Being home for the summer in Arizona is really great. Except for the small fact that you might spend the summer close to being on fire. No biggie. Here are 10 things a summer in Arizona means for people living here.

1. Attempting to take a cold shower

Since most water lines can be outside (freezing isn't really an issue here haha), good luck finding refreshing cold water for a shower! Of course, you'll never run out of hot water, but who wants that in the summer?

2. Going for a hike in the desert

The wildlife probably *won't* chase you, but between how hot the ground gets even through your shoes, and how spread out the desert can be, it's best to keep moving. Also bring water where ever you go and please please be careful when hiking or spending a lot of time outside!!!!

3. Going shopping, or driving anywhere for that matter.

The car window screens do NOTHING. Just keep a pair of oven mitts with you. And some sunglasses. And maybe some ice.

4. Wearing your favorite statement necklace for too long at brunch/church.

This sounds sort of ridiculous but it's really not worth wearing jewelry in the summer. If you're outside and the sun is shining, or rather beating INCESSANTLY on you, the metal things you may be wearing get kind of uncomfortable. Also they make for an interesting tan line.

5. Trying to get in the pool late at night when it's "cooler"

Let's just be clear, THERE IS NO COLD WATER HERE. Most people don't even have a heated pool, because do you really need one? The sun does it for you. You don't even need a hot tub, because every tub is hot.

6. Leaving from work like "It's not as hot as I thought"

Sometimes during work it's easy to think "Oh wow, it looks so nice outside. The sky's so blue and the pavement isn't even goopy looking today." Then you walk outside after your shift and you instantly catch fire, and not in the cool Hunger Games way. Oh well.

7. Watching all the snowbirds flee in terror back to their cooler northern states.

Every winter, there is an influx of pale looking people from some cold state who come down here and proceed to make traffic unbearable. Suddenly in April, everyone disappears. Those who stay are left to tough it out with the rest of us and I applaud them.

8. Even just trying to get through the day inside is hard

When I was a kid, I had a multitude of dollar spray bottles I would try to keep filled up and I would randomly spray myself in the summer throughout the day. Most people spray plants, but I sprayed my face.

9. So you go outside thinking "I could totally work on my tan now! This is great!

Unfortunately I don't tan that easily anyway #paleforlife. But even if I did, I would probably end up a pile of ashes from the intensity that is the sun.

Good luck not burning to a crisp.

10. And when you finally get back to school and people ask "Oh how was your summer?"

Sometimes I wish I was exaggerating more.

Don't get me wrong, Arizona is my home state and I love living here. I just don't love it May-August.