Looking back on my seven winters in the Undisclosed Location, I realize I probably should have kept better records. It always seems to me that the last part of December is the coldest part of any winter. Actually that probably isn’t so, but only appears so because it’s the darkest. And maybe because it always brings the first real cold snap.
Two winters ago, the worst on record during my time here, we had a New Year’s Eve cold snap that hit something like 21 below. But that same winter there was a week in February that drove me right out of the Interim Lair for fear of death by hypothermia. So the “late December’s the worst” impression is certainly spurious. Given that we’re almost done with December that’s not really good news.
In this sense, selective memory is not my friend. Yesterday morning I came downstairs to 28o indoor temps. The dogs’ water had frozen. I felt miserable. Yet in the Interim Lair, where I spent five winters, frozen water was so routine as not to be worth mentioning. I would commonly go a week without ever taking off my heavy coat. By any rational standard, the (permanent) Secret Lair is far superior to that 35-year-old RV. If I can ever afford to side the poor thing and insulate the floor, it’ll be better yet.
Therefore I should just quit my bitching.
What would you say are the chances of that?
Joel, do you still have the “Buddy” propane heater you used (so sparingly) in the Interim Lair? If so, what about setting it on low on nights that are predicted to be really cold? Yeah, I know you’re still reluctant to use up a lot of propane and nervous about fire. But 28 degrees indoors. Sheesh. What’s the point of living in a house if you can’t at least stay above freezing?
During my winter in the fifth wheel, when the alleged central heat was broken and I didn’t want to keep the Buddy on unsupervised, turning the oven on low with the door cracked open provided a surprising amount of heat, too. At least it kept the temps on the worst nights into the high thirties. That ain’t much, but it’s something. And the Lair is small enough that it might help.
Keep up the bitching, it makes for good reads. You can always increase the mass in your permanent lair. Like they do with plants with Wall-o-water put 55 gal barrels full if water around you. Granted you’ll take longer to also heat up the place but once done it should keep for a good while.
28 degrees? Dude. I thought I was roughing it at 50. I’d tip my hat to you but my head would get chilled.
My RV is 30 and frozen water is also an acquaintance. Frozen pipes specifically. Having added my wood stove makes for much nicer interior, but those pipes are pesky and in some rather out of the way places, usually right near an access door with no insulation. I am slowly getting that problem sorted out, as I find what does and does not work.
Luckily (kinda) the Voo is a southern dog and anything below 50 rates “Gotta get dad up to work the fire”. Makes for some interrupted sleep, but keeps the water bowl freezing.
I hate dark nights and short days; time for hibernation.
The nearest whole number parallel passes just a few miles away from me – 55 North. I have a couple of Finnish friends, their winter darkness would kill me.
Thankfully it’s been mild for the past few days, gale force winds and piss wet to go with it though.
Frost on the insides of the bedroom used to be a feature of my childhood, in the years between bedroom fire places getting blocked up, but before central heating became common in Britain. I don’t know whether it’s like not remembering physical pain from childhood, but I don’t remember the cold from then.
I certainly remember it from later on.