No Heat

 When your condo management says, 'because we are installing a new system, there will be no heat for three days", your "blood runs cold". Well, not really. What did make my blood "run cold" was the levy we had to pay to replace the gas heating boilers. Levies are never welcome even though they do buy needs in an old building that you own jointly and severely which I can say is sometimes "severely". But that's what it takes. So what to do when the heat is off? It's autumn and even on the West Coast, it does become coldish and damp because we are oceanside and grow big trees. No heat is a learning experience. I found that the portable ACs I bought for the very hot summer, are also heating units. But, and it's a big one, they blow out cold air at the back just as they blew out hot air previously when used as ACs. Fortunately, I could train the blowing duct into a guest bathroom and using some cushions, prevent the cold from reentering the rest of the place. Also I have a tiny electric fireplace on my TV stand cabinet. I use it mostly for the  fire effect but this time, for the electric heat. Using the ceiling fan above and turning the little fireplace to its first notch I soon felt a lovely warmth pouring out. Ahhh! Then again, after baking bread, I left the oven door open instead of letting the unused heat go up the vent. More useable warmth. Nightime was no problem at all. With the windows shut and snuggling inside my down quilt I was comfy all night. What I am learning, is just how much heat we waste. Some people keep their window open "for the fresh air" but the heat goes out when the "fresh" air comes in. And we pay for it. Our system here is gas-fired but using electricity offers more options. Those little electric fireplaces are very cheap and they look warm as well as casting out heat.  Why not take advantage of such small gifts as residual oven heat after cooking or baking? Our TV sets these days, pour out heat. Put your hand above your operating TV and find out. All screens, including your cell phone, are hot in more ways than one. Don't let your money escape out open windows. You pay for heat, keep it where it belongs. Best of all, wear what keeps in your natural body heat. You are  a small furnace!