I agree, I've had some wonderful porches for retreating under. The first house where I remember living (in West Seattle) had a basement that wasn't actually dug very deep, but the foundation of the house supporting the upper floors of the house was tall. In the back and the front there were great spaces for camps and forts. It also had potting greenhouses and a free-standing chicken coop. I'd love to have that house now, but it all probably fell into disrepair before anyone realized how useful those spaces could be.

I've noticed that the dogs hang out in the garage even though the air is hot because the concrete is cooler. They lie on the concrete to stay cooler, so if they can stay cool out there, I can. Though I'm going to bring them in soon to spend the afternoon and evening in the house. They'll each get a bath that will feel good (via a hose in the yard) and after they're dry they can come in.