Earlier this year, I cleared out the oshi-ire in our living room and set up a desk space on its shelf. I decorated it and installed some shelving for my books and things, but months later, I realized I didn’t use it as much as I imagined I would because the makeshift desk was too high to work comfortably on. And since it’s a closet, I need to always have the work lamp on.

For someone who grew up in a tropical country, I sure cannot stand hot weather. I have hyperhidrosis, so hot or cold, I sweat, but you can imagine just how much worse it is with high temperatures and humidity. It's the worst.