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If you live in the south, how do you survive the summer?

  1. chopsuey

    hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts

    @Mamasig: omg 69 is freezing! Ours is set at 77 during the day and when my kids and I are in shorts/tees we're all cold!
    At night I have it set at 78/79 and it's a nice comfortable temp. Lol.

  2. babypugs

    persimmon / 1101 posts

    I echo the "get used to it" responses. Learn to love early morning activities when it's still tolerable and stock up on memberships to indoor activities (museums, educational facilities), and definitely grab a library card! You can bounce around to the different libraries in your system for all kinds of story times and programs.

    We keep our AC on 79 and it's warm, but it keeps the electric bill down to a semi-reasonable rate. During June and July it was over 100 degrees every day, and the bill was killer--$250 even at 79! Definitely something to consider.

  3. regberadaisy

    GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts

    @mediagirl: @chopsuey: I think when it's humid and 90s outside then 76 feels plenty cool. just like in the winter we keep the house at 67 and that's plenty warm because it's like 10 degrees outside!

  4. MamaG

    pomelo / 5298 posts

    @daniellemybelle: Yup! Our house is a little older so not the most energy efficient and we have a pool. But I think you should probably expect $300/month unless you are living in a really efficient house (most of them in North Texas are not, they build 'em fast and cheap). We also keep our house at 73/74.

  5. chopsuey

    hostess / wonderful honeydew / 32460 posts

    @regberadaisy: hahaha during the winter we keep our thermostat at 72/73.

    It's a cool 72 right now and im outside with the kids in cropped sweats and tshirt!

  6. rattles

    grapefruit / 4903 posts

    @daniellemybelle: It might not be so bad! Our house is 2,600 sq. ft., our a/c is set at 72 downstairs and 74 up, and our July bill was just under $200. Energy is deregulated here, and we've been able to shop around for great rates.

  7. BananaPancakes

    grapefruit / 4817 posts

    I don't agree with the "you get used to it" statements here!

    I've never lived anywhere but Florida, and it's always miserable. Always. I hate May - September. You basically can't do anything outside after 9am. It's awful. Even my 3 year old will walk outside, and go "Nope, too hot. Let's go back in."

    And honestly, the 2 hottest months, July and August, you can't find water cool enough to want to be in. The ocean, lakes and pools are like bathwater. Only the springs offer some relief.

    My husband and I were just dreaming last night about how great that first cool spell is going to feel. That's what we sit around and talk about at night...how the heat is literally killing us.

    There's a reason people are nuts in the summer here!

  8. regberadaisy

    GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts

    @Mamasig: bahaha we're moving fast and getting the annoying stuff done so we can go enjoy life!

  9. mrs.shinerbock

    pomegranate / 3779 posts

    @regberadaisy: I drive my northern friends crazy because I walk so slow.

    @rattles: I agree, we shopped around, made some efficiency improvements, and replaced our AC for a more efficient model (because the old one gave out) and our electricity bill is down around $275 a month for house about the same size.

    @daniellemybelle: girl, get some ceiling fans installed ASAP! They help so much.

  10. birdofafeather

    pineapple / 12053 posts

    Not the south, but moved from "72 and sunny" San Diego to super hot Central Valley of CA and I absolutely have not gotten used to it. I've been pretty miserable couped up inside because it's been 95-110 here this summer and not safe/good to go outside. I'm used to walking lots of places and now we have to drive everywhere. It's been a tough transition and i know we won't be staying long term. It's just not how I grew up and I can't imagine raising my kids that way.

  11. daniellemybelle

    cantaloupe / 6669 posts

    @MamaG: Our house is supposedly energy efficient but is definitely one of the fast & cheap kinds. (We're renting right now.) We need to do weather stripping on the doors because there are huge gaps. It was recommended by the exterminator who had to come deal with our fire ant issue. Oh, Texas.

    @rattles: Oh, that's reassuring! Our house is only about 1,700 sq ft. I seriously just went to change the thermostat though! DH had put the downstairs A/C on 70!

    @BananaPancakes: Florida is SO humid. I prefer Texas 105 degrees to Florida 90 degrees!

  12. Mamasig

    pomegranate / 3565 posts

    @BananaPancakes: I get your point. I'm used to it but that doesn't mean I'm outside in it! Time outside is definitely limited on the hottest days.
    And we just got a small cool front and it felt awesome this morning!

  13. blackbird

    wonderful grape / 20453 posts

    I used to live in Georgia. Lots of AC, fans, and time at the pool! You do get used to it. The stickiness....i've never gotten used to it

  14. BananaPancakes

    grapefruit / 4817 posts

    @daniellemybelle: The humidity really is the rough part of it all. I visited Vegas in June once and I went thinking it was going to be awful, but it was actually so but better than FL in June. Cool at night and no humidity. It was actually bearable.

    @Mamasig: I guess technically I know how to live in it, but by the middle of July, I just can't anymore. I'd kill for a cool front right now!!

