Are we too (air) conditioned?
Dear America,
Do creature comforts make us weak? Are we reduced to snivelling, complaining patsies who can’t take the heat, so we stay in the kitchen?
I feel lucky, blessed, and fortunate, my gentle readers. I have an apartment with an air-conditioner that mercilessly fights any sort of heat wave that El Ni~no and urban sprawl can throw at it. It works early and often, is efficient, and never complains that I don’t take it out enough. ( The water heater whines all the time.) Ultimately, I love my air conditioning because it keeps TLEMK happy. And that is important.
BUT
For unknown reasons, I find myself growing resentful of the air conditioner, and air conditioning in general. Sure, it’s nice after I’ve been working out (ha!) or doing landscaping (I live in an apartment now), or when the wind blows outside, and it actually feels HOTTER (that would be thanks to our heat index of 107 yesterday), but lately, I feel like air conditioning is making me weak. I’ve worked in warehouse jobs where I had to wear pants, and there wasn’t air conditioning. And you know what? I adjusted. There were fans, and open doors, and things were alright. I drank a lot of water, and it was fine. I’m pretty sure there are whole countries that think it is a monumental waste of money. I see people from other countries walking around in long sleeves, and long pants. They don’t seem to be terribly inconvenienced. Most construction workers and landscapers work in long pants in the sun all day. They drink water, and they survive. Most recently, I was sitting on a porch at a family reunion this weekend, and it was about 92 out, with a nice breeze. I was very comfortable, and happy to be outside.
Maybe I’m crazy, or my brain is too cold to realize that without the A/C, I would be a complaining mess. The silly little debate in my head moves on. So, to test myself, this week, in my car, I will go without air-conditioning. Maybe I’ll even wear jeans, as a reminder of my Ford Taurus driving days.
Not today though, it’s too hot. 
Filed under: General