Tim GULLA LEDGER STAFF WRITER Talking to a relative the other day from up north, I heard nothing but complaint after complaint about the heat wave over Pennsylvania.

In a state where the vast majority of the year is spent below 70 degrees, if not 60, it‘s easy to understand how just a couple of days above 90 will bring out the crankiness.

Given that we just went through a solid 14 day or so stretch with above 90 degree temperatures, and likely clocked in with a good triple digit 100 on Thursday, I wasn’t really in the mood to hear it, however.

“Go buy an air conditioner already,” I crankily shot back. “I think you could get one for like 200 bucks now. Go splurge!”

When I first moved to South Carolina a few years back, I have to be honest that I was literally gasping for air and melting like a snowman my first full summer here. I always used to wear dress shirts and ties to work but had to tell my bosses here at The Ledger that the high temperatures and ring-around-the-collar were killing my fancier duds.

But I now have several years of southernness under my belt, and while I’ll no doubt still be considered a yankee for years to come, I think I’m finally getting acclimated.

I may pass along the occasional comment about the weather, but I don’t think I harp or linger on the subject. It is what it is.

And my farmer’s tan is in full summer swing at the moment. It only goes up to my sleeves and it’s really apparent when I take off my watch band.

It’s a pretty good look, if you ask me.

Perhaps griping about the weather is just human nature. No matter which way the thermometer swings, it’s likely to generate complaints.

It’s too hot. It’s too cold. It’s too wet. It’s too dry. It’s too windy. It’s not windy enough.

Show me a perfect summer day, about 80 degrees, party cloudy with a gentle breeze — a veritable golfer’s heaven — and I’ll likely find someone who can complain about it.

Perhaps we gripe about the weather just because it’s an easy way to start a conversation, especially with people we don’t know.

It doesn’t matter what your political affiliation is because even Republicans and Democrats can agree that it’s hot when small birds and/or squirrels start to spontaneously combust.

But try starting a conversation using Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, Nancy Pelosi or Fox News as a lead-in and you’ll likely get into fisticuffs.

And perhaps we gripe about the weather just because it’s an easy target, and can’t argue back.

It may not be able to argue back, but it does have a way of getting back.

It can always get hotter, if you think about it, and there’s no doubt Mother Nature has some snow, ice and bone-chilling weather planned for us this winter.

Until then, I’ll try to keep my complaints in check. Besides, it’s kind of nice not to have to invest any more in certain types of clothing, such as the aforementioned fancy duds and the really, really, really cold weather gear.

My collection of polar ice boots hasn’t necessarily been forgotten, though. The came in handy recently when an outdoor project called for some major weed removal in a potentially snake-infested area.

Those boots are guaranteed to keep your feet warm when it’s minus 50. A copperhead snake couldn’t possibly stand a chance against them.