  15. BlueWolverine

    pear / 1510 posts

    As a Yankee living in Texas, I think you'll always miss seasons. I do. Especially Fall. Summer sucks here. I love going home during the summer and treating my husband to "Michigan summer" where sometimes up north you even need a jacket at night while you're sitting around a fire. Summer in Texas sucks. But when everyone in colder states is ready for winter to end in mid-March, everything is beautiful here.

  16. ldh112

    kiwi / 556 posts

    I live in Nashville and while I grew up here, I really do hate the summers. Especially with a baby now, it's just so humid and hot we try to walk super early and then are inside the rest of the day. What I almost hate more however are the MOSQUITOS. They are terrible and I dream of one day living where there are less bugs! I will say that spring and fall are usually really nice so you sort of forget how terrible summer is until it rolls around again

  17. lilyann

    nectarine / 2878 posts

    We live in Oklahoma, lots of hot summers but we also get all 4 seasons, which I LOVE! We have memberships at the zoo and try to go early in the morning and head back home for naps. My kids are always asleep during the hottest part of the day.

  18. hilsy85

    squash / 13764 posts

    @ShootingStar: I guess I have rarely experience days in the winter where we couldn't go outside. Of course there are some, but generally I feel like it is much easier to bundle up and keep warm and comfortable than it is to keep cool and comfortable in major heat/humidity. I would way rather do Boston than the south, to be honest--I love Boston!

    @BananaPancakes: yep he mentioned Florida as well...I was there in May once and almost died from the heat!! I guess it's just an indoor lifestyle, which is totally the opposite of how we live now.

    @birdofafeather: yes exactly. I just couldn't imagine doing it long term--it would be for a grad school program, so it would be temporary, but I would hate to live somewhere for 5-7 years and be counting down the whole time!

    @BlueWolverine: yeah totally with you on the seasons...do trees even change color in Texas??

    @ldh112: omg are the bugs really bad? I am TERRIFIED of all creepy crawlies, and could not deal if they are common inside as well.

  19. MamaCate

    pomegranate / 3595 posts

    @hilsy85: i grew up in the midwest, went to school in boston, and ended up in arizona for the last ten years. i love our climate and cannot imagine returning to a cold, snowy place. I think both places have a time where it sucks to go outside, it is just that ours is in the summer.

    The flip side is that it is beautiful and easy to do things outside the rest of the year--late september to early may is fantastic! You can wear flip flops ten months out of the year, it is always sunny here and we take advantage of great hiking, mountains and bike trails near us. We also save a lot of money by not buying LOs heavy winter coats, sweaters, snow boots, etc!

    In terms of surviving the summer, we spend a lot of time at the pool, the children's museum, the library and the mall play spaces when we get desperate. It is like the winter in other places in that you drive and then go from air conditioned car to air conditioned place so you limit your time in the heat.

  20. ldh112

    kiwi / 556 posts

    @hilsy85: spiders and roaches are common - depends on where you live of course (I hear bugs are worse further south including in GA/FL. But don't take my word for it). We have bug traps and try to just keep things clean so they don't hang out. Older homes would be worse for sure. You can spray around your house as well though that isn't cheap. We also have these creepy critters called camel crickets - harmless but super gross looking and I usually have to get my husband to kill them for me!

  21. BlueWolverine

    pear / 1510 posts

    @hilsy85: The leaves change sometimes. Usually if we've had enough rain. Mostly though, leaves just turn brown and fall off (if at all).

    Also, the roaches here are AWFUL. I run away screaming from the little bastards. They're giant and some of them fly. It's terrifying. I only ever see them in our garage, but the washer is out there, so there have been many a day when I come in squealing. We now keep a can of Raid next to the washer.

  22. Mrs.KMM

    grapefruit / 4355 posts

    I live in the suburbs of Atlanta and I love it here! I grew up in northern Indiana so I'm a transplant who was originally used to cold winters. (Although we still had pretty warm summers there).

    I'm one of the crazies who actually LOVES summertime in Atlanta. Bring on the heat and humidity! But really, there's tons to do around here between parks, pools, splash pads, museums, the zoo, the library, malls, etc.!

    Plus, the cost of living is so much cheaper here than NYC that you can have a lot more space indoors. So I suspect that the days that you do decide to stay home don't feel nearly as cooped up as a small NYC apartment would.

    In Atlanta, we definitely still get four seasons. Winters are just much more mild than they are up north. But there is usually at least one "snow" each winter (just much less than what I was used to in IN).

    And if walkability is a concern, there are definitely areas around Atlanta that are very walkable. So you would just want to focus your search on those areas. I'm sure other southern cities are the same. Since I live in the suburbs, most things are not walkable but driving isn't really an issue for me. I grew up driving/riding in a car everywhere too.

    Come to the south! It's great here!

  23. hilsy85

    squash / 13764 posts

    @BlueWolverine: OOMG. Ok seriously, could not do it. That is a total deal breaker for me!!! I am dying thinking of that.

  24. Mrs.KMM

    grapefruit / 4355 posts

    @hilsy85: There are bugs here just like anywhere else. But I don't see bugs inside anymore often in Georgia that I did growing up in Indiana.

