I grew up poor without A/C. Not that we really needed it in Pittsburgh during the 1970s. My dad put some sort of insulation in and the house was nice and toasty in the winter but hot as heck in the summer. Like a swimming pool in Pittsburgh, could only use A/C in July and Aug for the most part. But we got by with fans and ice-cold drinks. And none of us kids spent much time in the house in the summer anyway. Still to this day, don't care for A/C and I've lived in some moderately hot places. A/C gives my skin the heebie-jeebies.