The southern states should create a regional holiday in honor of William Carrier, the inventor of air conditioning.
The growth of the U. S. south didn’t really get rolling until air conditioning. Since then, it’s boomed. I can’t imagine life in Mississippi without it.
About 20 years ago Ginny and I decided to wait as long as possible before we resorted to air conditioning. We had screened windows and we went au natural until about the end of June. Then we caved. But we were surprised at how long we lasted. The human body is adaptable.
The reality is this: In the winter you can put on more clothes. But there’s nothing to do except dive in a pool or go inside an air conditioned room when the heat index climbs above 100.
A few years ago, I wondered which cities in the world have the highest heat index. I was surprised to find no source of this information on the internet, so I did it myself. My one small contribution to world research.
Sure enough, Jackson is one of the hottest places on earth, as is the southeast United States.
Unlike Africa and South America, the U.S. southeast is at a low altitude, which makes it hotter. As you go further south, like the Caribbean, the summer days are not as long so it doesn’t get as hot. Plus the ocean is closer. Mexico is cool because of its altitude. The average high in Mexico City in July is 76 degrees fahrenheit.
There’s no doubt that spring and fall are the nicest seasons in Mississippi. The question: Which is better in Mississippi, winter or summer?
I actually prefer the Mississippi winter temperatures. The average high in our coldest month, January, is 58 degrees. That’s perfect sweater weather for playing golf with a push cart. The only problem with our winter is the days are too short.
Early mornings in the Mississippi summer are pleasant. I try to get up earlier in the summer so I can enjoy these pleasant temperatures. From six to 10 a.m. the temperatures are in the mid to high seventies. Often, I will get up early, do some yard work, shower and then go to work later when it gets hotter.
Summer nights are pleasant in Mississippi. Ginny and I tend to eat late, especially in the summer. I love to have a beer and watch the sunset and then enjoy dinner. We’re on the French schedule.
I have two big complaints about Mississippi summer: AC repairs and bugs, particularly the no-see-ums. I am convinced that there are thousands of species of no-see-ums that have yet to be botanically identified. True to their name, I can’t see ‘em but I can sure feel ‘em.
That’s one reason I wear long sleeve pants and shirts all summer long, which amazes many people. In turn, I am amazed by people willing to offer their bare flesh as a non-stop all-you-can-eat bug buffet. Not to mention the sun.
Ever noticed how the sun can destroy anything if exposed to its rays for a long time? Your skin is the same way. I’d rather protect it. This is how I earned the nickname “the beekeeper” on the tennis court and the golf course. No worries. I’ll take ribbing over melanoma any day.
Plus there are now very lightweight fabrics that are breathable. In my opinion, with the right lightweight fabrics, long sleeves actually keep you cooler, not allowing your skin to be directly heated by the sun. We can learn something from Arab dress.
There’s nothing worse than having your AC go out in the summer, which is when it always goes out. It’s caused physical and financial discomfort. Of course, the HVAC guy always tells me my system is ancient and I should spend $25,000 to totally replace it.
Not me. I still drive a 1965 Mustang. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. An AC system has about 15 major components. I just repair the one component that has failed. As a result, my system has a hybrid age.
One new twist I’ve learned. Buy a couple of dehumidifiers for your house. They are not expensive and they really keep the indoor humidity down in the summer.
