When I was growing up my dad’s favorite expression come the fall was “Go put a sweater on”, because there was no way he was turning the heat on until it was absolutely, positively necessary. This of course elicited much eye-rolling from me. “Like, seriously Dad, what is your major anyway?” For the record, I was a wannabe Valley Girl, but I digress. You would think, that the trauma of this attempt to freeze me out of the house would mean that the thermostat in my own home would be set to tropical, but nooooooooooo, I am my father’s daughter. I am currently writing this blog with a thick sweater on, a blanket over my lap, in my fuzzy socks, slipped inside my slippers. My heart, however, is very, very warm because my hands are freaking ice blocks! Brrrrrr. And yet, I refuse to turn on the heat. The thermostat is right there, literally five steps from where I write this and I continue to hold out.
It is clear I have some weird battle of wills going on with the thermostat, and you know what, I don’t think the thermostat gives a crap. Still, I have a date in my mind of when the heat should be turned on and it’s like some sick competition I have going with the boiler to see who will cave first. I want to go until November 1st but I’m willing to concede defeat around October 15th. If I make it to November 1st I will no doubt do some sort of Rocky-ish dance move around the house as I announce “Take that suckah”. If I cave on the 15th I’ll do it a very sulky, grumpy way. I will likely wear my toque all day in protest. There is no doubt I do all this to save a few bucks, but it’s also moved a little into stupid territory. I am willing to admit this. At least I can take comfort in knowing that my Dad is probably freezing his butt off too.
What about you? Do you hold out to turn the heat on or do you cave early?
I remember when I was a young kid I was so cold dressing in the morning for school I use to dress by the heater. That was probably my dad keeping it that cold as well bc he died when I was 11 and my mom raised the temp after that…
In the past 2 years I have been living either w my ex who gave me her electric heater or at my folks in the basement apartment where I am now for another month. Here I have a gas fireplace that looks almost like a real fireplace when it goes on. I have been totally toasty the past couple of years. I caved and turned on the heat on Sept 16th this year but I don’t pay for heat so I hear you…