One Beauty of Water

Dear Poppy,

I live in the eastern parts of Los Angeles where we're prone to triple digits. But when I go to the beach I end up wearing a jacket. Why is it cold at the beach when it's scorching at home?

signed,
Hot and irritable

Dear H.I.

It's hot in Los Angeles, no one will dismiss that!

If you live in the desert you complain of the heat. If you live in the tropics you complain of the humidity. Personally I'd rather live in dry heat. I think I can speak for everyone when I say that one is less irritable when they're not marinating in their own sweat. I'm less irritated when I'm not marinating in my own sweat.
But we both live in Southern California. We get the best of both worlds.

But answering your question is very simple (why can't you ask me a gay related question?!): water.
Water is a lovely substance. And you should be glad that the earth is hugged by a lot of it or else the temperature on this planet would be as hot as Venus. For you see, my baby, one of the unique beauties of water is that it has a very high specific heat. Simply put in this case is that water can absorb a lot of heat before its own temperature raises. It's the same principle to stepping into a puddle on a hot day. The puddle is far cooler than the concrete around it. And since coastal cities are, as the name implies, near the coast; the heat that they get gets absorbed by the body of water: the ocean.

But please, don't try to mock the cooling effects of the ocean by breaking the hydrants and flooding your neighborhood. There's already a water shortage.
Just deal with the valley/inland heat by buying an energy efficient air conditioner or go spend your time someplace where it's cooler (like the library or the mall).

Until next time!
Poppy C.U. Montage