I have recently returned from a trip to Washington, where the high was only 30 degrees. When I landed I was delighted to see snow, for I haven’t seen any in years. How pretty! However this excitement soon faded as I began to freeze. By Sunday the gray skies, cold winds, and slush was enough to drive me to distraction. I could not get home fast enough.
You would think countless generations of Northern Hemisphere genetics combined with forty years of Midwest living would make me impervious to cold. Alas this all melted away like a snowball in Phoenix. My blood has become so thin I now get the chills when it is below 70 degrees.
In Spokane I shared lodgings with Brother #2 (from Michigan, the Land of Perpetual Snow and Ice). He stated he liked a cold room for sleeping, reminscint of the times we grew up and could sleep in a snowbank without complaint. Our room’s thermostat was set about 72 degrees and it felt positively Arctic.
One of the drawbacks of aging is losing heat from the hands and feet at a terrible clip. My hands and fingers started to turn blue with cold. Despite being back in Phoenix (high near 70) I daren’t shake hands with patients as I felt a corpse. I came to the noon meeting today wearing a jacket.
Once upon a time had visions of retiring to Michigan or even to Canada. If one weekend in enough turn me into a popsicle, then I best stay put. Apparently moving to the Southwest is a one way trip thanks to temperature tolerance.
Growing old isn’t for sissies.
Or for those without wooly socks and gloves.
21 comments
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January 7, 2013 at 8:46 PM
Laurent
At least you have Someone to keep you warm.
January 7, 2013 at 8:49 PM
Urspo
oh he has cold feet at this time of year – yikes!
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January 7, 2013 at 8:53 PM
javabear
You’ve acclimated to Phoenix. I suspect you could also re-acclimate to the cold Midwest. Or keep a winter home in Phoenix and a summer place in Michigan. The possibilities are endless if you dare to dream.
You will rethink your position come high summer.
January 7, 2013 at 8:57 PM
Jay
I keep my house at 67.5 degrees, Molly climbs on me and keeps me warm. I won’t say you are a softy but if the fhoe sits wears it. (family saying) o I could not take the heat where you live, especially in the summer.
January 7, 2013 at 9:09 PM
Frogdancer
The climate in the chillier parts of the USA are too awful to contemplate. Snow at Christmas??!?
Madness.
January 7, 2013 at 9:35 PM
Rick
That has got to be the most challenging aspect of a relationship;agreeing on a comfortable temperature for the bedroom/home. I have a helluva a time with my Father living with me. He would like for it to be about 80 degrees. His heating bills would run $500 in the winter when he was living at home with the thermostat on 80 and gas logs burning in the fireplace 24/7. It’s got to be a miserable feeling to be so cold.
Harper must be of some help in the evenings?
January 7, 2013 at 9:46 PM
Topher
Ah, so that’s why I get cold so easy! haha I get cold too when the temp inside the house drops below 70. My friend always jokes how ‘You’re not in manila anymore, Topher!!’ since I kept my room at 75 when I lived alone.
January 7, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Raybeard
Time for those long-johns? But, alas, even they don’t cover the extremities.
January 7, 2013 at 11:23 PM
wcs
Cold rooms are good for sleeping because you can layer lots of blankets on to stay toasty and regulate things if you get too warm. In hot rooms, I just swelter and have much trouble sleeping. And I dislike air conditioning. I guess I will never live in Phoenix.
January 8, 2013 at 12:16 AM
Buddy Bear
The answer: nice wooly bedsocks. If it`s chilly, at least we have the option of bundling up; there is so such quick fix with the oven-like summer temperatures in AZ.
I often marvel at how adaptable humans are. My neighbour from Bangladesh seems very happy going for walks at -20 C, wearing her traditional sari with a down-filled parka, wooly hat and snow boots.
January 8, 2013 at 6:18 AM
domanidave
You ARE a big thermal sissy;-). We keep the room we sleep in at 60 degrees in the Winter. Snugly comforters. Mmm…
January 8, 2013 at 7:55 AM
Aunt Barb
Methonks your blood would thicken up, but it less comfortable as an elder to be cold, I.e. skiing is no longer a passion of mine, brrr.
January 8, 2013 at 8:18 AM
Urspo
So when is the April visit? I hope its warm enuogh then!
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January 8, 2013 at 8:04 AM
Richard
I am totally in sync with you on this! In October 2011 I visited Albany NY where I was born and lived my entire life up until 5 years ago. I was thrilled to be visiting during the peak of color foliage. Although the leaves were beautiful, the gray days and chill in the air reminded me of what was soon to come. I couldn’t wait to get back on the plane to Florida! When I moved here I did keep a long black wool coat just in case I had to go back up there in the winter for a funeral.
And I enjoyed your use of the word daren’t. My grandmother was from central Pennsylvania and used ‘daresn’t’ many times! She also frequently messed up her words and phrases. I thought she had made it up. My favorite thing she had said once was “She smokes like a fish.” Thanks for making me think of her today!
January 8, 2013 at 9:14 AM
JimA
I have the same issues if I go to Utah. I freeze!
January 8, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Ron
The cold bothers me too. In my younger years I never gave it much thought but now I pussy out as soon as a chill hits the air.
January 8, 2013 at 4:00 PM
jefferyrn
This is the first cold winter since Ricky retired. He is ready to pack it up and head South. I like the change in temperature, just not the cold that comes in and settles on your bones.
January 8, 2013 at 5:55 PM
Jay M.
72? Arctic? My thermostat is on 67!!! I’m sitting in a t-shirt and underwear. And I’m a Southern boy. HAHAHAHAHAHA
January 9, 2013 at 4:40 AM
Blobby
I’m with you. I got a hat and gloves for the holidays and couldn’t have been happier. I’m always cold once it’s below 60 outside. I sit on my hands during the day to keep them warm. My cousin, who is s doc, tells me I have Raynaud’s syndrome. I probably do.
January 9, 2013 at 1:26 PM
BearTalks
As I already said it several times – snow & cold is only welcome for Christmas
Rest of the year I could spend in a sunny place 24/7 
January 15, 2013 at 11:56 PM
Erik Rubright
The older I get, the colder I get. We keep the house here in Arkansas (where it’s 19 degrees at the moment) at 68. Which is honestly to cold for me, but it saves on the electric bill. I tend to wear hoodies in the house.
I need to find an island in the tropics to move to.