Summer Vaca 2012
Posted By shirley on July 19, 2012
California Coast
When you’re growing up, you think your neighborhood, your world, looks as much the same as anywhere else in the world. Our summers were hot, very hot. We had a swamp cooler and it did what it promised, turned our living room into a swamp. Wet, damp, hot air – that is what our only source of air conditioning gave us. At night, the sheets felt like a wool blanket. Certainly, everyone else in the world experienced and lived the through the same things, I thought.
Then, the relatives from the coast came. Fanning themselves with Chinese paper fans, they exclaimed, “Oh, it is so hot here” and, “How do you live here?” It was then that I started to wonder the same thing, “Yes, it is hot here and yes, how do I live here?” I realized just how hot it was and that I definitely did not like it.
I longed to live on the coast where Chinese paper fans were merely a decoration and not a required necessity of life. How and why did we end up in this hot place anyway? Why couldn’t we live “on the coast” where the cool ocean breeze flows in daily and keeps the temperature at a comfortable level, just right and absolutely perfect.
If we lived on the coast, we might just live next to those Hollywood stars who ALL lived on the coast, blocking out large sections of Malibu real estate with million dollar views. Where summers mean you can walk around in shorts and flip flops without sweat dripping down your legs; where your hair doesn’t frizz up because of the sweat building up on your hot head; where a dip in the ocean brings cooling relief.
But, no, here I sit, a fan whirling like crazy in the background blowing my bangs into my eyes and papers off my desk. I still have a “swamp” cooler – it sits on top of the house and chugs along, wondering why we keep running it when it’s virtually useless over a temperature of 90 degrees.
In this hot valley, everyone desires to go to “the coast” during summer vacations. Every summer huge masses of humanity scramble to their coast destinations. This Western seaboard might just groan and heave by the sheer weight of vehicles, campers, RVs and human bodies driving the coastal highways with tongues out and hair blowing out the window much like our canine friends in an attempt to savor every bit of cooling fog and gorgeous views.
Since my childhood days I have lived many other places, even hotter ones, such as the tropics. I have lived in colder places, such as the North West Territories in Canada.
I fail to understand why the whole earth cannot be granted coastal weather.
Why can’t we have perfect weather anyway? Someone once answered, “Because you wouldn’t appreciate it.” What kind of answer is that? We could have a bad day once in awhile and that would be enough to keep the appreciation going if need be.
Never mind – I will resume mopping my brow and fanning with a paper Chinese fan and wait for the November rains.
I love this, mama. I recently talked with someone who prefers hot, humid weather. I was taken aback. In Southern California, we get to experience some of the best weather the world has to offer, however, we are not exempt from experiencing oppressive heat …sometimes, and when we do, we all hate it. However, this friend revels in it, he loves it, he prefers it, he wants it! So, I guess we all just need to move to the place that contains the weather we most desire. My point being, you need to move here and be close to me
PS – I forgot to say that those people who love the hot weather we call lizards. And yes, they are out there! Snowy, dreary, coastal foggy days, drive them crazy.
Hi honey – well, when I become a Hollywood star, I’ll buy a piece of Malibu real estate and sit on my patio with the ocean breeze cooling me off. I’m dreaming of course, but it would be worth it to live next to you!