Wood's Blue Goddess
I often hear others say they couldn’t live in Mérida because of the heat. I’m pretty sure that the main reason I do live in Mérida is because of the heat. I liked lots of other colonial cities in México, but I couldn’t stand the cold winters. The weather has been spectacular in my book for the last couple of weeks. Warm days, cool nights, occasional rain at night and in the early morning, perfect! April and May are known as the hottest months of the year but not this year. April has been spectacular, I hope May will be even better.
I like hot weather, that’s why I live in the tropics, and this winter was trying with all the nortes that brought temps down into the teens Celcius (50′sF). The days are now hot and sunny and I am finally warm. The cool nights and lower humidity are wonderful for sleeping. We have only the sheet and a cotton blanket on the bed although I’ve had to drag out the comforter a couple of nights when it rained. There is nothing I like more than waking up in the early morning to cool rain falling and going right back to sleep until the sun is shining. That’s my kind of paradise!
I come by this heat loving naturally. My mother spent most of her life in Santa Barbara, California which is a spot that most people think has some of the most perfect weather in the world. As she got older, she got colder and less comfortable there. I would go to visit and she would have the fireplace burning, the thermostat on 80°F, all the windows and doors closed and wearing several sweaters and a shawl. If I opened the door to go outside (I smoked then) she would urge me not to let in any drafts, to hurry and close the door. This was when it was 72°F outside and sunny. She was a child of the Old South and always said she missed the hot and humid days of summer, that she would love to return for the weather. I thought it was pretty funny that she was living in what others consider paradise and longing for the sultry weather of Louisiana.
Well, I certainly got that set of her genes. I take back all the derisive jokes I made to her about it not being really cold, if you are cold then it really doesn’t matter what the temps are. I think it is karmic that I left southern Calif and ended up down here in weather that is even warmer than the South, with the same soft and humid nights that she loved. I also love them now.
I’m still undecided about putting in the air conditioners we are set up for, we have 4 rooms with the pipes for them. I doubt I’ll ever put it in the living room or office so the 2 bedrooms are the question. We have recently discussed putting in one in the guest bedroom since our guests are rarely as adjusted to the heat as we are and also we would have it as an option if we felt it was too hot. I don’t know. I can imagine using it for sleeping at times just for the dryness but I would hate to lose the open doors and fresh air. Also, I think it destroys your heat adjustment and makes the heat uncomfortable the rest of the day. It’s kind of a moot point right now because I’ve spent so much on dirt and plants for the yard. It’s all about what’s really important I guess, I’d much rather have plants than AC.
almost done
Georgeous garden. I do have to ask about those walls. Maybe the look is because of their age – what, 100+. They could look better up close and it just doesn’t show in the picture
I like the look of them but it’s personal taste. They are 100+ yo and when we bought the place there were sections with different colors of plaster on them. They cleaned them up and I like the look of the old stones. They are made of stacked stone and cal, over a foot thick, same way the walls of the house are made. We are adding an extension of bamboo stakes to keep the cats in. The wall is currently about 3.5 meters high, the extension will be another 1.4 meters. If the cats learn to run up that, I give up.
I am still working on my adaptation to hot humid summers, but it sure beats the cold. If I had to live somewhere else, it would definitely be Mérida.
Your back yard is looking great.
I would go for the plants and forget the AC. It is FINALLY in the 80′s here in the day – we had a rough Winter here in the northern tropics.
Jonna, it’s 72 degrees currently in Kansas and I am freezing. I miss the soft tropical heat. Conversely, the other day it was sunny and in the 80′s and I thought it was hotter than Merida ever was.
I blame it on the seasons thing with the extreme temperature variations. We never adjust in the Midwest to one level before it changes. (I think those who advocate they love the Seasons are delusional. They must never have known anything else.)
And of course you can’t build to suit your environment as houses in Merida have. The environment is always changing so you have to kind of ignore it and attempt to shield yourself in a bubble like existence, quick car trips, etc.
How I long for some tropical warmth and open air living.
The Naked Rule: If you go outside and the climate kills you – don’t live there! Jeez, I wish I could follow my own rule – especially from November to April, but I agree with you – I like heat, don’t really mind the humidity and avoid air conditioning if I’ve got command of the controls. When the temp is finally nice enough to leave windows open, why keep your home and life closed up! Your gardens, pools and patio look wonderful, the picture of that flower is lovely.
Good point about never adjusting when the weather changes all year. I have never seen the attraction of seasons and to be really honest all those fall trees that people from cold climates rave about, just look like they are dying to me. They kind of give me the creeps. I’m with you Rummy, I’ve always said that you are stupid to live somewhere that Mother Nature is trying to kill you. If you can’t sleep outside naked and survive, you shouldn’t be there.
Jonna loved the words of your Mother’s space/temperature and yours, so similar.
Thanks for sharing. Looks like a great place to hang out. Sherry
I agree with you about temperature adjustment. Miguel doesn’t even like the fan, but I do use one when working on the laptop (the heat it throws off warrants the fan), and when sleeping. Otherwise, I am pretty comfortable and think using ac would change that. Plus, I don’t like ac anyway, and I sure don’t like the cost of running it!
I live here for the climate too but the past winter almost made me look elsewhere, it was so windy and cold. Not liking all this climate change.
Your garden, pond, and terraces are looking beautiful. I can just picture you there in the lounge beside the pond, with cats and dogs sprawled beside you. And I like the stone wall, it fits with the other natural surroundings. Great job!