January in AZ

When I look at the calendar and see January, I think coats, blankets, snow, and ice.  I've been having a hard time adjusting to the realities of an Arizona winter. It's really disconcerting to look at your car thermometer and see temperatures that used to equate shorts and t-shirts, yet I'm wearing a sweatshirt and roasting because I'm still in the mindset of January = cold.  The irony of having a protective garage is not lost on us, since we never have to scrape ice or shovel snow (although come summer it will be inaluable). Before we knew we were moving here, I bought some winter clothes on clearance for Sam, thinking I would be saving us money down the road. Instead the warm sweaters hang forlornly in his closet while he sports fall-weight clothing. I'm already dreading the 6 month summer season because my wardrobe is still very equipped for the cold weather I left behind.

There have been some real advantages though. In Utah we wouldn't want to attempt a zoo visit for at least 3 more months. We've been going to the zoo here almost weekly, and love getting to go while everyone else is in school. Parks, walks, picnics - all possible for most of the year. Today's weather? Light rain, which resulted in a thrilled little girl whose galoshes and umbrella don't get much use here.  One of the biggest perks became apparent recently when our heater started sounding like a helicopter in the middle of the night and we had to turn the heat off. Two days later, everything was fixed, but we almost wondered if we should bother repairing it. Our place stayed in the high 60's to low 70's the whole time, and it was so nice not to worry about freezing pipes or children.

I'm starting to wonder if we will feel the same way at the end of residency, or if we will be converted to the Arizona climate as the natives assure us will happen.  They say that 3 years is all it takes to make lifelong AZ residents out of us, and while I'm not sure where we'll end up, it's a good excuse to build up my summer wardrobe.