Women Over Fifty

Yesterday’s heat broke records all over San Diego County.  Our thermometer showed 100 degrees.  Today it’s supposed to be cooler, and it does seem to be a bit cooler - or was that only my mind’s suggestion?

I have Zumba today.  It had better be air conditioned in that room.  Even with air conditioning, 20 warm, exercising bodies can heat up a space fast.   I can’t deal with heat well.  Diabetics don’t adjust to extremes in temperature well, that is, we can’t manage a lot of heat or a lot of cold.  If it’s super hot, I just turn on the air conditioning and go to a cool place in the house, turn a fan on me and don’t do a lot.

I feel guilty about not conserving energy and toughing it out, but the truth is, sometimes it would be a choice between the AC and a hospital.  I’ll just have to conserve energy where I can and use it when I need to.

Which brings about the issue of water rationing.  Most of this year’s water is now in reservoirs or in snow pack in the western mountains.  It’s a known quantity.  We are two living in a largish home and have a big garden.  The garden is important to our health as well.  So, how do we plan to manage?  My husband is putting in a drip irrigation system in the garden.  We plan not to replace the trees that were cut down until the next non-water-rationing year, should that happen in our lifetime.   We may change our minds here and plant drought-tolerant trees.  No palm trees.  They may be pretty and tropical, but they’re messy and, when tall, will come down in a storm.

I feel like we are already recycling, making good choices about energy, and conserving water.  What more are we supposed to do?  I’m thinking we should lobby against lush green golf courses and garden-like resorts that give tourists an unrealistic expectation of our climate.  This is not Hawaii.  This is an arid climate and it’s alright for it to look this way.

Sore point, the tourists.  They bring a lot of money into our area.  They are a business.  Still, they can enjoy our sun and beaches without needing the green golf courses, couldn’t they?  I don’t have answer for that.  Some people really like to golf when they’re on vacation.

We are looking forward to cooler weather tomorrow.  I want to tell that to my grandson who is in boot camp in San Diego.  He’s from the Seattle area where 80 deg. is a heat wave.  I know it’s difficult for him to train in this heat.  I just hope he’s OK.  They don’t let Grandma’s come and give sympathy at boot camp.

Marilynne

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