The Simple Pleasures in Life

[Egon]

Pete:

For some reason the older I get the more I dislike cold. And it's not that I'm not used to cold temperatures.

Egon

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> Tell me again about 54 being cold. Laughing keeps me warm. </font>

It got down to 43 over night, before finally breaking about 10 AM and getting back towards "normal". Normal for this time of year is 75, and it's 70 right now, at 2 PM. We had a "severe winter weather advisory" over night, because the wind chill factor got it down to the 30's.

I attribute it (my feeling cold) to the "once it's over your head, it doesn't matter how deep it is" theory. The first 30 degree drop, from 75 to 45, is a knockout. The next 30 degrees, from 45 to 15, don't really matter because you're in over your head already. And, from my memory of what it was like to live up North, the next 30 degrees, from 15 to -15, can hardly be felt.

Friday afternoon, I was walking around with shorts and a polo shirt. Saturday afternoon I was bundled like an Eskimo. Today, I'm back to the polo shirt, but still have on jeans because it was cold when I go up , this morning.

We're not used to it. We aren't prepared for it. Our bodies don't expect it. It's like setting your mind to lift a 100 pound rock, then finding out it's really foam -- you can actually get a sprain from lifting a lot less weight than you expected. The analogy is that if you expect 75, then 50 is really cold.

During the summer, did you ever walk into a store where they have the A/C set about 65? I bet you were cold!

Bottom line, this is cold enough, thank you very much. Now that it's warmed up some, I thank you guys for stopping the fanning motion towards the South... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[rdam]

I never ignore serious weather forecasts. Having served in the USCG and aboard assorted civilian merchant vessels, I know first hand how devastating a gale, storm or hurricane can be.

However, I don't think anybody needs the "hollywood hype" type forecasts generally aired around the country. It's all for ratings and does little other than to drive the local plywood, battery and flashlight trade. It is FAR more informative to listen to the computer generated voice of the NWS, which does not need hype or worry about ratings.

For those who don't have a radio capable of receiving NWS broadcasts, do yourself a favor and get one. It's entertaining listening when travelling about the Country too.

 

[k8ny]

Don,
You must be alot farther South than Tampa because my buddy in Tampa said they had a low of 36 (Saturday). Yup, gotta get that heat pump running!

Bob

 

[OkeeDon]

JUst a little further South, but I live on the East coast, and Tampa is on the West coast. The East coast is always more temperate - a little warmer in winter, a little cooler in summer. I'm told it's because of the Gulf Stream, which isn't far offshore, here.

 

[JDgreen227]

Egon,

When I was a young feller I never understood why people wanted to head south for a warmer climate when they grew older....and the older I became, the better I understood their line of reasoning.

Just hoping the wife and I can join them next year as winter is really beginning to bother me, and I worked outdoors for much of my career as a carpenter. I honestly don't know how people can survive in really, really cold climates.

 

[frank_f15]

i can understand folks wanting to head south as they get older, i am 62 and have not reached that point yet. i still get great pleasure out of the change of seasons, and even get some pleasure out of the cold and snow. have a son in las vegas, and a daughter in phoenix, they want us to move out there. don't think it is going to happen, i have felt that brutal heat and i don't think i could deal with it. STAYING PUT FOR THE TIME BEING! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Boondox]

Think of cold weather as a preservative, sort of like a refrigerator makes food last longer. I'm actually 105 years old, but well preserved by Vermont winters! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The moment I move South I'll begin to go bad.

Besides, after serving a decade aboard small warships, I'm counting on that winter harshness to delay the inevitable sprawl of civilization. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Pete

 

[OkeeDon]

<font color="blue"> I'm counting on that winter harshness to delay the inevitable sprawl of civilization. </font>

Now, there, you may really have something! It explains why Florida is tripping all over itself due to the growth. And, it means that if you do have to suffer up there /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif, at least it will be with kindred souls.

 

[JDgreen227]

"Think of cold weather as a preservative...."

Shoot, now we all know why winter seems to last longer than summer !