It seems, sometimes, we are the only household without central air.  I know this is not true - I mean there are many people, I'm sure, in the world... and by world, I feel I'm comparing us to third world countries... but certainly, not everyone in NJ has A/C.  Or do they?  And then, you ask, why not just install the window air conditioners you have in the attic?

Well, my husband and I both say we like the feel of breezes.  For me it's completely true... but I think he partly also doesn't want to run the electric bill up to crazy levels.  I, being the bill-payer, knows it won't break the bank to put pretty efficient A/C's in our windows for July & August, but I humor him.

I also LOVE the sound of the cicada's in the trees at night which can only be heard through an open window.  They bring back such fond memories of nights at my grandmother's house, where there was also no air conditioning, and she'd leave her sliding glass door open with the screen to give my sister and me a breeze, and the sound of the cicadas were an added bonus, in my opinion.
    "Sh-sh-sh" they'd sing...."sh-sh-sh."

This year the cicadas are plenty.  Not as crazy as a few years ago when it was their 17 year cycle - that was insane. And a little like a sci-fi movie.  This year is back to the usual - we can hear them buzzing like electricity in the trees during the hot day, and chirping the "sh-sh-sh" sound at night.

In chatting recently with a friend about them, along with my search for a job in the Bay area, to return us there if at all possible... or CA in general, I recalled the cicadas don't chirp there.  It is one thing I missed when I lived there briefly.  And they would be missed again should we return.  But I'll worry about that when the time comes.  I won't miss snow!  So sometimes you have to pay a price... there's a price for everything!