Recently my cousin, Catherine left a comment about how I called 20 degrees with no wind "warm". I quickly double checked, because I am a wimp about cold, and I for sure don't think 20 is warm. Luckily what I actually said is that it is "not cold". Let me define not cold. Not cold does not mean it is ideal. It means that I can stand outside in one layer of clothing and a coat and not want to cry, unless it is windy. Then I would also like a hat and gloves. I don't like to be outside in the cold when I have a choice, but 20 with no wind seems to be the point at which I can tolerate it, if I have to.
Now, my kids, who are basically Wisconsin natives and don't know anything else, they do come home and report that it was "warm" if it is in the 20-30 range and the first time we go outside at 50 degrees each year they always tell me it is too hot to play outside, and start stripping off the outerwear.
This got me thinking about how my perception has changed over the years. It amazes me how differently we view the world based on where we are standing. I also find it amazing how well, as humans, we can acclimate to new surroundings.
I grew up in California, and honestly, if it went below 60 degrees we were in the house, with a fire burning, FREEZING cold. If I had to go to school I was, no joke, in a thick snow coat.
I moved to Southern Utah, and for my first Winter there I wore thermal underwear at all times. If it was below 40, I was bundled up or inside. My sister-in-law, Sarah started school there the same year I did (we never met) and after growing up in WY, she was probably toasty warm.
I moved to Northern Utah and realized that I could handle life in just one layer, plus a coat, unless it dipped down into the teens.
I got my mission call and heard how COLD Rochester, NY was. Whatever, I was used to Utah, I could handle it.....or NOT! I learned quickly that 10 degrees in Utah is way warmer than 10 degrees in NY. Plus, Rochester has the most snowfall of anywhere in the US. Did you know that? And so I bundled up the best I could, while still wearing a dress, and froze. Thank goodness my 18 months spanned two Summers and just one Winter.
Then of course I married a Wyoming boy and got a crash course in wind. Wyoming is the same kind of dry cold as Utah (only colder) and the wind intensifies the cold like I never imagined possible. Sometimes I have joked that the States are alphabetical from most to least desirable, which lands WY at number 50.
And of course, just one State behind in the 49th spot, is my beloved Wisconsin. By the time I moved here I was pretty sure I had become a cold weather expert. I had lived by the Great Lakes before and I was ready, until I stepped off the plane (January 1, 2005) and got blasted in the face by gusts of wind carrying freezing rain. It is the same humid kind of cold here as in NY, but the wind. Oh my mercy, the wind! I quickly looked around and learned that everyone had their head and ears covered. Twenty seconds later when my head was pounding and I thought my ears had frozen right off I realized why.
I have now acclimated to my new world, one chilly step at a time from California to Wisconsin. And I can't believe I ever thought 60 degrees was cold, but I know that I did. Which leads me to this funny Wisconsin joke I have seen all over the place.
Cold is a Relative Thing
65 above zero:
Floridians turn on the heat.
People in Wisconsin plant gardens.
60 above zero:
Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Wisconsin sunbathe.
50 above zero:
Italian & English cars won't start.
People in Wisconsin drive with the windows down.
40 above zero:
Georgians don coats, thermal underwear, gloves,wool hats.
People in Wisconsin throw on a flannel shirt.
35 above zero:
New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Wisconsin have the last cookout before it gets cold.
20 above Zero
People in Miami all die.
Wisconsinites close the windows
Zero:
Californians fly away to Mexico .
People in Wisconsin get out their winter coats.
10 below zero:
Hollywood disintegrates.
The Girl Scouts in Wisconsin are selling cookies door to door.
20 below zero:
Washington DC runs out of hot air.
People in Wisconsin let the dogs sleep indoors.
30 below zero:
Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Wisconsinites get upset because they can't start the Snow-mobile.
40 below zero:
ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Wisconsin start saying...'Cold enough fer ya?'
50 below zero:
Hell freezes over.
Wisconsin public schools will open 2 hours late.
So the question is, after all that bragging about cold weather acclimation, do I want to move somewhere even colder than Wisconsin to see if I can acclimate once again? Oh heck no! In fact, if I ever move again maybe it should be somewhere really warm to see if my body can get back to thinking that 60 degrees is cold. Yep, that's a weather experiment I think I could handle.
Second Week of School
3 years ago
24 comments:
Julie,
In the words of Frank Sinatra..."she doesn't like California; it's too damp and too cold".....it's 72 degrees here today (actually everyday), but as I've pointed out before; it's a cold 72 degrees.
Keep warm,
Dad
You are a brave sole to brave 10' weather selling girl scout cookies. I'd buy from you just to get you inside to warm your toes for a minute. I laugh when you say your kids undress when it is 50 or 60' outside, I can hear my kids loving the 40' weather we are having this week and telling me it's too hot to wear a coat!
