Well, it is November. It has warmed up here in Snowflake, Arizona. For those of you who do not know where Snowflake is, it is about 3 hours northeast of Mesa. The weather here is different than that of the Valley of the Sun (that’s what the metro Phoenix, Arizona is called). Yesterday had a high of 75 degrees. Boy did it feel warm. Last week, we partook of the great cold spell that hit the west. Last Wednesday had a high of 34 degrees, and Thursday was 36 degrees (those were the daytime highs). That is cold, but what is cold? Technically, 32 degrees Fahrenheit is freezing. We had around 3.5 to 4 inches of snow last week.
I looked on the Internet (Wikipedia) to see what they have to say about room temperature. It says that it is between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. However, people get accustomed to colder or hotter temperatures. I think that the same temperature inside and outside can feel differently. How’s that? 65 degrees outside during the day can feel warmer than in your house because the sun is warming up the earth.
I grew up in Mesa. I use to think it got cold there, but now I know the truth. It does not get cold there. Phoenicians (people from Phoenix) think it is cold when it is 50 at night. If I tell somebody I am from in northern Arizona they assume that is why I am hot in the Phoenix area. People up here can be wimps. They want their stores, houses, and churches very warm. If you want warm, go to the Middle East where it is very warm.
It is either too cold or too hot. It is never just right for people. I have been to the Wal-Mart in Show Low and people have jackets on when it is 65 to 70 degrees.
Last week stores had the heaters cranking on when it was 60 outside. That is not needed. Don’t make it feel like summer again. Summer is hot and uncomfortable. When it starts getting cooler, it feels like Christmastime.
I have seen people wear sweat jackets when it was 90 in Phoenix.
I went to a conference in Phoenix last month (the high and low that day was 88 and 60). It was held at a university. The heater was on in the morning. I thought I was going to die. I was thinking, what a waste of money, taxpayer money– money that the state does not have.
If it is cold, people can wear blankets at night. People can wear thermal underwear. People can wear sweats. Having the heater set at 70 degrees is just crazy. Help conserve money and the environment by dressing for the cool weather.
I think the perfect outside temperature year round would be between 65 and 70. When it goes higher than that it starts to get warm. 80 outside is warm. 90 is hot.
I like it cooler. It makes me feel better. Lots of heat gives me a headache.
Well, that is how I see it—the world according to Wild Bill Stebbing. Until next time. Have a great day.
You can contact me at bill@millennialstar.org
Well said Bill. I fell the same way cool is way better than hot. I could not manage the Valley of the Sun. Texas was bad enough. Here in Tennessee we enjoy a long gorgeous Fall and Spring. Layering clothing is the best way to keep comfortable. You can put on or take off depending on the hour of the day. No need to turn on the heat here for most days, just a little heat at night. I save my money for air conditioning in July and August.
Wild Bill Stebbing! I love it! I had forgotten about your nickname.
I’m wanting to visit the temple in Snowflake on a weekend. If my wife and I come up, I will certainly let you know.
It’s great to have Wild Bill on M*!
After 20-plus years living in tropical weather, I never plan on living someplace hot again. Northern Colorado has perfect weather: last week it was snowing, this week it is 60 degrees and sunny. Next week it may snow again. I love it.
I love warm sunny weather, but I totally agree with you that people need to get used to greater temperature variations and stop using heating/air conditioning when it’s not truly necessary.
My idea of a perfect day’s weather would be between 78 and 80 degrees, though anything between 75 and 85 is fine by me. (I hated working in San Francisco. That place is perpetually cold and damp.)
After 5 years of gray Seattle winters, we’re about ready to move to Phoenix and soak up some sunshine!
What’s stopping you, Ben? Come on down! The weather is fine.
I grew up in Northern California and used to think I was pretty tough when it came to hot weather. Then I spent several summers in Idaho, where air conditioning is a luxury instead of a necessity, and I realized that growing up in a community where everyone, everywhere, has A/C had actually turned me into a super-wimp when it comes to heat. It is one thing to spend a leisurely day at the lake in 108 degree weather, quite another to spend every day at 85 in your own house with no way to escape from it. And then we went to Ohio for the summer, and I discovered how miserable 80 degrees can really be. Give me 110 in a dry climate any day rather than 80 with high humidity! My sister, who still lives in my hometown, likes to mock me when I complain about anything less than 95 being hot, but someday she will learn what heat REALLY means. As for me, I will continue making full use of my A/C in order to keep myself sane during summer months.