Cold

It is currently 39 degrees Fahrenheit here in Boston, Massachusetts. Winter approaches. I am always aware at this time of year that we in northern climates live with the illusion that life here is readily sustainable through winter. This requires massive assumptions about the availability of natural and refined resources. It requires assumptions about well maintained infrastructure to deliver fuels and remove deep snow. I requires assumptions about a food supply chain from warmer climates. 

How much do you take for granted in your environment? 

I once lived in a seaside cottage north of Boston. I was young and poor. The 19th century cottage was not insulated. There were spots where daylight was visible through gaps in the walls. I took the rental in Autumn. It was a real deal, I thought in my youthful and stupid mind. Romantic views across the harbor of an old New England town. The cottage itself sat on a small island, connected to the mainland by a man-made causeway. 

I have never been so cold before or since. The two-floor cottage was heated by a gas log in the kitchen stove. The two cats who lived with us never came downstairs. They found the warmest part of the house, my bed. Nights were punctuated with struggles for space under the covers. 

It was a very good experience for a young urban man. How many of us would be totally incapacitated by a failure of just one utility in January?  Millions. Our civilization is comfortable at a great cost which we seldom tally. It requires massive amounts of technology, labor and resources. Therefore, it is commensurately vulnerable to failure and catastrophe. The cold reminds. Simplicity has its advantages. Awareness of the reality of my environment makes me better prepared to deal with its inevitable changes.