Who really enjoys the heat in Phoenix? (Globe, Strawberry: construction, camping)

[singlegirlinaz]

I'll echo the same things as many if you, I don't especially like the heat but I deal with it.

I have access to a pool, misters and an air-conditioned car, and my condo and workspace are nicely cooled so those things make living here not so bad.

If I have to go outdoors it will be early morning or after sunset. I never liked mid-day, that's the worst time to be out. Too hot and sunny.

I heard about arthritis problems lessened with dry heat. Are other things like sinus drainage and headaches better for anyone?

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by singlegirlinaz

I want to know who honestly and truly likes being outdoors when it's between 100-120?

Not me. It has been over 110 degrees for a few days, and I've already had more than my fill of it. How do I deal with the heat? Well, next week I'm heading north ... WAY UP NORTH to a place that actually gets something which we hardly ever see this time of year, which is rain. Not consistent rain, but showers every so often, beautiful scenery, and cool temperatures.

Originally Posted by popwar

I wonder this all the time, mainly the people that are hiking in it. It'll be 110+ and I see trailhead parking lots with people. Some may have started early in the morning, some will say they are native and love the heat. It can't be good for your body even though they think it's not harming them. I dont know though.

I'm a native, and I hate the heat more & more every year. Many other natives & long term residents I know are the same way. Some hiking trails are closed when the NWS determines the heat to be "excessive", but that's only a band aid solution. I say put signs at the trail entrances saying "NO RESCUES". But if we absolutely have to rescue these idiots, they should be made to pay the costs for their own rescues. Too many of these bozos waste tax money & resources by having to be pulled off the trails because of their own stupidity, and paramedics risk their lives & health in the process.

[Ponderosa]

I tolerated the heat for the first couple decades, I guess. We used to go to the desert lakes in summer and camp on the shore. There were days spent in the pool. I had misters outside and that was not really comfortable but helped. We ventured out after sunset.

But as we got older we just shrank from it all. Walking to our mailbox was a god awful experience. Oven hot cars, not being able to take the dogs anywhere because of hot pavements; it all has become a hell on earth. We have not been in our pool in at least two years. The sun is too hot and the water is either too cold or too lukewarm. It is just not enjoyable. We built a cabin in northern Arizona to escape the heat but learned you also escape all the amenities there like shopping, dining out, even reliable internet. So that gets boring pretty fast. And there is near constant smoke from forest fires.

I do wish that we had left Phoenix back when the kids were young. Heat is much of it, but all the crowding and now daily shootings on the streets and crime and traffic, terrible schools, outrageous vehicle registration costs, unaffordable homes. It has become a really rotten place to live. If one travels a bit, it becomes clear.

[Bondurant]

I do not love the blazing heat but I do not work outdoors currently (but had 2 brief outdoor gigs after moving here) but it is worth the summer for the "winter".

[atler8]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

Not me. It has been over 110 degrees for a few days, and I've already had more than my fill of it. How do I deal with the heat? Well, next week I'm heading north ... WAY UP NORTH to a place that actually gets something which we hardly ever see this time of year, which is rain. Not consistent rain, but showers every so often, beautiful scenery, and cool temperatures.


I'm a native, and I hate the heat more & more every year. Many other natives & long term residents I know are the same way. Some hiking trails are closed when the NWS determines the heat to be "excessive", but that's only a band aid solution. I say put signs at the trail entrances saying "NO RESCUES". But if we absolutely have to rescue these idiots, they should be made to pay the costs for their own rescues. Too many of these bozos waste tax money & resources by having to be pulled off the trails because of their own stupidity, and paramedics risk their lives & health in the process.

For what it's worth, my step mother lives near South Mountain & has ac & a pool but nevertheless threw in the towel on the heat there and left for a summer stay in far cooler climes early this month. She's lived in greater Phoenix now for 36 years and has NEVER done so before in all of that time.

I live elsewhere but mirror what you wrote here Valley Native in that I ALSO HATE THE HEAT which is becoming a situation I can tolerate less and less as I age.
Funny thing is that when I was young and moved to the southeast, I could not tolerate the cold of the Midwest. But now I am being brought to consider where would be a more moderate location in which to live should I throw in the towel on the southeastern heat. As such, the northern Great Lakes and parts of upper New England come to mind.
Various threads elsewhere on this forum and at another blog I visit indicate that there is a growing movement of people who are also thinking of doing so or have actually already relocated. They generally discuss these issues in terms that speak of them as the new brand of American "climate refugees" as they seek to flee heat, drought and smoky air, etc.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by atler8

For what it's worth, my step mother lives near South Mountain & has ac & a pool but nevertheless threw in the towel on the heat there and left for a summer stay in far cooler climes early this month. She's lived in greater Phoenix now for 36 years and has NEVER done so before in all of that time.

I live elsewhere but mirror what you wrote here Valley Native in that I ALSO HATE THE HEAT which is becoming a situation I can tolerate less and less as I age.
Funny thing is that when I was young and moved to the southeast, I could not tolerate the cold of the Midwest. But now I am being brought to consider where would be a more moderate location in which to live should I throw in the towel on the southeastern heat. As such, the northern Great Lakes and parts of upper New England come to mind.
Various threads elsewhere on this forum and at another blog I visit indicate that there is a growing movement of people who are also thinking of doing so or have actually already relocated. They generally discuss these issues in terms that speak of them as the new brand of American "climate refugees" as they seek to flee heat, drought and smoky air, etc.