What a great post!
Just reading your post makes me cold! :) My house thermostat reads 68 degrees, but after downing a cold glass of water, I am now bundeled up with my robe over my clothes and my fuzzy boots on. It's 59 degrees outside, and with the sun shining brightly, it feels warmmer out there then in my own house!
I am sure I could eventually adapt if I had to, but I would rather just move back to California. :)
Sorry that was suppose to read below 10 degrees for selling cookies!
I totally understand you. The first night I moved to Minnesota in January 1996, it was -35 degrees. All my liquids, candles, and various other things in the moving truck were ruined. I thought I made the worst mistake of my life moving to Siberia. But you learn to acclimate within a year or so. You become an expert at layering. It is okay to move down a few notches on the cool meter and wear mittens because everyone else is or they'd lose fingers to frostbite within mere seconds. After braving a few winters like that, you really do delude yourself into thinking anything above 30 degrees is "warm" and 50 degrees is short-sleeve weather.
It's funny because when I lived in Indiana I always dreaded the winters and vowed to move to the south when I growed up (I know that that's grammatically incorrect, but I couldn't help myself). However, after 3 years in the south I soon realized it ain't all it's cracked up to be. Lots of tropical bugs, lizards, critters, and you break out into a sweat as soon as you walk out the door for several months out of the year. So take your pick, warm places or cold places, there's pros and cons no matter where you go.
THat is so funny. I was just on the phone with my sister a little over a week ago- it was the day that the wind chill made it around -16 and she was complaining about how cold it was and said it had hit 16. I said, "Yeah that's cold." She asked how cold it was here and when I told her she was speechless.
It is crazy how just walking from my car to the church doors for activity days the other night, the girls and I had frozen fingers and our ears hurt. Crazy.
I'm with you on the warm weather experiment. Let's all move to California!
Dad, When we were at Grandma King's in November she was asking me about WI. When I said I loved it but that it was cold, she answered with, "but not California cold, that cold just goes right through you." Me and Valerie exchanged a glance and instantly knew where you got this delusion about CA cold. California is NOT cold. Brag that it it perfect if you like, but never cold. It is so funny to me that GK grew up in South Dakota. See what I mean about acclimating?
Makinzee...oooh 40! Isn't it amazing how good that sounds in Feb and how awful it sounds in Sept?
Katie, What's funny is that even though I am "used to it" I much prefer to be warm. Too warm, even. My thermostat is at 72, and 74 overnight, and I am still always in long sleeves and sometimes even a coat in the house. If I sit on the couch for any reason, I also have a blanket on. I am so much happier warm. In the summer I set my AC at 78...ahhh! So I totally understand bundling up in the house. Why be cold if you don't have to?
Jen, MN is definitely not on my short list, although you have told me before that it isn't as windy so doesn't always feel as cold as here. Still, I have seen Katelin's chilly pics of MN and I don't plan to go any further North. So much for getting away from IN cold, in MN, DC, WI and next SD. If you want to get warm but not humid, you really have to go West. Hate to say it, but it's true. I was born into the best weather in the whole nation and I just keep moving further away.
Oh Hi Cheryl, I didn't see your comment yet when I was talking to these folks. I think half the nation already tried the "let's all move to CA" experiment. Amazing the allure of good weather. That freezing day of AD was the same day we were freezing in GB. Brrrr...it was COLD this week. Jen and I were just talking about how excited we were that it would be in the 30's next week. Ha,Ha...a tropical paradise!
Julie,
Keep in mind... my Mom was born in Northern Minnesota, and raised on the South Dakota prairie. She has some standing.
Dad
I agree with you about the wind, it is the WORST...can't stand it! I think our weather comfort levels are definitely relative to what we are used to. I remember you were saying how "cold" it was at Disneyland when the same temp in WI would have been paradise at that time. Cali is expected to be perfect so we are all dramatic when the temp aren't in the seventies (at least I am, haha)!
We were just at the park where it was sunny and warm and I commented to Kristen that it is hard to believe we live in the same world as those icy pics from Greenbay.
Also while at the park I pushed Luke so hard in the swing that he let go, flipped completely backwards and landed in the sand face first...it was so crazy and traumatic for both of us!! Apparently morons wander about in all sorts of weather...
Remember that lady coddling her son for like a good 45 minutes at the Wild Animal Park playground???
Yep, that was totally me today...
Great post, Julie! Thanks for putting everything in perspective. I promise, promise, promise not to complain about 20 degrees ever again! The joke was hilarious!
Something weird going on--lost my posts twice. Anyway, the second winter we were in Wyoming, the temperature never got UP to zero. It was sub-zero for the whole month. But the wind didn't blow so it wasn't that bad (ha ha). You have to be careful about breathing thru your nose at -30--your nostrils will freeze together. TRUE!! And the kids just kept walking to school in shorts and jackets.
