Coachella Aftermath

[+ Lucky]

The big musical event of the last two weekends has been the Coachella Festival. Local grocery stores were packed as the attendees stocked up on food and beverages for their three-day event each weekend.

Restaurants were as well. We took a snowbird friend whom many of you know out to an early lunch today and the lines of cars trying to enter the packed parking lot were quite long. Then there was a wait as every table was taken, indoors and out. And here I thought all of the youngsters went home yesterday.

Snowbird season is coming to an end. That means less crowds, but also less to do. And, of course, the hot desert weather is on the way.

[Luv2play]

There is a rythmn to living in a sunbelt town that is different from living in more moderate climates. The winter season is packed with people and events catering to tourists and then all goes into hibernation.

I loved my five winters in Miami years ago and could only imagine when the hotter weather and humidity arrived. Sometimes I would get a taste of it in early April as I was packing up to leave.

One time I was in Palm Springs in late May and it seemed very dead and hot, hot. But I was staying with friends who had a house there and stayed until June when they retreated to Canada with its pleasant summer weather.

Edited April 26, 2022 by Luv2play

[MscleLovr]

On 4/25/2022 at 8:20 PM, Lucky said:

The big musical event of the last two weekends has been the Coachella Festival.…as the attendees stocked up on food and beverages for their three-day event each weekend.…I thought all of the youngsters went home yesterday.

I always wonder what all those Instagrammers do after the annual jamboree of showing off their bad fashion choices and music (aka Coachella)

[MscleLovr]

And I don’t mean to pry @Lucky but how do you, and other locals, get through the hot months there?

As an aside, for years I used to love spending much of the Winter in Key West (tho I haven’t been back since 2000) but I could never imagine living there year-round.

Edited April 27, 2022 by MscleLovr

[+ Lucky]

4 hours ago, MscleLovr said:

And I don’t mean to pry @Lucky but how do you, and other locals, get through the hot months there?

As an aside, for years I used to love spending much of the Winter in Key West (tho I haven’t been back since 2000) but I could never imagine living there year-round.

Years of experience with the hot summer months have taught me that they zip by pretty fast. I have often gone to Brazil for a couple of weeks, but can't this season. A/C is the best way to avoid the heat! Can you imagine living in the desert without it?

The heat is one reason I became a morning person. It's lovely at 4 am!

Edited April 27, 2022 by Lucky
add

[+ Charlie]

Yes, the heat does get to me after a few days around 120 degrees. That's when I head for the mountains or the coast. One of the advantages of Palm Springs is that it is pretty close to a lot of alternative climates. If one is really in a hurry, one can just get on the tram from the valley floor to the state park 6000 feet higher in a matter of minutes. In winter, one can be sunbathing by the pool in the morning, and tramping through snow in a mountain meadow in the afternoon. The coast takes longer to get to, but last summer on one of those 123 degree days, I got in the car and after several hours in traffic, I was in Morro Bay on the Pacific, where the temperature was 60.

But on most summer days, I am a typical local: I get everything done outdoors between 5-9am, and spend the rest of the day indoors in air-conditioning.

Edited April 27, 2022 by Charlie

[Epigonos]

I’ve always though it interesting that in the 1940’s, 50’s and the early 60’s Palm Springs was “THE” winter get away spot for the Hollywood Glitterati. It has now morphed into a retirement community for snowbirds and people from cooler climates. I also find it interesting that it as has become a major draw for gays. Most native Southern Californian, peasants, like me, have always hated the place. I have always found desert beige and desert flora boring. Additionally, I have NEVER wanted anything to do with its summer heat. Frankly if it were not for Oliver and other good friends I would not be caught dead in the place.

P.S. I must, however, in all fairness admit that it currently has a number of outstanding restaurants.

 

[Luv2play]

10 hours ago, Lucky said:

Years of experience with the hot summer months have taught me that they zip by pretty fast. I have often gone to Brazil for a couple of weeks, but can't this season. A/C is the best way to avoid the heat! Can you imagine living in the desert without it?

The heat is one reason I became a morning person. It's lovely at 4 am!

Are the birds up at 4am? I ask because at this time of the year the birds start to chirp outside my bedroom window around then. It's uncany how just a glimmer of light on the eastern horizon, which my bedroom window faces, gets them going. To me there is no appreciable difference in light conditions between then and an hour earlier. 

These days I'm a fairly light sleeper and awake at different times of the night and look at the window to see what the night sky looks like. Luckily I drop off to sleep again most times. I have no desire to get out of bed until 7 at the earliest.

[+ Charlie]

By 7am, I have already walked the dog, eaten breakfast, and am preparing for my 7:30 tennis match.