People are different of course, but most will tell you that bitter cold in the upper Great Lakes and NE is much worse for older people than the heat. Heat is much easier to avoid particularly in a place like Phoenix where everything is air conditioned. Ideally, one would snowbird or sunbird as I do, but that has it own problems.

[atler8]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

People are different of course, but most will tell you that bitter cold in the upper Great Lakes and NE is much worse for older people than the heat. Heat is much easier to avoid particularly in a place like Phoenix where everything is air conditioned. Ideally, one would snowbird or sunbird as I do, but that has it own problems.

Yes.. exactly in that people are different but that's part of my point. Just as waves of people in the post WW 2 period have made climate-centric moves away from the cold (made possible & practical by the spread of ac), as the climate warms for whatever combination of reasons, there is now a growing number of people who feel the opposite and want to move to avoid the growing level of extreme heat.

I am 67 and am among those who have reversed what I want to tolerate in terms of cold or heat. As such, if I relocate away from the Southeast, it will be due to the heat factor which I absolutely despise. My step mother's first ever decision in her 36 years in Phoenix to get out of there for this early summer mirrors that.
Everything is air conditioned where I live too of course but while early June where I live was marvelous, as of last Sunday, it's turned into Hades here!

[maverick974]

I'm not surprised there are so many here that dislike the heat. I don't blame them but I'm not one of them. I enjoy the things the byproducts of the hot weather. I'm 62. Not a spring chicken by any stretch. One thing I always saw older people do was sit around and complain about things. Sit around getting old, sit around and watch TV. I watched my parents get old very quickly. I vowed I wouldn't do that. So I try and stay as active as possible. I have jet skis.... fast ones. They'll do my age. Ha. I have a bass boat and a boat up on Lake Powell. I have a convertible and a motorcycle. If you ask me, there is nothing more pleasant than jet skiing on Canyon Lake in the middle of the week when it's 110 or better. My friends and I have been out on skis on Canyon Lake when it's 118 and it was heavenly. Blazing hot temps with water in the mid 80s. We go at least once a week for most of the year, most often twice a week. Once on the weekends because one in our group still works 9 to 5, and then once during the week so we can be out on the lake without all the crowds. I look forward to it every day.
I love Lake Powell in the spring, summer and fall. Lake Powell. Middle of the high desert. Hot and dry for the most part. Most beautiful place on earth if you ask me. Just amazing. Google " The Grand Circle".
There are times that even I get a little burnt out on the heat so I'm easily able to get a reprieve of sorts. I love hopping in the convertible and taking a ride up to Strawberry for lunch. Or maybe a day trip to Summerhaven on Mr. Lemon. Often times I'll take a drive up to Globe for lunch or dinner. If I really want to cool down, I'll take a motorcycle ride up to Alpine via Lakeside. Beautiful ride thru the Salt River Canyon. Gorgeous.
Direct sun exposure is tough on anyone when it's blazing hot but the early mornings and late evenings are outstanding when your in the right place. That could be by the pool or camping by a body of water. It could be taking a drive in the convertible or it could be outdoor dining or a myriad of other possibilities.
You'll notice that I have said that I like the byproducts of what the heat brings. I didn't say that I specifically like the heat. While I sometimes have to work outside, I honestly don't relish working in the heat..... although I prefer it to working in the rain, wind and cold in my previous life in the coastal PNW. It's not that I like the heat specifically, I like what the heat does. Warms my pool. The lakes are warm and inviting. Blue skies, bright sunny days and outdoor activities.
I love the life that I've had the pleasure of building here in the desert. I've shared my love of the desert with family and friends and so far, anyone that has visited, has ended up moving here. It's a GREAT place to live if you love and respect nature. So far, none of my friends and family have seen fit to move anywhere else.
I love what the heat brings. Specially in the spring and fall. I love the year 'round weather here, even the heat because of what it brings with it.
I lived in the PNW for 25 years. The town that I lived in averaged 119 inches of rain per year. Do you know what fun things you can do in the rain? NOTHING. Nothing is fun in the rain. Not when it's 45 degrees and blowing 30. Don't get me wrong, I loved the PNW. The western half of Oregon is carpeted with spectacular lush green forests, beautiful lakes abound, hikes that would blow your mind...... but I absolutely hated that much rain and wind. I hated being cold all the time with no way to get relief. If I wanted to get out of the cold of the PNW, it was a big deal. I had to take a vacation to someplace warm and sunny............ like here, or perhaps Vegas or Southern Cal to visit family. I had to invest a lot of time and money to get any relief from the weather. Here in the desert, to get a break from the heat all I have to do is take a short drive to cooler climates or simple jump in the pool. Instant gratification and it didn't cost me a dime.
I like that.

[SAN_Man]

Sunny and 68 in San Diego at 12:45pm. Just sayin'.

Please come here and spend your money! We greatly approve and thank you guys for stimulating our local economy!

[locolife]

Originally Posted by SAN_Man

Sunny and 68 in San Diego at 12:45pm. Just sayin'.

Please come here and spend your money! We greatly approve and thank you guys for stimulating our local economy!

HAHA, we noticed by the non-stop San Diego commercials all over Phoenix tv and billboards. I hate leaving during monsoon season though, don't want to miss a stormy stretch.