You all know I grew up in southwest Louisiana, not far at all from the Gulf so we never had much cold. We would go entire winters without a freeze. We could grow citrus trees . . my dad still has citrus trees . . if the hurricanes didn’t kill them.
Vince and I got married and moved to Kentucky, right on the Indiana line, and lived there 9 years. It got cold there and we had snow pretty much every winter. Then we moved to MO, just a few miles from the Kansas line, and lived there 4-1/2 years. Except for Texas, I’ve always lived within 20 or so miles of the next state.
The “cold” we had in Kentucky and Missouri is probably not even considered cold to people in Minnesota and Michigan and Montana. Dang . . those “M” states all seem to get cold!
Anyway, after living through cold winters for 13-1/2 years, with snow and ice happening often, I became more cold tolerant. Vince and I moved to central Texas in August and by October, people were wearing coats and hats and gloves and big, fluffy scarves. Vince and I were still wearing short sleeves. I remember the first time we were at Walmart and the majority of people were wearing coats. I said to Vince “Is it cold outside and we didn’t notice?” He said “No, these people just aren’t used to cold.” It doesn’t matter. If you’re cold . . wear a coat, a hat, gloves, turn on those heated seats and steering wheel!
Now, we’ve lived in Texas for 9 years and we’re those people! I’m out in the yard with Rita and I have on a coat. The neighbor walks out to his mail box in short sleeves. The other day I posted on FB that I had turned the heat on. The guy we bought this house from said “We haven’t!” Well, you’re used to it and I’m not!
This morning I had to laugh as I was reading FB. The local TV station that serves Brownwood has this:
“Anyone ready for a taste of winter? Our forecast models are showing a STRONG Arctic cold front will move into our area by Monday (Oct. 26th). This front could knock our temperatures into the 40s and 50s, and it may even get colder than that.” KTXS TV
I’m not laughing. I understand completely but it struck me as funny. Most days it’s about a 30 degree difference in my temps in MO and Vince’s temps in TX but by Monday, our temps are going to be about the same . . according to Accuweather.
Liz says
I’ve noticed that 60 degrees in the spring, after a cold winter, seems very warm and everyone is wearing short sleeves, shorts, and getting ready for summer.
But, 60 degrees in the fall, after a hot summer, gets us back into long sleeves, jeans, jackets, and moaning about the coming winter.
Judy Laquidara says
Right! It’s like in the summer, when we’re so hot all the time, we sleep with the a/c on 66 or 67 but on these last few cold nights, if I went to bed with the temp at 69, I was tempted to turn the heat on. I didn’t – just add a few more quilts to the bed. This discussion is very interesting.
Carroll says
It’s 34 degrees right now with snow on the (and more forecast) in Montana – one of those M states! Yes it’s all relative – we just finished running some errands and commented that it was so nice – the sun was shining and there was no wind at the moment.
Judy Laquidara says
Yes! I guess Mississippi is one that doesn’t get so cold but it is kinda odd that so many “M” states are downright frigid!
Elle says
We spend a good deal of winter between 0-35 so taking a February vacation to Phoenix one year, we were of course, out walking in shorts and t-shirts. People wearing parkas and hats were staring at us. We finally figured out that 50F was cold to them. But heck, we’d left 10F and this felt like summer!
Judy Laquidara says
Exactly what I’m talking about. What’s funny is that I had never really left Louisiana and I was 43 years old when we moved to Kentucky so I never noticed that 40 is cold to some folks and extremely warm to others.
Moneik M Stephens says
We are used to the cold in South Dakota, but when we were in MO/KS over the weekend it got cold there. On Sunday we were sitting at the race and it was 34 with the wind chill. Too cold for me to enjoy it.
Judy Laquidara says
Does it have to do with the humidity? It’s so humid in MO and that makes a difference. I had forgotten about that because it’s always bone dry in TX but a humid, windy cold does seem colder than a dry, non-windy cold.
Rebecca says
When I moved from Minnesota to Southern California, it was the first time in my life I was warmer than other people! I really enjoyed NOT being the first one to put on my coat.
Of course now, I’m covering my arms if it’s 70 degrees. I think I can take hotter temps than I used to, though.
Definitely acclimation.
cindy says
Having spent almost 62 years in and around Houston, Tx and then moving to Indiana, I thought it was hilarious that i would be the one walking from the car to the store in short sleeves and no jacket in 40/50 degree weather. I hate to wear a coat in the car and always figure it won’t take long to get where i am going in this little town and into the store so i just don’t wear one unless i am going to be outside for awhile. It gets down in the negative numbers and that is time to stay home — or if there is snow on the street. They don’t clean the neighborhood streets until there is four inches of snow so it can be dicey getting to the county roads that are either plowed or traffic runs the snow off. I always say my truck is a Texas truck and it doesn’t know how to drive in the snow and I am not going to teach her. They also worry about flooding when they get a couple of inches of rain and it is not uncommon in southeast Texas to have 5-6 or so inches at a time, so i find it hilarious when they start talking about getting a half inch of rain at a time and that is a lot.
Judy Laquidara says
That’s exactly how I feel about coats. Put them on to walk to the car, take them off in the car – even though the car is freezing! Put them on to walk into the store; take them off in the store. I’ll take a cozy sweater any day but if I’m out with the dog or out dealing with chickens (which won’t be happening again),I want a good heavy coat.
Yes, that was one thing that surprised me about central Texas – how seldom it rained but it could be 5 – 7 inches at once when it did rain.
There’s a hill right past our house and I hadn’t thought about it but neighbors tell us it ices over and people end up everywhere sliding off the road. The lady who lived here said, even though she needed to turn left, she would turn right, go a little ways and get a bit or a “running start” to get up that hill. I’m with you – if there snow and especially ice, we’ll just stay home but Rita will still have to go outside! 🙁
Nelle Coursey says
They are saying we may have sleet Monday!!
Sherry in NC says
I live in NC and used to go camping with my son and the Boy Scouts in 40 degree weather with just a short or long sleeve shirt. One time we even got snow flurries and I was fine. But since I’ve passed the 60 year old milestone, I’m cold all the time. My mom was the same way. This summer I was wearing a sweater in 70 degree weather. I don’t know if it’s just because I’m getting older or that baby aspirin that I take for my heart. I always did hate being cold!
Judy Laquidara says
I used to say the good thing about getting old is that the older folks I knew were always cold. Seems like I was ALWAYS hot. Here I am old and still always hot.