Crank Up the AC
It’s hot outside, smokin’ hot, fry an egg on the sidewalk hot, and I’m beginning to wonder if I’m the only person to ponder the question, “How in the heck did civilization survive before the invention of air conditioning?” It just seems so improbable that people were able to get up every day and go about their business in oppressively scorching temperatures with sweat dripping from every pore of their bodies. Yet if history is to be believed, they did exactly that, and somehow lived to tell the tale.This is especially hard to believe when you consider the layered clothing they wore – men in long pants and longsleeved shirts with jackets; and women in long skirts, long sleeves, high necklines, petticoats, corsets, and who knows what else. It’s a miracle they weren’t dropping like flies all over the place from heat stroke.
And you know what? I am one of those people who actually likes hot weather. I look forward to the summer heat. I don’t mind spending time outdoors when the temperatures are in the 80s or even low 90s as long as I can step into an air-conditioned space at the first hint of discomfort. I really don’t think that’s too much to ask.
Of course, as much as I appreciate air conditioning, I do often find myself becoming annoyed with those who over do it. I’m thinking of movie theaters, restaurants, grocery stores, and various other retail outlets who feel the need to blast the air conditioning to the point where one must immediately bundle up upon entering those establishments. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of using air conditioning to keep us comfortable? I would think so, but one must be prepared for this eventuality when heading out to any location other than your comfortably climate controlled home. This might even be a problem for you at your place of employment. I went to work for many years in a building where the temperatures appeared to hover in the mid 50s year-round. Once my boss got on my case for wearing a coat inside. She said it made a bad impression. Perhaps it did, but that place was miserably cold. Oddly enough, most of the guys all seemed quite comfortable. We women shivered all day long. I would walk out into the heat at the end of the day and sit in my oven-like car with the windows up for as long as it took for my core temperature to return to normal. Then and only then would I turn on my AC.
Now that I can remain comfortably ensconced in my 76° home, I have nothing to complain about. If the mercury hits 100°, I’ll still manage. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it, and I don’t take it for granted because If I had been born in the pre-AC days, I doubt I would’ve made it this far.