Does it get any better?

[rharper]

Well, I thought I was out of shape, but it turns out it's mainly just Virginia ...

I spent my life, up to my mid twenties, in the desert west, mostly in Oregon, and did plenty of manual labor from childhood until about 25. I was also an athlete in high school and college, so despite bad habits (drinking/smoking/poor diet ... the usual for an ill-behaved young man), I could always pull my weight on the jobsite.

I moved East about ten years ago, and started working at a desk. I gained a bit of weight when I quit smoking, but I walked a lot, and did around-the-house stuff.

Now we're one year into "homesteading" and I still work mostly behind a desk--there's lots to do around the place, but I'm usually lucky if I get an hour day beyond the basics, so things move pretty slowly around here.

Now, to the point:

All summer, that hour a day (usually before ten in the morning) has just been brutal. Some of the work is on the harder side, yes (moving gravel, grubbing out brush, and chopping wood will always raise a sweat), but I've been having a rougher go than I would have expected. I come in soaked with sweat, breathing hard, and just drained every morning. I just figured that the advancing age (36 ain't old, but it ain't 26 either), and the years at the desk have just ruined my fitness.

Until today. For the first time in weeks, the morning temp was in the low sixties, and the humidity is darn near reasonable. Instead of the usual battle, I was out chopping wood like a teenager--got 3X more done than usual, and in less time to boot. I came in sweaty, but not soaked.

The upshot is this--I clearly am having issues with the heat and humidity, and it's seriously impacting my ability to get anything done around here, especially on my cramped schedule.

So that's my question, for all those south of the M/D line ... do you get used to this over time, or am I destined to spend my years soaked in sweat and on the verge of passing out every time I do anything heavier than walking to the car, between April and October?

[am1too]

Humidity is cruel.

[lonelytree]

Move north. I can't stand the heat anymore. I can cut and haul 2 cords of firewood in a couple hours with a snowmachine at -20 though.

Unless I am totally cold soaked, I like a cabin between 60 and 65F. If I am cold soaked..... I like 80F for a couple hours, then I go back outside.

[Work InProgress]

I'm born and raised in VA and no spring chicken (closer to 50 than 40 ) and I've never gotten used to it. I'm thankful for this week as its supposed to be lower temps and low humidity for a few days in a row. Wish I could say it gets better but this has been a really mild summer. Here in Central VA we tend to have a lot more really hot humid days that we haven't had this year. Makes me wonder what the winter is going to be like this year....

[Country Lady]

I had always lived in the Southern states, then DH's job transferred him to Seattle. The first year there I nearly froze, but then became acclimated. After six years, we returned to MS to build our retirement homestead. DH and I are in our late 60's now and this heat and humidity nearly kills us, especially him now that he has health issues. We try to use our common sense and do what we can, but right now we're letting a lot just grow until cooler weather. For the last several years we've had extended stay visitors in October. This year, we've decided to just tell anyone they have to come visit us after it gets cold weather. October is our work outside month.

[Cindy in NY]

I was born an raised in Virginia, moved after about 30, spent 7 1/2 years in GA, and now I can not deal with the heat and humidity! Even up here we have days that I just stay inside. The humidity especially just zaps every ounce of energy. I'm not sure how far north we'd have to move to get away from it! My parents still think I'm going to move back some day - not happening!

[Harry Chickpea]

WIHH has a point. You might want to get checked out. The breathing hard is not a good sign, especially at your age. Sweat, yeah, whatever - I sweat so hard I have to use a washcloth and hat or a band to keep it from blinding me. But being hard of breath after an hour of work (with proper pacing) is not normal for me. At my age it is getting more of a tendency, but I have years on you.

[lonelytree]

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

unless you have a medical issue (coronary artery disease?) it is just likely the heat and humidity.

Watch the locals. If they have any sense - and if they have been there for any time at all -they don't FIGHT the climate -they work within it's doundaries and they respect the heat and humidity. They work in the cool of the morning and the cool of the evening. And they rest during the heat of the day and wait til cooler weather to do anything major.

Ever heard of a "siesta"?

FORGET the time-crunched schedule - that kind of thinking will get you killed.

They keep saying that I am fine.

I drink Gatoraid all day.

[rharper]

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

WIHH has a point. You might want to get checked out. The breathing hard is not a good sign, especially at your age. Sweat, yeah, whatever - I sweat so hard I have to use a washcloth and hat or a band to keep it from blinding me. But being hard of breath after an hour of work (with proper pacing) is not normal for me. At my age it is getting more of a tendency, but I have years on you.

Oh I do my checkups and all, and I do have mild HBP, but I do try not to overexert (though not always with success), so I expect CAD isn't an issue. I am out of shape, given my largely sedentary lifestyle, but the significant difference between 80+ and humid, and 70- and dry(er), really surprised me. It's not often we get the chance to compare the two so closely, like today.

My parents are generally miserable whenever they come visit in the summertime, and tire very easily, but I've just laughed it off in the past ... now I'm not so sure.

[lonelytree]

Originally Posted by Country Lady

I had always lived in the Southern states, then DH's job transferred him to Seattle. The first year there I nearly froze, but then became acclimated. After six years, we returned to MS to build our retirement homestead. DH and I are in our late 60's now and this heat and humidity nearly kills us, especially him now that he has health issues. We try to use our common sense and do what we can, but right now we're letting a lot just grow until cooler weather. For the last several years we've had extended stay visitors in October. This year, we've decided to just tell anyone they have to come visit us after it gets cold weather. October is our work outside month.

