I can’t understand how people live in Houston. Or New Orleans. Or anyplace with oppressive humidity. Seriously, humidity is the worst thing science ever invented, except for mosquitos. Oh, and places with high humidity have plenty of those, too. Like, JUST MOVE people!
When I lived in the Northeast for many years, we used to vacation in West Palm Beach (Florida) every February. I quickly got used to beautiful 73 degree afternoons, gentle breezes off the ocean, and perfect sunshine. Then, about 15 years ago on a job assignment I went to South Florida for the first time IN THE SUMMER. In August. Call it opening the gates of humidity hell. I’ll never forget. When the airplane door opened and I walked onto that jetway, the blast of humidity hit me so hard I nearly fell down and could barely breath. How (and why?) do people put up with this madness?
New Orleans was bad, too. Really bad. But nothing beat the stranglehold of humidity in Houston. Houston is bad enough on its own, but and humidity and that might be the last place I ever want to visit again, let alone live in. Today, if I even see Houston on a Google map, I start sweating (and cursing).
People insist on telling me “quite being a crybaby, you get used to it.” I suppose this is true. The body does adjust. I think. Maybe. or maybe not, Not sure I could ever adjust to living in humidity hell, but then, I haven’t tried it. The only sightseeing I ever want to do in Houston is look down and glance at a departing ticket.
Before I lived here and used to visit Las Vegas during the summer, I baked in 110 temperatures. My mouth got dry. The lips were chapped. When I talked, I sounded like Don Corleone in The Godfather. And the skin also surrendered much like a sizzling steak in a broiler. It’s a massive shock to the body.
But then when I moved here to live, I didn’t get dry mouth or chapped lips, not after a while. It seemed that the body *does* indeed adjust. Now, when it’s below 50 degrees, it feels frigid. But back when I lived in a much colder climate, I used to wear tank taps when it was 50 degrees. So yes, I think the body does adjust — either way, even to extremes.
Nonetheless, I don’t think I can ever get used to humidity. That’s like saying I’ll eventually grow to love getting hit over the head with a hammer. For instance, here in Las Vegas, it’s been 100-105 degrees all week, which is about average temperature for this time of year. However, the humidity is around 35 percent. Gasp! If I step outside for 5 minutes, I feel like I’m going to pass out.
Like Florida all over again, with no ocean.
How in the hell can anyone live in a place where 35 percent humidity would be considered a “dry” day?
I just don’t get it.