I’ve been using the one small space heater more. The last few days, I let the gas stove run free to take the kitchen chill off. And today, right after a warming shower, I flipped the furnace on at last. November 26 is probably a month later than I’ve ever done it before. Am I proud?

A little.

It’s set at sixty-three for now.

It will rise and fall with pride and budget.

Maybe there is such a thing as the perfect temperature, but it’s a fairly elusive creature between 5000 and 6000 feet.