  25. birdofafeather

    pineapple / 12053 posts

    @hilsy85: got it. i think if we lived in a more urban area with access to more activities, i would be okay. for some reason, even though it's a billion degrees here during the summer, there aren't a ton of indoor things to do: kid's museums, private splash pads, etc. i would definitely make sure we had a pool or SUPER easy access to one. there isn't a Y or boys and girls club here and the public pool is already closed for the season (?!?!? it's 100 today!). so doing this weather in another place, closer to the ocean! would be doable. i'm just land locked.

  26. hilsy85

    squash / 13764 posts

    @birdofafeather: that is so bizarre!! and it must be so weird being away from the ocean after living in SD

  27. Truth Bombs

    grapefruit / 4321 posts

    @hilsy85: I live in TN and have never seen a roach here. Bugs aren't any worse than they are in the North.

  28. hilsy85

    squash / 13764 posts

    @Mrs.KMM: @Truth Bombs: maybe just TExas will get crossed off the list then DH will think I am being insane, but I am seriously petrified of anything like that.

  29. Truth Bombs

    grapefruit / 4321 posts

    @regberadaisy: There are race issues all over this country, as is clearly evident by watching the news. I think making a generalization about racism in an entire part of the country is a big leap on a thread asking about the weather.

  30. lawbee11

    GOLD / watermelon / 14076 posts

    @hilsy85: Dallas might be a nice compromise. It's further north so they do get some snow there (not anything like you're used to, but they get a small amount!). Though I'd much rather live in Austin than Dallas.

  31. hilsy85

    squash / 13764 posts

    @lawbee11: yeah from what I've heard of Dallas, Houston, and Austin, Austin would definitely be the best option of the 3 for us (not anything against the other places!). We've been to Austin before and liked it, but OMG it was so hot, and it was only May!

    This whole thread probably seems crazy to you all who live in the south, but it is seriously mind boggling for me to imagine living somewhere with SUCH a different climate! And weather is so important to me--when I studied abroad in Denmark, I think I wrote about the weather in my journal every single day, lol. So I appreciate all the helpful comments and that no one is calling me looney

  32. BananaPancakes

    grapefruit / 4817 posts

    @hilsy85: What about living in the South has your husband interested?

  33. hilsy85

    squash / 13764 posts

    @BananaPancakes: it's not the south specifically--he is interested in grad school programs in engineering, and a lot of the top ones are in the south (Georgia Institute of Tech, UT, I think one is in Florida...). He got annoyed at me last night that I said I would rather not do any of the southern ones because of the weather

  34. Mrs. Pickle

    blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts

    @hilsy85: we have spiders and roaches in Texas. Quarterly pest control keeps them out of my house and yard. It's about $50 each time.

  35. hilsy85

    squash / 13764 posts

    @Mrs. Pickle: I mean, it's not like we don't have them in NYC, obviously. BUt I feel like things just get bred bigger in the south! Including the bugs...

  36. Truth Bombs

    grapefruit / 4321 posts

    @hilsy85: Bahahaha. You crack me up. I feel like an NYC Roach could dominate all other roaches!

  37. BandDmommy

    pomelo / 5660 posts

    I think you just adjust to it. My parents retired to Savannah and have adjusted quite well. I would love to live in a place with little snow. We don't get too much here but we have all 4 seasons which is nice. I can't imagine living up north or in Canada. Too cold for me!!!

  38. Mrs.KMM

    grapefruit / 4355 posts

    @hilsy85: Well my husband and I both graduated from Georgia Tech! (Me = Biomedical Engineering and DH = Industrial Engineering). So I can attest to its awesomeness! What is your DH looking to study?

  39. abbydabbydoodlebug

    nectarine / 2636 posts

    UT has an amazing engineering program. I believe it was just announced that it's #5 in the world. My husband is a software engineer and graduated from UT.

    Austin is growing SO FAST and it's getting expensive fast, at least to us that have lived here for so long. We had to move out of city limits because we got priced out.

    As far as bugs go, we don't pay for any pest control and we hardly see any, aside from wasps and fire ants outside, but those are easily taken care of. I have a couple friends in more of a "country" setting and they do see scorpions and spiders much more than we do in the 'burbs.

    The leaves do change color, mostly gold and red. the spring is AMAZING though. Gorgeous bluebonnets and other wildflowers, trees flowering everywhere. Tradition is to go take pictures of your kid/dog/family in the field of bluebonnets. The weather here is awesome, aside from July/August and there are so many people outside hiking/running/kayaking/boating/etc. There's a group you can join to go hiking with your baby. AND everyone is so friendly here.

    But seriously, there are so many people moving to Austin right now. I think like 200 a DAY. It reminds me of this shirt:



  40. Mrs.KMM

    grapefruit / 4355 posts

    @hilsy85: oh - and if you wanted to do any kind of research on areas near Georgia Tech, both Midtown or Virginia Highlands would probably fit what you're looking for.

    Midtown is going to be mostly condo/apartment living while Virginia Highlands has lots of super cute single-family homes in an older, well established neighborhood. Both areas are very walkable with shops and restaurants and such. And both have very easy (walking) access to Piedmont Park, which is often referred to as the Central Park of the South. It is awesome!

    ETA: both locations will also give you easy walking access to the Atlanta Beltline Eastside trail.

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