How do you cope with 100+ temperatures on a daily basis (Phoenix: earthquakes, living in)

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by actinic

Consider who responds. Many are retired and don't live by a clock. They are less active so outdoors activities aren't as high on their list. They can swim in their pools at midnight and boast about how nice it is then, sleep in late, or pull up stakes and go to a cooler climate at will. They don't have to fight traffic during the heat of the day, mow the lawn or weed, watch kids at soccer at 4 pm, get into and out of cars constantly, have a job which entails being outside, or are generally just busy during the day. With a lifestyle like that ANY place can seem fine, but not exactly perfect for the younger, more active crowd that doesn't have the luxury of staying indoors marveling about the sunny skies they avoid.

And many who have responded and continue to respond are younger residents in the prime of the lives. And we also enjoy living here. As many have already pointed out, the extreme heat is simply the flip side of people who deal with extreme cold temps in the winter. You adapt. Or you move. Or you complain endlessly. Entirely your choice.

[jasper1372]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

You have a good point about AC making recluses of people. I noticed this camping years ago. People would be out all day at the lakes, sitting at the tables, playing games, not paying much attention to the heat. I think the thing is the contrast when you go outside. If you start your day and then adjust as temps rise, it seems far less of an issue than if you walk out midday from a cooled space.

I agree Ponderosa. We live in Northern Minnesota where, in my opinion at least, AC is not needed. You'd be suprised though at how many of our neighbors have AC. They keep their windows closed up all summer with the "humming box" outside sucking up their electrical bill. We've never had AC and personally find no need for it.....OK, maybe 3 or 4 days a year it would be nice....but if we aren't tough enough to meet the challenge we might as well hang it up.

In fact when we spend time in Arizona from late April to early June we don't usually turn on the AC except when we're cleaning the house or washing cloths or other manual labor type stuff in the house. Ceiling fans and open windows are a wonderful thing....both in Minnesota and Arizona.

You're also right that it makes it tougher to go outside if you have the AC on inside all the time. Going from cool to hot makes it tougher than going from hot to hoter.

One HUGE difference between the heat in Minnesota and Arizona is the hunidity level. For instance today it's about 90 degrees and the humidity level is about 65 percent....it's sticky for sure. I'll be honest with you, I've been in Arizona when it's been 110 with humidy levels around 10 or 15 percent and that's more comfortable than it is here today.

But as they say....to each their own.

[xeric]

Originally Posted by jasper1372

You're also right that it makes it tougher to go outside if you have the AC on inside all the time. Going from cool to hot makes it tougher than going from hot to hoter.

A simple lesson that a lot of people don't get. For instance, I love heat so it's no hardship for me to have temperatures of 85 in our upstairs in the summer. But I no longer like cold weather. So in theory I could turn the heat up to 78 or 79 in the winter and wear beach atire inside (which is nothing in my case - sorry TMI). But doing so would make it much harder to go outside in the winter because I would not be allowing my body to adapt to the seasonal climate. I wouldn't do it even if I could overlook the waste of money and energy because in the long run, I would be less comfortable in the winter. I'm not saying that people shouldn't use AC in hot climates, just that by overusing it they hinder their seasonal adaptation to the outside environment.

[hose111]

Originally Posted by Gandalara

Weekends, stay inside and play on City-Data

yea!

[~PaperMoon~]

Originally Posted by actinic

Consider who responds. Many are retired and don't live by a clock. They are less active so outdoors activities aren't as high on their list. They can swim in their pools at midnight and boast about how nice it is then, sleep in late, or pull up stakes and go to a cooler climate at will. They don't have to fight traffic during the heat of the day, mow the lawn or weed, watch kids at soccer at 4 pm, get into and out of cars constantly, have a job which entails being outside, or are generally just busy during the day. With a lifestyle like that ANY place can seem fine, but not exactly perfect for the younger, more active crowd that doesn't have the luxury of staying indoors marveling about the sunny skies they avoid.

