it has been festering in me for years.
People who know me know that I like "sitting around in the dark" .... No doubt that my eyes are sensitive, they are pale blue and I am getting older, but I have always preferred low light situations. As far as enjoying a dark environment indoors - that seems natural to me. True, now that my visual acuity is diminished I need extra light for critical close-up tasks but for general "sitting around" I strongly prefer low light levels.
My ex- in contrast, was one of those people who turned on every light in the house right away. On a dark winter morning that is absolutely painful to me. And, I hardly ever set foot outside in sunlight without dark sunglasses.
As far as open windows, that can be pleasant (if there is nothing ugly outside like pollen or smoke) but downstairs in an area where there are passersby, no, I don't think so.