Inspired to freeze until I went inside

Perhaps you've seen this article that ran in Thursday's New York Times House & Garden section - Chilled by Choice? Well it caught my eye, mainly because of the awesome large photo on the top of the piece.



Basically it's about people living in very cold climates (at least for part of the year) who CHOOSE to go without heat. Some people just keep the heat at a balmy 55 but the rest who were interviewed just do it - like live in a place that is probably colder inside that the air than is outside for at least four months out of the year. Eek.

And yet, they make it look good. In fact from the 71 degree kitchen in my parents comfy home I had a revelation - I can do this! Yes! I can turn off the heat during the winter months. I can at least give it a try.

I saw some advantages:
1) saving some cash. Being utterly broke I think we can all see the benefit in pocketing that $20/month bruise.
2)saving energy => saving the planet (all from my couch)
3) clarity of mind, which means a bevvy of new writing and creating ideas. Obviously I will be award winning writer/videographer/blogger/audiophile within months of going archtic.

But then I left the comforts of my parents house, drove the 2+ hours back to R's place in Cambridge, pushed open that drafty door of a one-bedroom that hadn't been heated for two days and gasped. No, I beelined it to the heater, the gauge hovering just above 55 degrees, and cranked that puppy back up to 70.

OK so freezing myself for inspiration and moral uplift is out...at least just for now, until it gets a little warmer outside.

xoxoL