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Yep, traffic gets a lot lighter here about mid-April.:p I was wondering recently why basements aren't common here. Living underground would save so much energy. Ideal actually because basements would be dry.

Turns out it's basically because it could be hard digging and foundations don't need to be deep.

It’s very rare to find a home in Arizona with a basement, and we why.

There’s three main reasons: regulations, soil and cost.

On the East Coast and across the Midwest, builders have to lay foundations 48 or even 72 inches below the surface so the foundation doesn’t crack as the ground freezes in the winter then thaws in the spring.

“If you're going to already be digging that deep, you might as well get some return on your investment by making a basement,” said Philip Horton, an architecture professor at Arizona State University.

Because the ground doesn’t freeze in Phoenix, you only have to dig 18 inches below the surface to pour concrete footing for a house. If you want a basement, you’ll have to go out of your way to dig deeper.

That’s complicated by a common soil phenomena in the state called caliche. Horton said it’s like a naturally occurring cement.

“It’s really hard to dig through and it’s really inconsistent in where it exists in the soil,” he said.

Most developers and contractors in Arizona prioritize quick builds with low costs, so Horton said adding a basement is a risky investment given it’s hard to predict the cost of a dig ahead of time.

If it weren't for these factors, Horton said it would make sense to have basements in Arizona because underground temperatures are lower and more stable.
 
Free electricity
 

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Does the windmill still operate? Does it run a pump for water or have you fixed a one wire alternator up there for a little free electricity?
 
You won't find many basements in Flawda either...where I am at about 42" your hole starts filling with water...

I think we skipped Spring down here. It was close to 90F here today and working on the sunny side of the barn adding another 100 sq ft storage space was cooking. We quit early about 3pm tired and sweaty...
 
I have moved that windmill 3 times. It spins and whatnot but it doesn't run a pump. There is a water spigot below it so it looks like it does hahahaha. The storm was a mile or so behind the windmill. Just the right place at the right time.
 
In southern CT yesterday we had 2.47” of rain. It poured for hours. Sun is out today to dry things out. Won’t be mowing the lawn for a day or 2 with all that rain. Jim
 
October is our driest month, this one is more so than most. We haven’t had enough rain to measure in 5 weeks or longer. Everything is dry and dead. Under a no burn notice until we get rain, which is still a week or longer away. Temps are moderate, mostly 60’s at night and mid 70’s in the day. Supposed to turn cooler next week for a few days, but still not expecting more than a few rain showers.
 
60s at night and 80s during the day for the last week or two. The out of town tourists for biketoberfest had a blast!
 
Beautiful here today over 70 & sunny!

Nights have been chilly but 50's at night for the rest of the week.

Next week low to mid 30's at night / low 50's during the day.

And.......dark at night [cl[cl[cl
 

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