How well do you tolerate cold? How cold is too cold? (houses, best)

[justNancy]

This is an old thread, but still very relevant. I have been wondering why some people can tolerate the cold weather (or hot weather) better than others. I used to love winter when I was younger. Then I moved to FL and, after 20 years of hot & humid weather, I'm not sure I can tolerate colder temperatures any more. I am currently staying on the Georgia coast between Jacksonville & Savannah, about 375 miles from my previous address, and I feel cold all the time. I was going to drive to Western NC, but I'm not sure I can handle the 20 degree difference. I know this sounds like a neurotic version of Goldilocks, but I've been wearing sandals since 1994!

I really enjoy putting on a sweater and I rarely was able to wear jeans without feeling chafed from sweating, but there doesn't seem to be a happy medium, and my heart longs for snow-capped peaks. So what changed? Did I just get old or did my body change from living in Florida for so long?

[Adi from the Brunswicks]

I am good till the mid 20's F range for highs in winter. Below that is too cold for me. I am kind of heat sensitive too. Above 84 F gives me mild headaches and more than 92 F makes me pass out in summer. Coastal new England suits me well .

[Natsku]

I tolerate cold really well if its outside but I can't stand my home being any colder than 22C (71F). Its -15C (5F) outside at the moment and I don't mind that at all as long as I'm not just standing around outside. When it gets colder than -30C (-22F) then I'm not so keen to spend too long outside.

[Adi from the Brunswicks]

Originally Posted by Natsku

When it gets colder than -30C (-22F) then I'm not so keen to spend too long outside.

I don't think it has ever been that cold here. Record low is -17.5 F. If you are a cold lover, frequent the weather forum. You have lots of buddies there from Finland and other parts of Scandinavia.

[kab0906]

I used to live in CT (70's-80's). We got lots of snow and the days were cold but usually not bitter cold. Oddly enough, snow is insulating and reflects the sun so it doesn't feel too bad. Also, we lived in the woods which meant not so much windchill. It was much colder at the beach than at home because the beach had no natural wind breaks.

Then I moved to KY. We get almost no snow but cold days and lots of wind, being farmland with open spaces. The cold here is, IMO, much worse than back in CT. But we get less of it. Winter in CT would begin in October and last until April. Winter in KY begins in November and lasts until March.

So consider the duration of winter months as well.


As I've gotten older I tolerate the cold less and less. For me it's not just the cold itself but the enforced inactivity. I simply do not like to go out and do anything when it's cold here. In CT we could go skiing and sledding and ice skating and that made the cold fun. Here in KY we don't get enough snow for skiing or sledding and there are no natural places for ice skating. So it's just cold, windy and everything is gray and blah to look at. At least snow is pretty.


We're planning to move to Florida, with few days of real cold. Sure, the summer will be much hotter than CT but oddly enough not that much hotter than KY. Ironically, we spent 2 weeks in FL this past summer where it was in the upper 80's in FL but over 100 in KY! There are fewer really hot days in KY than there are in FL, but I'll cope with it to have 70's in December!

[Natsku]

Originally Posted by Adi from the Brunswicks

I don't think it has ever been that cold here. Record low is -17.5 F. If you are a cold lover, frequent the weather forum. You have lots of buddies there from Finland and other parts of Scandinavia.

It doesn't often get that cold here, at least not during the day.

[PJSaturn]

Originally Posted by justNancy

This is an old thread, but still very relevant. I have been wondering why some people can tolerate the cold weather (or hot weather) better than others. I used to love winter when I was younger. Then I moved to FL and, after 20 years of hot & humid weather, I'm not sure I can tolerate colder temperatures any more. I am currently staying on the Georgia coast between Jacksonville & Savannah, about 375 miles from my previous address, and I feel cold all the time. I was going to drive to Western NC, but I'm not sure I can handle the 20 degree difference. I know this sounds like a neurotic version of Goldilocks, but I've been wearing sandals since 1994!

I really enjoy putting on a sweater and I rarely was able to wear jeans without feeling chafed from sweating, but there doesn't seem to be a happy medium, and my heart longs for snow-capped peaks. So what changed? Did I just get old or did my body change from living in Florida for so long?

I think your body adjusts to different climates when you move and then stay put for a while. I've always loved cold winter weather and tolerate it very well. However, I have friends who moved from here to warmer climates years ago and who can't tolerate cold weather at all anymore.

I don't plan on ever moving far from here, so I'll keep on enjoying frigid winter days.

.

[wit-nit]

When the weather gets to the point of me starting to shiver and having to wear a cumbersome coat then it's too cold.

And Pam is right, for example if you live in the warm/hot weather regions your blood thins out over time and is more sensitive to the cold weather.

[rainroosty]

Anything below 50 and I start to give God dirty looks.

[justNancy]

Natsku made a good point. There are days I've gone outside just to warm up, so I think this very old, poorly insulated home (the floors are really cold) makes a big difference, and moving around helps your circulation. However, I do not think I could tolerate the winter weather in Finland.