Snow Dusting! Negotiating Compatibility #12: Hot or Cold?

It's the first of November and I've accepted the season of FALL for a few weeks.  This morning I woke up to a dusting of snow everywhere in my world!  In Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A., we rarely ever have a significant snow that "sticks" (stays on the ground long) until after the first of the New Year.  Surprise, today!

Can you see the snow on the roofs beyond my snow-dusted mailbox?

Same house, and my roses are still blooming!

For the past two months, I have not used my heating OR cooling system much, praise the Lord!  That really saved on the gas bill.  Yet I prepared for the winter by getting the heating/cooling system checked, the ventless gas fireplace checked, and the roof checked with minor repairs.

It is really important for your health to have proper humidity in your house.  I've started using my portable hot water humidifiers. It makes so much difference in preventing bothersome colds and sore throats.  I've also checked my supply of decongestant tablets and facial tissues in case I do have a slight runny nose.  FYI: proper humidity in your house is also good for wooden furniture, and particularly for pianos, so my piano technicians says.

Now for the temperature of the house:  when my youngest two delightful girls were at home, we had "Thermostat Wars!"  It seemed that Marie, #7, and Jeannie, #8, loved the house hot enough in the winter to be able to wear shorts (no kidding!).  They also loved the house cold enough in the summer that I wanted to wear a winter coat!  We had electric heat (more expensive) and I didn't want sky-high bills.  I kept the temperature at 74 degrees in the winter.  Then I'd feel warm and it would be turned up to 78 or 80.  I told them to cease and desist!  I never knew exactly who was the culprit but I have a pretty good guess - or it was both of them.

Negotiating Compatibility in Relationships is not only for married folks or couples, it also applies to parent/child relationships.

Since I'm living by myself, I've gradually turned the heat down to 68 degrees.  For me, this is chilly but I put on more clothing layers and can function.

On a TV talk show yesterday, it was mentioned that temperature of the home is a frequent bone of contention between married couples, and that the ideal temperature for compatibility is 72 degrees.  Or, it is whatever you negotiate.  But loving couples should be able to work out this, if they like different temperatures, which is usually the case.

Dear Lord, we appreciate the seasons even though we all have our favorites and sometimes tolerate the hardships of the others.  Thank You!  Please help us lovingly negotiate our differences in temperature preferences and all other items.