Speaking of which — so could I. I just have not gotten used to the cold yet. This is the first year we've had control of our thermostat — we had radiators in the old apartment, and no control over them — so we've set it up for a supposedly toasty 19°C. Of course, it turns out that 19° is not toasty. (And don't tell me to put on a sweater: I'm a knitter. I have already deployed the wool.) But I have also staunchly refused to allow Pd to turn the thermostat up — even a degree — because I think my body needs to learn to cope with the cold. I refuse to burn extra fossil fuel so that my body can pretend it's still early fall. I have Principles, damn it.
Luckily, thanks to the One of a Kind Show (more about that in the next post), I also have really cute (and really ridiculous) cold-weather accessories:
Stitch used for display purposes only.(And yes: sometimes, I think my principles are stupid. But I am in thrall to them anyway.)
You will totally adapt! I promise. It takes me about a month to adapt fully, but then, I have my heat lower than yours--I don't know if that makes the adaptation faster or slower. Things that I find useful:
ReplyDelete* Having really, really warm slippers (I have the Lanark sheepskin ones, which I think you can still get at the Toronto craft show).
* Being willing to *keep* putting on sweaters until I am warm (I am usually wearing two, or else a really really giant one).
* Wearing a pair of fleece pants whenever I am not doing chores or otherwise active.
* Hot water bottles and hot tea!
Mostly, the thing that I think helps me adapt the most is just making sure I'm wearing enough to keep warm at all times, and then slowly remove layers as I adapt. In the fall, I looked like the michelin man; now I find I have to wear slightly less.
Out of curiousity, what temperature do you have your heat at? Not that it's a competition. :)
ReplyDeleteThe two-sweater suggestion is interesting. Right now I have been making do with a cozy sweater-cardigan and a thick wool blanket — but the blanket doesn't work when I have to move around, for obvious reasons.
It's officially set to 14 when I'm home, and 10 when I'm not, or when I'm asleep (under two feather duvets). I usually turn it up to 15 when I'm home, though. And 18 or 19 or 20 when I have guests.
ReplyDeleteIt was totally about smugness at the beginning of last winter, but by the end of last winter it had nothing to do with smugness, and everything to do with Holy Crap Oil Heat Is Expensive. Well, and a little bit of smugness, but that is directed at my mom because she used to keep the heat at 16/17 at our house and I was always freezing when I did my homework, and now she is cold when she visits me, so it's PAYBACK.
Other things I have thought of: Wool! Wool sweaters are infinitely better than not-wool sweaters, and you should also be wearing wool socks and merino wool shirts. Fleece is the only acceptable replacement for wool. Also, fingertipless gloves. And hats. And cooking.