Hmmm......

Oct 1-15 is our late season. Oct 16 is our stay home season. Kinda tough to chip 2" of ice around a boat. Last year was a pain.... an inch of ice for 50 yards is too much after a weekend of winter preps.

[Harry Chickpea]

Originally Posted by rharper

Oh I do my checkups and all, and I do have mild HBP, but I do try not to overexert (though not always with success), so I expect CAD isn't an issue. I am out of shape, given my largely sedentary lifestyle, but the significant difference between 80+ and humid, and 70- and dry(er), really surprised me. It's not often we get the chance to compare the two so closely, like today.

My parents are generally miserable whenever they come visit in the summertime, and tire very easily, but I've just laughed it off in the past ... now I'm not so sure.

Even with the gatoraide and such, you can get heat stroke. Look into investing in a "cool vest" to keep your core temperature down. They do work.

[1shotwade]

Here's what I know for a fact.When I went to Vietnam the daily temps started over 100 and went up.Humidity off the scale.You did nothing but sweat for three days and at that time you had acclimated to the change. Until you acclimated your uniform was absolutely white with salt from sweating then you were over it!
Now this next part kind of messes with my mind and I think it describes permenant acclimation. I've lived in different areas and been told that it takes 3 years to totally acclimate to a new climate,and that seems to be true.One thing that is true is that after the Russian nuke melt down the laplanders could not sell reindeer because of contamination. They moved xxx hundred to the antarctic to renew the heard.After being moved from the northern to the southern hemisphere that all calved in the fall and lost all of their young.After 3 years of being on the southern hemisphere they all changed over and calved in the spring with normal results.
so after 10 years i think you can rule out climate change.I would seriously look at your diet as a way to tolerate the heat.

[rharper]

Interesting point about Vietnam ... I bet you didn't have any AC either.

This is a sidenote, perhaps, but I have noticed that AC makes it worse. If I'm in and out of AC all day, I feel the stress of the heat a lot more than if I'm just consistently warm. When we lived in Rochester, the summers weren't quite as hot, but were plenty humid. We didn't have AC there, though, and It didn't seem as bad as it does down here, where we do.

[Rocktown Gal]

Originally Posted by Work InProgress

I'm born and raised in VA and no spring chicken (closer to 50 than 40 ) and I've never gotten used to it. I'm thankful for this week as its supposed to be lower temps and low humidity for a few days in a row. Wish I could say it gets better but this has been a really mild summer. Here in Central VA we tend to have a lot more really hot humid days that we haven't had this year. Makes me wonder what the winter is going to be like this year....

I have to agree...born and raised in Virginia and it's not going to get better. I live for fall and winter.

Today is a really good day for me. I can't stand the heat or humidity.

[emdeengee]

Spring, summer and fall are the busiest time and the most demanding physically but if you spend a lot of time behind a desk all year round then you need to do more exercise so that you are in peak condition when the really hard work begins. Heat and humidity slow you down but if you are in peak condition then it is easier on your whole system.

[karenp]

If you have gained weight losing some will help. Personally I'm looking for somewhere with New England weather and southern politics (with affordable land) any suggestions?

[mnn2501]

As a person who was born in the north but moved south as quick as I could. Most people do get used to the heat, however 10 years is plenty of time to do so.
Are you exercising, stretching/warming up every day: 7 days a week?
That really is the key as you age. I have a morning routine I go through 365 days a year, its the only thing keeping me moving as I age (late 50's now and work a desk job too).

Hows your weight? loosing 10% will work wonders also.

[Farmer Willy]

Heat and humidity will suck the life outta ya, but you learn to cope with it. Slow down a bit, what doesn't get done today will be waiting for you tomorrow. Drink when you're thirsty, take more breaks. I've lived without the ac most of this summer---you are correct that the in/out cycle is hard on ya. Accept that sweat is your friend. It keeps you cool and floats away a lot of poison. keep your clothes loose and light and keep a hat on your head. Any weight you loose will make you feel better. You can't beat the heat, you gotta learn to live with it.

[bluemoonluck]

I grew up in VA, spent a few years in NC too. Besides the unbearably humid summers, the winter temps are all over the map: it can snow all day Monday and be 75 on Tuesday! Many winters those fluctuating temps gave me bronchitis or pneumonia

Moved to the high desert of Utah and thought I'd died and gone to heaven! Temps in the summer were about what they were in VA, humidity was almost non-existent, and I could open my windows on those summer nights and enjoy the cold breezes. Winters were colder, yes, but the temp was consistently low so you could acclimate to it - no more yo-yoing temps or pneumonia !

Came back to VA to visit a year after I moved, walked out of the airport at 10pm in July expecting nice cool air and got smacked with 90-degree heat and 80% humidity, and almost fell flat where I stood I had forgotten that VA summer nights were no better than the days!

I LOVED the dry air of Utah!! I could go out at noon in July in 96 degree weather with a big bottle of water and do an hour's worth of farm chores, no problem. Now that I'm back in VA, I can hardly make it from my front door to my car at noon in July in 85 degree weather

When people say "it's not the heat, it's the humidity", they aren't kidding!

[arnie]

most of the old timers round here will do most of there work in the early morning and late in the evening . of corse you will never become used to uncomfortable conditions hot or cold .but you will learn to work with it or around it .there are better places to live but there is also a lot worse