Still no excuse, you can go out and weed in the evening before dark after it cools down some or early in the morning just after the sun comes up before it gets hot, you don't have to go out at high noon at the hottest part of the day to work in the yard. Also most cars have AC so sitting in traffic should be no problem with AC running, the same way you would run the heater in a car at freezing temps in the day. As far as soccer at 4pm, you can use sunbrellas and find a shady spot to sit in, you don't have to sit under the bright sun. The same way you would have an umbrella or sit under something if it was raining or snowing outside. When I sit outside at the busstop waiting on the bus, if there's no shelter I will either find a shady spot to wait in or use a sunbrella to shield myself from the hot sun, or just wait till it's cooler before going out, or go really early in the mornning before it gets too hot. I still prefer Arizona over standing in the freezing cold waiting at a busstop catching a cold or flu. Plus that freezing cold gets into your bones too that's how people get arthritis, and aching stiff joints, that's why so many older people love warm places like here or Florida. I don't have arthritis and don't plan on ever getting it.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by ironlady

I'm sorry for your unfortunate experiences, but I beg to differ, Seattle, and so does the science: How Happy Is Your City? - 4 - MSN Health - Depression Slide Show (http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100173391&imageindex=4 - broken link). I'll spare you from citing a long list of medical research studies documenting the serious implications of lack of sunshine for many (maybe not all) people.

I agree with this part. I have been to Seattle and Vancouver, and it is very depressing with the constant gray skies and lack of sunshine. I like Seattle, Vancouver, and even Portland, OR for what they have to offer as cities, but the consistent rain and dampness would become monotonous.

Originally Posted by ironlady

Alternatively, just check the work of Edward Glaeser, the Harvard economics professor who studies the contemporary migration patterns of Americans--it seems that human capital follows the average temperatures in January. That's just one of the reasons Phoenix is cited as one of the top ten impending boomtowns.

I have some reservations about this part. The way I see it, there is a 180 degree difference between Phoenix and Seattle regarding the climate. Both places receive an excess of weather much of the year: Seattle has too many cloudy days, and Phoenix has too many sunny days. The lack of variety in both places can be very boring.

The climate of Phoenix and much of Arizona is not something I find very appealing, especially the summers. The winter, spring, and fall have better weather most of the time ... however, when there is a lack of moisture, that becomes very concerning. We have seen the results from the excessive dry spells in recent years: huge forest fires, drought, etc. Even though most people prefer sunshine over gloom, I believe Arizona in general has too much of a good thing, so to speak. That is why I often stratch my head in wonder over why so many people move here based on the sunny, dry climate as the top reason. Me personally, being a native, I remain here for many reasons that I consider more imporant or essential than the climate. Jobs, salary, family, crime rate, and overall quality of life should always outrank how many sunny days a place receives.

[actinic]

Originally Posted by Kimballette

And many who have responded and continue to respond are younger residents in the prime of the lives. And we also enjoy living here. As many have already pointed out, the extreme heat is simply the flip side of people who deal with extreme cold temps in the winter. You adapt. Or you move. Or you complain endlessly. Entirely your choice.

A greater number who have responded are retired. The OP should understand the age bias in the replies. No need to confuse the OP any more than necessary

[actinic]

Originally Posted by ~PaperMoon~

Plus that freezing cold gets into your bones too that's how people get arthritis, and aching stiff joints, that's why so many older people love warm places like here or Florida. I don't have arthritis and don't plan on ever getting it.

Please cite the medical evidence that the cold contributes to arthritis.

[actinic]

Originally Posted by ~PaperMoon~

Still no excuse, you can go out and weed in the evening before dark after it cools down some or early in the morning just after the sun comes up before it gets hot, you don't have to go out at high noon at the hottest part of the day to work in the yard.

Before dark and after it cools down some? Let me guess, somewhere between 7 - 9 pm when the temps are still what, 105+? I'm shivering just thinking about it. Kind of sucks having to wake up early to do yard work.

[Jim Mac]

Originally Posted by actinic

Please cite the medical evidence that the cold contributes to arthritis.

I'd like to see that too. I'm no doctor, but PaperMoon's statement is ridiculous.