i leave the lights off in my house unless i specifically need them to do something. i move about in a darkened world like a nebulous subcreature. i got into the habit when i worked outdoors in the hot sun all day. now i work under florescent lights which is different but equally lame. i've gotten a lot more intentional about what bulbs i use in certain locations. i.e. creating warmer/softer ambient light for general spaces with the option to flood entire rooms with bright daylight when i am cleaning, working etc, or focused pockets of bright light for reading.... so the vibe in my home is less darkened cave now and more of a appropriately lit cave.

but more to the geographic point, i also used to work outdoors in New Mexico, and the sun is just everywhere and intense, especially in the summer time. buildings were like refuges from the all consuming light, an opportunity to take off shades and hats etc. without specific windows that block heat transmission, opening up curtains to let in daylight would be costly for A/C units to overcome.