, warms you in minutes. Back to the question though...SoCal ....all the way!!!

[Mark S.]

Originally Posted by greekeagle

Pretty much if we take the comfort factor into consideration...you'll find that most people agree that coastal southern California has a near perfect climate. Back to the question though...SoCal ....all the way!!!

Yep.

So everyone, please move to Southern California as soon as possible. That will leave the rest of the 4-season areas unspoiled for folks like me.

[elfyum]

I was in Santa Barbara in June - JUNE mind you! - and I was wearing a leather jacket & freezing my ass off!!! I was like "What the f*ck is THIS???!!!" It was in the 40's!!!!!!!! (Even in the DAY I was wearing the jacket!)

(I believe this was June of '96)