Let 'er rip. I've lived for years without A/C or swamp cooler and being a native am comfortable at 100 degrees.

100-plus temps with drought conditions. I can hardly wait.

;-) I knew there was something wrong about you Sam...lol, just kidding...but I am a native myself and give me AC!

Sam

When I turned 59 my internal thermostat broke.  Now I'm either too hot or too cold. 

In the winter I long for a HOT day and in the summer I want cool breezes.   But, if I had to choose between the two, I'd take summer.

come on, don't [[sweat]] the small stuff. i love bakersfield and it's hotter than hot temperatures. you can't [[bake]] in bakersfield with out 'em :]

Ok, it must have been the Lord set my "thermostat" when I was born in Weedpatch knowing I'd need it. On the other hand, just in case I don't make it to heaven it might make that "other place" more to my liking.

Born and Raised here too...100 degrees is normal and you can't beat the summer evenings once the sun finally does set.  I just find it was a lot easier to mow the lawn in the heat when I was younger!

Things I've learned about summer life during my long life in this valley.

1.  Early birds not only get the worm, they're able to mow lawns, trim hedges,  and pull weeds without broiling.  They also get to see fantastics sunrises.  Since the smog isn't good for anything else, it at least gives the sun something to paint on.  The air is fresh and as clean as it's going to get all day.

2.  Sunshades and trees are a blessing for your car since they lower the temp a bit before you have to get in it.  You can worry about getting the sap off your paint in the Fall.

3.  Shopping done at 6-7 AM is the very best as most are still in bed so it's not crowded, and your car will stay relatively cool until you get back home.  Plus your ice cream won't melt as fast.

4.  Vacuuming isn't as torturous in the early AM and your A/C will get a break.

5.  Hot afternoons are for napping.

6.  Early evenings are for BBQ'ing or for big salads not requiring heat in the kitchen.

7.  Late evenings are for TV where you don't have to move much more than your finger on the remote.  That conserves energy and doesn't add heat to the house which would make sleeping more difficult.

8.  Complaining won't do a bit of good.

9.  Your concept of a "good parking space" changes radically in the summer.  It may be a hundred yards away from the front door, but it's in the shade.

I hate summer, but I have always been a winter person. The thing I hate the worst is getting into my car after work (in Bako). It's murder! I also hate the people who say, "but you live in Tehachapi, you have nothing to complain about." Well, yes, it is cooler, but when it is 110 down here, it is 100 up there. I live in an older house w/ no AC, and I do not deal with the heat well. If it is 100 outside, it is 100 in my house too! Even my cats are panting!

My family's been here for several generations, but no one seems to remember why they settled here rather than a hundred miles west, at the coast.

My father, a big man like myself, raised my sister and I as Eskimoes. Friends complained they needed a sweater in her house even in summer.

I myself DETEST the heat. I've moved away a few times, but keep getting sucked back. it also didn't help that I've moved to such garden spots as Arizona and Louisiana (dry heat and wet heat) I guess I'll need to get as much done as early as possible and stay as cool as I can....see you in the fall...

Thanks Random..agreed.    I can take walking in the heat as long as I know I won't get blisters on my hands from the steering wheel.

Another option for the steering wheel: driving gloves (the really insulated ones for winter driving). What keeps the heat in also keeps the heat out, heh. I find a nice pair of leather gloves with an insulating lining works equally well in both winter and summer.

I couldn't wear gloves in the summer any more than I can wear socks.  From the time it warms up you'll rarely see me in anything but sandals unless it involves a lot of walking (as in Disneyland or such.) 

You'll see me at the Peddlers Faire Saturday but I won't have socks on.

Well, you don't have the wear gloves the whole time, just until the steering wheel cools down enough to handle. I suppose you could go with a steering wheel cover made of a less searing material too.