On porch culture

‘Let’s go sit under the shade of the porch.’

Walk out of the front door on any summer’s day and the humidity can nearly knock you down. It’s so hot that it just makes sense to have a place outside, in the shade. If you turn your ears up in the South, you can hear people talking about finding a cool shade.

I can only imagine that a lot of very important, life-changing decisions happen on porches across the South. This neutral zone between private and public life is near sacred: a place to confide, to hold court with family or friends, and, let’s face it, pass judgement on our neighbours. It’s practically church! It’s a place where you can simply have your drink in peace. It might be screened in. It better have a swing. And, if you’re lucky, it will have ceiling fans to keep the air moving.