LesterOfPuppets

Had oil heat in a few places I lived in in Portland.

I knew some people there who lived in a house that had been converted to gas heat, and the oil tank removed from the basement but the fill pipe was still there. One day the oil company got the wrong address and started filling up their basement. It was affectionately known as the Diesel House from then on as it still smelled slightly of fuel for many years

MoAlpha

Inflatables and tethers whenever it's even slightly sporty or dark and always on the foredeck. Everyone has gone from PLBs to AIS beacons, but the boat has an EPIRB of course. That thing on my thing PFD is a strobe, the PLB isn't visible.

I've got a PLB that needs a good home if anyone wants it for backcountry hiking or cycling.

Mojo31

My son does some hiking by himself in remote areas so I'll ask him if he's interested. How much you want for it?

datlas 

We are firmly stuck with heating oil. I don't love it, but electric heat is expensive/inefficient, and we don't have access to natural gas.

I would consider geothermal but my sense is that the up-front costs are prohibitive for a single family home.

MoAlpha

No reasonable offer refused. It was $250 new. I just put in a fresh battery last summer.

LAJ

Looks cold and windy. Looks epic.

rjones28 

Looks expensive.

Velo Vol 

How do the life preservers that automatically inflate work? What triggers them?

MoAlpha

Mid 70s probably, but rain is unpleasant with that much wind.

datlas 

So one of my partners has been out on family emergency leave since before Xmas. Her dad had a stroke and he was the primary caretaker for her mom, who has dementia.

Her dad is apparently improving and in rehab, but my partner is staying at their place to watch her mom.

I am very sympathetic to her situation, but she has been gone for over a month and as of now will be out for at least another 2 weeks.

At some point she is going to have to get a caretaker and come back to work. It's not my place to tell her, but we are really getting slammed without her. That's why I could not ride yesterday.

Sigh.

rjones28 

Propane.

rjones28 

Had oil here at first, but the furnace developed a terminal condition. Replaced it with a high-efficiency propane unit.

Oil tank and fill pipes removed. No accidents.

MoAlpha

Those old ones have a "cookie" that dissolves in a second if it gets wet and allows a spring-loaded needle to spike a CO2 cartridge. The new ones have a hydrostatic release which reacts to water pressure. They also have a handle you can pull and you can also blow them up by breath.

MoAlpha

Always a difficult situation and I'm sure it's bothering her too.

Bah Humbug

Air Force seems like the way, given my druthers.

These days I'd probably actually try to be a drone pilot. Could say I've been training for that most of my life.

Bah Humbug

Fun is running into people who insist I'm lying when I talk about home heating oil.

Mojo31

Long ago I had some of the "cookie" types. When I had the sport boat, I arrived one day to find them both inflated due to water coming in through the mast step (it was a "wet" boat).

BillyD

Say goodbye to Sports Illustrated - "A faded icon that once defined sports".

Mojo31

I'll see him next weekend, and will ask. I'll PM you if he's interested.

LesterOfPuppets

I'm not even sure what kinda heat we have here in these apartments. All Utilities are included here so I don't have to worry about it. Additionally I don't even have a thermostat, have to regulate temp by opening the window as needed.

I'm guessing it's gas heat.

Mojo31

Nat gas for the win - heat, stovetop, barbeque grill, and tankless water heaters that pump out hot water all day every day!

Would not want to go back to all electric.

badger1

Propane, in New Brunswick. We'd use natural gas, but the powers that be have yet to run lines out to our area from Saint John. Prolly never happen. Used to heat the place with oil, but had to get rid of it about 15 years ago in order to comply with our insurer's requirements. Under then-new environmental legislation, were we to have had an oil spill of any magnitude we would have been forced to do a massive clean-up at our cost, because we are waterfront. Turns out propane is cheaper given our needs, and much cleaner.

LesterOfPuppets

I've got a gas stove here, first time with one in about 30 years. I don't like the gas stove as much as I remember liking them but it's OK. Main complaint is my favorite pasta and potato boiling pot is kinda too small for this stove, the flames when on high hit right on the edge of the pot and it seems like a lot of heat misses the pot entirely.

datlas 

I am sure of it. I am hopeful there is a sustainable solution soon.

badger1

We've just moved -- at southwest Ontario location -- from house to apartment. Most of the newer high rises here use central water for both heating and cooling (a/c). The switchover (spring and fall) is building-wide, but we control the heat/cooling individually. So far, very efficient. Had the ubiquitous natural gas furnace/electric a/c combo at the house.