In my last blog, I told you who all are moving to Houston and why, but that isn’t really necessary
because who couldn’t love Houston? Well, one of everybody’s questions, especially in this
season, is how Houstonians manage the heat in the summer. Now, Houstonians will tell you that
Houston heat is not any regular heat; temperatures reach above 100° F, and it is very humid. You
might not need to invest in a sauna because you could really just walk outside. In the summer,
Houston also tends to get a lot of rain, so you might not need to invest in a steam room either. So
this leaves many people wondering why Houston’s population continues to grow despite the
unfavorable weather.

The heat is real, but it’s not the dealbreaker people assume it is. Houstonians have just figured
out how to live around it, and once you know the rhythm, it stops feeling like such a big deal.
Pools are one of the best parts of that adjustment. The heat actually makes pool days better,
because there’s nothing quite like jumping into cool water after being out in 100-degree weather.
It turns something simple into a real treat, and Houstonians take full advantage of that all
summer long, whether it’s in a backyard, a country club, an apartment complex, or a
neighborhood splash pad.

When you get tired of being outside, though, Texas thankfully has some of the best air
conditioning in the world, so the heat really isn’t as bad as people think. Once you step inside,
the AC takes care of everything, and most Houstonians plan their days knowing they’re never
too far from that relief.

Scheduling outdoor activities is another adjustment. Most Houstonians avoid being outside
between 10 AM and 5 PM if they can. Instead, we often save outdoor errands, exercise, or yard
work for early morning or evening. Additionally, Houstonians try their best to drink water
throughout the day, rather than waiting until they’re thirsty—this matters just as much here as
timing does. It’s less of a personal rule and more of something people learn after a few summers
here.

It’s also worth knowing the signs of heat exhaustion, since the heat can affect your body faster
than you’d expect. Dizziness, heavy sweating, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps, confusion, or
fainting are all warning signs. Confusion, slurred speech, or loss of consciousness should be
treated as a medical emergency.

What makes all of this worth it is everything Houston has to offer the rest of the year. The
summers are intense, but they’re also short relative to how mild the other seasons are. The city
makes up for the heat with everything else: the food scene, the job market, the diversity, the
lower cost of living compared to other major cities, and a culture that genuinely doesn’t slow
down just because it’s hot outside. People don’t move here despite the heat; they move here and
then learn to work around the heat because everything else about the city makes that trade-off
worth it.

So if you’re thinking about making the move, don’t let three or four months of intense heat scare
you off. Houstonians have been managing this climate for generations, and most people find that

once they learn to adjust as needed, the heat becomes background noise rather than a reason to
stay away.

Houston may turn up the temperature, but it doesn’t turn down the reasons people want to call it
home.

Until next time,
Dee Dee Guggenheim Howes