Hot and Cold

<- SNOW in the California Mountains

Studies have shown (http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/60/5/1542 for one) that the human body acclimates itself to cold temperatures. That is, if we are repeatedly immersed in cold, we are better able to stand the cold. Our bodies respond to cold by reducing blood flow to the skin surface, and eventually, shivering to increase core heat produced.

I have not found any studies that illustrate the corollary: If you are acclimated to the cold, you are less able to stand the heat. Conventional wisdom dictates that you leave the kitchen.

Our philosophy in traveling north in the summer and south in the winter (snowbirding) is that we would like to exist in an ideal climate throughout the year. The temperature should hover between 65 and 75 degrees wherever we are, and there would always be low humidity and gentle breezes.

Of course, our philosophy fails badly when we meet reality. Summers in Minnesota can easily reach 90 degrees, winters in Florida easily approach freezing, at least at night. Likewise, we've been in northern Minnesota on 4th of July with high temps reaching into the low 50's. We have yet to try for cold summer days in Florida. Just writing it makes it seem absurd, but I suppose it could happen.

This winter we have seen both extremes in Florida. For December, we spent time in Bushnell and Naples. My recollection of most of that time is that the daily highs were in the low 80s, which is about 10 degrees above normal. We spent part of that time with our relatives, and only had a light duty 15 amp outlet to power our RV, meaning that if we wanted AC, we needed to run our generator. We did that for several days while we were in Naples, over a period of 3 weeks. Those temps extended into January, but we moved to Collier-Seminole State Park, and had 50 amp service for the first week, meaning we were cool as cucumbers. But in that period, we acclimated to the heat.

Today, January 29th, we are in Ruskin at Simmons County Park. We have 30 amp service, but we have not needed AC in days. Today's high was 51 degrees. Tonight, a freeze is forecast. We are still acclimated for high temps, though, so my feet are freezing. Even Thumper is inside more than normal. These temps are a long ways from our philosophical ideal.

But, I'm still happy. We avoid that 4 letter word, "SNOW". So far in 2-1/2 years snow has not fallen on us, though we have seen some, in Vermont and Massachusetts, and of course in the western mountains. We're really happy with snow if it's SOMEWHERE ELSE and we can go see it if we want to. That's another important part of our philosophy.