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Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High around 90F. Winds light and variable..

Partly cloudy. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.

As I waited inside the gas station to prepay cash for filling the tank, the couple in front of me expressed their pleasure at being inside an air-conditioned store. It was one of those days last month when the real-feel temperature topped 100.

I agreed it was nice to be in an air-conditioned building instead of outside.

The couple lamented that they lack air conditioning at home. They wished aloud that they could afford it.

At least a tenth of the U.S. population lacks air conditioning. Sometimes that is by choice. Generations ago, there was no air conditioning and folks somehow survived. To some who grew up without it, air conditioning simply is not needed. I would never try to convince them otherwise.

Though for people with breathing problems, having a functional air conditioner at home could be a life-saver.

Then there are folks who would welcome air conditioning but simply cannot afford it. Granted, central air can be prohibitively expensive. But window units tend to fall in the $150 to $300 range, depending on cooling power and which store is selling it. They’re sold every spring in Runnings, WalMart, and even Market Basket.

We have three window units in our house. They can’t all run at the same time (circuit breaker would trip), but they’re very helpful.

Back to the gas station.

I watched the man and woman hoist two large cases of beer onto the counter and greet the cashier jovially.

She returned the greeting. “The usual?” she asked.

They said yes. She rummaged on the shelves behind her for a carton of cigarettes and then produced a large handful of lottery tickets. The couple paid and left.

I approached the counter. “You seem to know that couple,” I began.

I put down my money, placed my gas order, and repeated, “Regulars?”

“Every other week. Like clockwork.”

“And they always buy all those lottery tickets?”

“Sure. Can’t win if you don’t play.”

“And a whole carton of cigarettes?”

“Yes. They both smoke the same brand. It’s cheaper by the carton.”

I went out to fill the car with gas and began to sweat. Soon enough, I told myself, I’d be in my air-conditioned home office.

Meanwhile, that couple would be heading to a home without any air-conditioned rooms.

But at least they had more than $150 worth of beer, lottery tickets, and cigarettes. For their usual bi-weekly purchase.

Two such trips over four weeks totals more than $300. Which is enough to buy a window air conditioner with 8,000 BTUs of power.

Too bad they can’t afford air conditioners.

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