The cost of keeping my feet warm
An integral part of our decision to replant the family in new fields (our move here) was the chance to rethink the house. Specifically, how we would heat the place. I was adamant that an oil truck wouldn’t be welcomed, and I didn’t see myself trundling loads of firewood from now until that final day.
We were fortunate, having friends with a better grasp of the technical possibilities, and so we decided to go for (what is for us) the gold standard. We insulated the basement, and we invested in a water furnace. All theoretical, while realizing that the price of electricity was beyond our control. Monopoly, etc.
This weekend, after compiling my numbers, I was ready to declare that our heating costs were actually fixed, and predictable. And to bring closure, more than three dozen other households went on social media to advertise what heating costs at their respective addresses.
We appear to have won the lottery. It’s hard to be categorical, when dealing with unconfirmed data, but I am quite content with where we stand in the graded results. This house measures 2400 sq.ft, plus the garage, and we spend just over $2500/year. Not free, but within our budget. And as a plus, my bare feet are never cold. The only drafts come from doors standing open to photograph wildlife. We can control that.
After a year without travel, I’m getting the “itch”. Staying put until vaccinated, obviously. But, during supper, I skimmed the contents of our road service review, and read up on the tourism possibilities in our closest city. Hey! There’s a lot to see and do, once I remove the been here before blazer.
