MJP –
Arizona — The land of endless sunshine, towering saguaros, and temperatures that can make your ice cream melt before you leave the store. If you’ve ever visited the Grand Canyon State, you’ve probably noticed that Arizonans have some unique ways of coping with their desert environment.
From heat hacks to desert rituals, here are 12 things people from Arizona do that might seem downright insane to everyone else.
1. Say “But It’s a Dry Heat” with a Straight Face
When the thermometer hits 115°F, Arizonans will assure you it’s not that bad because there’s no humidity. As if being baked in an oven is somehow more pleasant than being steamed!
2. Use Oven Mitts to Drive
Touching a steering wheel in the summer is like grabbing a hot skillet. Locals keep oven mitts or special gloves in the car to prevent first-degree burns during their commute.
3. Celebrate Monsoon Season Like a Holiday
While others dread stormy weather, Arizonans throw open their doors to welcome the rain. Thunderstorms and flash floods? Time to grab a lawn chair and watch the show!
4. Run Outside When It’s Below 100°F
When the temperature dips to a brisk 99°F, you’ll see people jogging, biking, and enjoying the “cool” weather. It’s practically sweater season!
5. Decorate Cacti for Christmas
Who needs pine trees when you have saguaros? Stringing lights and ornaments on spiky desert plants is a festive tradition that might raise some eyebrows elsewhere.
6. Keep an Eye Out for “Haboobs”
Massive dust storms called haboobs can roll in unexpectedly. Instead of panicking, Arizonans just shrug, close the windows, and wait for the giant wall of dust to pass.
7. Carry Water Everywhere—Even to the Mailbox
Hydration is no joke in the desert. A quick trip outside means bringing a water bottle because you never know when the heat will turn you into a raisin.
8. Treat Air Conditioning Like a Sacred Right
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AC isn’t just a luxury; it’s a lifeline. Locals will drive miles out of their way to avoid a broken air conditioner, and the repair person is a revered hero.
9. Wear Flip-Flops Year-Round
Snow is something that happens on TV. With over 300 sunny days a year, flip-flops are appropriate footwear in any month—even if it occasionally dips below 60°F.
10. Schedule Activities at 5 a.m.
Want to go hiking or play a round of golf? Better set that alarm early! Arizonans are no strangers to sunrise activities to beat the searing daytime heat.
11. Laugh at “High” Temperatures Elsewhere
“Oh, it’s 85°F in New York? How adorable!” Arizonans chuckle at what others consider hot, feeling a sense of desert-hardened superiority.
12. Live Peacefully with Scorpions and Rattlesnakes
Finding a scorpion in your shoe or a rattlesnake in the yard is just part of life. Locals know how to handle (or politely avoid) their venomous neighbors.
So there you have it—12 sun-drenched quirks that make Arizona wonderfully unique, even if they leave outsiders sweating in disbelief.
These desert customs might seem a bit extreme, but they’re all part of the charm that comes with living under the blazing sun. Next time you find yourself in Arizona, embrace the heat, grab a water bottle, and you might just start doing these “insane” things too!
