We have experienced climate change in our house. Like many folks, we’ve dealt with a heat wave in our neck of the woods, with temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s Fahrenheit (30-35C), often with high humidity.
It’s not bad on the first floor. Our front window holds an air conditioner, and it makes our living room, kitchen, and hallway pretty comfortable. I don’t enjoy it when my wife uses the oven during this time—that’s why Allah invented cold cereal, fruit salads, and takeout—but even then, it’s not too oppressive close to the AC.
Going upstairs, however, is a different environment, and I mean that literally. I get to Step 3 from the first floor and feel it’s getting warmer. By Step 6, it has become oppressive. Our bedroom is oppressive; on July 11 at 7 a.m., it was 89F. My office had been OK in the morning, at least until about 9:30 or 10:00. But when it doesn’t cool off overnight, it is oppressive even if I keep the door closed and the fan on.
There have always been elements of this in the house, but it’s harder to cope with in 2024. Is it worse this year, or has my heat tolerance declined? It’s likely both.
Too Darn Hot
I was trying to do much of my writing downstairs when my wife and daughter weren’t about. Alternatively, I would go to the Albany Public Library, which has Wi-Fi and air conditioning. That doesn’t always work out when there’s a queue, particularly at the Pine Hills branch of the library.
One day, I went there at 1:30 but couldn’t get a room until 4:30, so I listened to albums on YouTube while typing on my laptop. (The mix of the tracks on the UK album Aftermath by the Rolling Stones doesn’t sound like my CD.) The library computer would periodically message, “Are you still there? The computer will shut down…”
New York State has a couple of programs designed to provide free air conditioners to people with certain economic requirements. In this environmental climate, that’s a good thing.
I know we are spoiled in Alabama. I truly can’t imagine not having central air conditioning. When it goes out, it is miserable. I do know there are people in our state who still can’t afford air conditioning/air conditioners and my heart goes out to them. When the temps are really high for days on end, the city will set up cooling stations at some of the large event facilities so folks can come and cool off. I would be like you – I would be at the library or somewhere I could find air conditioning. I told you – we are spoiled!