[Paddlewise] cold acclimatization

I believe that cold acclimation is part physiological and certainly part 
mental.  For those that live in northern climes-- ever notice how cold a 40F 
day is in the Fall and how incredibly comfortable a 28F day is in March-- it 
is short sleeve weather! I believe this is more than perception.   I've always 
noticed that when working outside in very cold (0 to minus 0 F) weather 
the first few minutes are tough but then one "acclimates" and the 
discomfort largely goes away.. until you really start running low on energy 
reserves.  I find it is easier to stay outside  on those days than to go back 
in and warm up occasionally and return to the out-of-doors.  Finally, a 
group of us swim in a lake for exercise, in the spring the water temps are 
in the upper 60s (not really cold by standards discussed here), the first few 
swims are short and miserable but within a week we are "reasonably" 
comfortable at those temps.  Then mercifully the water does warm up for 
summer.  I think we acclimate both physiologically and mentally.
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