eah - it's a lanai. But after 10 years of calling it lanai, and
   having to EXPLAIN to people outside of Florida or Hawaii what
   the heck a Lanai _is_, I just say porch. The past 3 years I say
   porch. Most people know porch. I might even say "screened
   porch". A room stuck next the house that you can't put a bed in
   (usually) and call a bedroom. That's about it really.

   Oh, and air blows through it easily.

   Air also blows easily through my salient points in online
   debates. Such is as it is. Quite true. But also, the entire post
   is a lie with only the vaguest kernels of truth in it.

   No strange thing appeared on my porch last night.

   Well, I was here. But no floating thing.

   Also: even lanai is wrong. I'm not on or near the beach or on a
   small island. I WANT to call it a veranda but even though our
   house is large compared to some, (2400 sq ft) it's certainly not
   a "Large House" and "porch is always used for a common house".

   According to Wikipedia. Lanai is hype. It's a porch.
   Nomenclature correctness level = 100%. But you can call it a
   lanai if you *want*; but in that case, I'd prefer veranda.

   VIA WIKIPEDIA
   Whether this structure is called a lanai, a veranda, or a porch
   largely depends on the state and location: the term lanai is
   normally applied to the structure if it's attached to a building
   on or near the beach or on a small island; the term veranda is
   almost always used if it's attached to large houses, mansions,
   hotels, and commercial buildings; and the term porch is always
   used for a common house - especially if it doesn't at least
   partially wrap around the house and if the house is not
   prestigious in appearance. THEN AGAIN... if I'm going to do more
   truth stretching:
   We're 40 miles inland.. .but our GROUND IS SAND under the bahai
   grass.

   So TECHNICALLY.. IT'S beachfront property...

   and therefore, qualifies as a Lanai. The builders ALSO called it
   a Lanai. Such is hyperbole.