June 23rd, 2026

I think it's fair to say, especially as we cruise our way into the summer months, that one of the best inventions ever have to have been thought up, is Air Conditioning.  And Further, I think it is of particular importance, survival-wise, if you live in a place that is hot and humid. Hot is bad enough, humid just is that little extra dollop of crap on a dumpster fire.

I know, I know, I'm spoiled and pathetic and oh well.  I believe that if the original inhabitants of this area, the Caloosa Indians, had access to Air Conditioning, they would have loved it.  I am absolutely positive that the homesteaders who arrived in the late 1800's would be been delighted about.  I look at the old (very old) photos of the people who built this city and one generation back, the men in their dark jackets and high collars, the women in long sleeves, long dresses with petticoats for heaven's sakes and I marvel at how they survived at all.

Before you write me off as a total wimp, I want you to know that not every house I ever lived in throughout my life had Air Conditioning. Of course some of those houses were in areas of this country that don't really require it. Even when I lived in Connecticut, there were never more than a couple of weeks through the summer where the heat and humidity made it hard to sleep and any physical activity at all, including showering, caused us to sweat.  A few fans in windows and we managed just fine.   Doesn't mean we wouldn't have appreciated AC on those miserable days. We absolutely would have!!!  The same way that we, even here in Florida,  on very rare winter days, appreciate having a heating system. Rarely used but always grateful it was there.

 All that said, Florida summers are an entirely different kettle of hot pockets fresh out of the microwave.  Not just hot but molten hot and of course there are the days when the humidity is so high that when outside it feels as if we are trying to breathe underwater. Unpleasant is the mildest term I can think of to describe it.  All that whining about the heat and humidity is firmly balanced out by how gorgeous it is the entire rest of the year so in case you wondered why anyone lives here,  that's why.

Air Conditioning, by the way, was invented by Willis Carrier way back in 1902 in New York City of all places!   But it wasn't until after World War II that the concept began to be integrated into commercial enterprises such as movie theatres and department stores and then, eventually into residential buildings.  We seem to come around to accepting new ideas slowly, even really really good ideas.

When we bought this house, ten years ago, one of the first things we did, even before we physically  moved our stuff into the house, was to have the existing AC system updated.  Because we had never lived in Florida before, we relied on the expertise of the fellow we hired to do the job. His recommendation was the one we took and honestly, for awhile, the house was much much cooler. The improvement was instantaneous and glorious.  And it served us very well, for a time.

The past few years though,  even though we are very good about having it checked out by the professionals every year and maintained exactly as instructed, the system was working harder and harder but the room temps were getting higher.  We adapted to the slightly less comfortable levels, as people do but we could not ignore the rising cost of electricity.  And no, it was not just, prices are higher now. Well  yes, they are, but it wasn't the sole reason that the monthly bill as becoming astronomical. It was a slowly failing system trying like crazy to do what it really could not do anymore.

There was a notable and increasingly uncomfortable shift in temperature throughout the day and night as the system cycled, high and slightly lower, back and forth, from acceptable to almost tolerable. And clearly something had to change.

Tim did his research, as he does,  and we ended up having an entirely different sort of AC system put in which meant the old one had to come out.  All of it, including the miles of ducting in the attic, the condenser outside and the great hulking brut taking up a considerable bit of real estate  in the utility room, gone!  In it's place is a non traditional, unconventional system called a Mini Split (for reasons unknown to me).  There are 5 units through the house hanging on walls, that look exactly like the one at the top of the page; one in each bedroom, one in the family room and the last in the living/dining/kitchen area.  Two condensers this time, wall mounted outside and elevated (in case of flooding) .

The system is quiet, the entire house is comfortable, does not cycle up and down constantly,  and in fact, for me, maybe a wee bit too cool for me (not Tim) sometimes but that's why sweaters were invented and each room can be a different temperature if we wish and Tim can adjust right from his phone (or with the remote).  It's a lovely change.  The big old AC on the wall are, well, they aren't art.  BUT I suspect that after a while, I probably won't truly notice them.

It seems that this Mini Split AC concept was invented in Japan in the late 1950's-60's to accommodate their small, closely spaced homes and apartments.  The idea spread through parts of Europe first and now is slowly making its way into American Homes. 

Well, so far, we are impressed.  It was a huge decision and a big investment but theoretically, our electric bill should be noticeably smaller now and, most importantly, we are finally cool and dry once again in the house.  I don't even think about the AC anymore, we just live our lives, comfortably even when it's truly hot and miserable outside.  We've been "testing' it unintentionally lately as we've been under a steady stream of Heat Advisory Days.  Inside is gorgeous.  Once we step outside, it's all bets off.

Oh, and while the kitty boys were NOT happy about strangers in the house making a racket for multiple days in a row, they are loving the cooler air.  Fair Trade I'd say.

Anyway, that's what's new at our house.  How about you?