a cultural question...

[ratcreature]

I've noticed several times references in fiction about people airing out their house once it got warmer that made it sound as if Americans don't open their windows in winter to let fresh air in. Like as if they don't air their house if it's freezing outside.

Is that true? Is it a central air conditioning thing where you don't really need windows to get fresh air, and shouldn't disrupt climate control or something like that? Because otherwise I can't imagine not to open my windows at least twice a day for a little while. Admittedly it's rarely extremely cold here, but this winter we had days when the daytime high was below -10°C and I still aired out my place briefly.

Here you are even required to do so in rental agreements because otherwise you get problems with moisture buildup and such.

Comments

[mific]

Heh. I live in humid semi-tropical Auckland, in a decaying old wooden house in the bush. Almost none of the windows open any more but I often leave doors open for airing, and anyway there are draft cracks all over the place and the cat door is a hole cut in the front door, so it’s pretty aired out!
My main cultural dislocation with city or harsh climate dwellers is cats who live all their lives inside and can’t come and go freely. Possum wouldn’t like missing his bush adventures at all.

[ratcreature]

I noticed that too that many people from the US have a problem with letting cats roam, because it might shorten their lives, but it is very acceptable here to let your cats roam if you can arrange access to a backyard or garden even in the city. The general thought is that it has dangers but improves their quality of life so much that it is worth it. My brother's last cats were indoor outdoor and they lived to nearly fifteen, despite the cars and the fact that some asshole in his neighborhood actually shot at them with some sort of air rifle, which my brother only noticed long after when stray pellets showed up in medical scans for unrelated illnesses.