"Only a little bit"

That's how much people with air-conditioning always claim that they use it. Setting the thermostat to cool to 75 degrees and running it only when they're home constitutes "only a little bit," it seems. Those of us who do without air-conditioning entirely hear a lot more of what goes on outside our windows, for better or worse. Of course, passers-by hear a lot more about us! People are always so startled to be greeted (or asked to pick up what their dog left). Inconsiderate people who slam doors and throw their beer bottles around under our windows at three o'clock in the morning do not inspire kind thoughts. Only the other neighbors without air-conditioning are ever seen to have their windows and doors open once mid-May comes around. It's sad that people are removing the ornamental wooden screens made to cover the entire window and original to their houses and that they permit their windows to be painted shut. We're certainly enjoying this drop in the temperature that we owe to the hurricane.