Dad, But back to my point....after 65 years in CA Gk has acclimated to the weather there. I was there on a day that she kept saying was freezing and I was cozy and warm. I dare you both to come here in February and go home still holding on to you California cold theory...hee,hee!
Val, Now I know where Luke gets the idea that I live in a different "world". I can't believe he biffed it at the park...is he all scuffed up? I am sure if you were overcoddling, it was warranted. That lady at the WAP was out of control, especially since she sat right in front of that cave entrance and no one else could get in. Plus, her kid was about 12.
Julie, You can still complain if you like, 20 is not exactly cozy. If I moved back to Utah I am sure I would fall right back into my old idea of cold, and I for sure don't know if I could handle that dry desert heat again, but I guess I would learn.
Ann, Wyoming is COLD. I have asked Seth several times if WY or WI is colder. He can never decide. He says that this is a colder cold, and they are both SO windy. He says he does remember it hitting -50 in WY as a kid, and we have seen in the -40's, but never quite hit -50. Lovely, I guess that is why we are both resting at the bottom of the alphabet. Ha,Ha!
OH, that was hilarious! I was freezing to death looking at out your Green Bay pictures. I can't stop thinking about the snowy benches. I'm a little bit jealous of all your cold. It's too warm too long here and I like a nice cozy winter. I think it's because I love to bake and you just don't feel like doing that at 120 degrees. The winter is my favorite time to read and to go to bed early and to hibernate. If you came here in the winter your kids would be eating popsicles in their bikinis and speedos. I bought two new winter coats this year. My dream location is somewhere that I would need a sweater even on summer nights. Except for that this really is my dream location. I just am modern enough to wish I could adjust Mother Nature's thermometer at my every whim.
Julie...I am obviously pulling your chain......ps: that run down from 60 degrees to minus 50 degrees was funny stuff I really liked the minus 50 degree one.
Dad
So funny! I remember going to school in the Wyoming winter in shorts. I remember it being cold, but not "that" cold. (Yea, I think my memory is going...) And I do remember thinking that Cedar City was a little warmer because it wasn't as windy.
Now though...I really like Tennessee winters. (Except I don't like rain in the winter.) A jacket is perfect and I love it! (Except the extreme heat!)
Funny thing is that even though I went to school in shorts in below zero weather, I won't let my kids wear shorts to school from Aspen's birthday in October until Cedar's birthday in March. It's not that they would be cold, but I get cold just looking at them! (And I would get phone calls asking if I saw my children before they left the house!)
Oh, oops, I am logged in as Jonathon. It's actually me!
Erin, I would take your warm Winters in a heartbeat. In theory I like to bake during the cold months too, but usually I am too cold to stand still in the kitchen and do it. The cold seeps through the walls no matter how high my thermostat is set and it is not that cozy to bake while wearing two sweaters and a caot, but I have been known to do it.
Dad, I am just playing, too. Not about the cold though, I am serious about that. You know I will never let you live down the CA is cold thing though.
Sarah, My kids wear shorts to school about 2 days a year, the first and last. The others are all too cold. I guess that would be my biggest issue with WI winter. It is TOO long. It gets cold in mid-Sept and gets warm (50's)at the end of May, except for the one year when it was 50 all summer long. Even TN gets more cold/snow than I would prefer. I liked growing up where it NEVER got cold enough to snow, but at least your Winter is short. I remember being there at Easter last year and being amazed that it already looked and felt like Spring.
I'm falling behind with my comments, but I loved the Wisconsin joke.
I shiver all the time in California and wish it were warmer. I would freeze in Wisconsin, but I think your life looks wonderful there.
From Michael...
Geez Julie let it go about the cold. I'm here in Germany and its about 37 degrees with the sun shinning, but it gets cold to the core here, like a California cold.
Oh Michael, you really are a chip off the old block, aren't you? I think your weather there is actually pretty comparable to our weather here, except for that yours goes to the core like a CA cold, of course. Ha,Ha!
Good to see you guys back in the internet world.
MICHAEL!!!!!♥♥
I've been trying to look at your King blog lately but can't...do I need to be invited every time?
Julie, You've just answered a question I've been wondering about all week. With all of the thousands of people who look at sugardoodle, what are the chances that one of them will be someone I already know. I have done the Saturday night planning thing plenty of times so I'm glad I could be of service!
And I think this is too funny. I am nowhere near Wisconsin cold, but the colorado mountains can be pretty cold (we were without water for a week because our pipes froze!!) My mom walks around in 50* with a coat and scarf and hat and I don't bother with a coat until it gets at least as cold as 20*. It's all relative!
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