I often tease my wife Juana about what I call “The Goldilocks Zone” (also referred to by astronomers for the habitable areas of planets around a star) of temperatures that she finds comfortable. It can be maddening as blankets come on and off throughout the year in our bed and clothing the same so that the illusive comfort zone of the mid-70s can be found. While I sometimes make sport of the narrow temperature range it appears my wife experiences true comfort, none of us, myself included, are much different. This summer is a case in point.
The temperatures have bounced up and down as would a bee from one flower to another. Hot, cold, warm, cold, hot, . . . we have found ourselves unable to fall into the narrow and predictable clothing range of summer, which are shorts, tee shirts and flip-flops. But this week I have been in Florida visiting my aunt, where the temperature and humidity hangs in the narrow ranges of 85 to 91 degrees and 70 to 80%, respectively. Exiting my aunt’s condo complex, I am hit by a wave of moist hot weather. Way too hot and humid for anything save mold to thrive upon.
No amount or lack thereof of clothing works in this weather. It is unchanging and relentless. Few locals are used to it and as part of Southern culture time their activities toward the evenings as would bats, vampires, and other late night dwellers.
My aunt’s balcony plants suffer this season. A papaya tree is left with two green leaves and many shriveled, brown ones. An aloe plant with desiccated, parched leaves flattened by the lack of water and the excess of heat. Geraniums that should be put out of their misery, rather than soldier forth. Only a jade plant, which enjoys this extreme, shows the least sign of distress though I know it needs a drink desperately.
So I sit writing in air-conditioned comfort, waiting for the sun to drop enough to enter the pool, which is chilled to a brisk 86 degrees. I can hardly wait to get back to the unpredictable North where we have yet to install the air conditioner and will likely not need to this year.
