We made it! We got to November without turning on the heat. This is no small accomplishment. We did it! Let me explain why this feat is so meaningful to us.

By Italian law, residents are not supposed to turn on their riscaldamente, heat until November 1st. In cities where utilities are likely more regulated, this date is probably strictly enforced (only in Italy would something be “probably strictly”). Stiff fines are the typical punishment for offenders. And there are myriad formulas that result in the amounts levied against cheaters. We don’t know what those entail, because as you might imagine, we aim for perfection and almost always obey the law (note the use of the ambiguous term “almost always”). The law isn’t enforced in private residences, so it’s really an option for us, but we don’t like to take advantage, so we try to play by the rules of the majority. Oh yeah. . . we’re frugal too. So to play this little game, we simply compensate with our 2 primary tools: 1.) the fireplace, and 2.) clothing.

The fireplace is wonderful, although it wasn’t always that way. When it was first built, it smoked—not just a little, “Oh, I love the smell of wood-fire smoke. It’s so fall-ish.” Noooo. We’re talking billowing plumes, rolling along the mantle, making our eyes tear up and forcing us to run to the nearest window or door to suck in fresh air. We’re talking, “Don’t go to sleep, whatever you do. . . you might just wake up dead!” (This “wake up dead” phrase was one that my mother liked to use. She had a quirky sense of humor.)

Finally after researching online, we discovered the secret dimensions of a perfect fireplace. So we modified it with baffles and a plenum beneath an iron grate and now it works perfectly, but that whole process is really another story. But now the fireplace is perfect and beautiful. Fires roar and crackle almost every evening. We sit, mesmerized, peering deeply into the flames. It’s our television.

As far as the clothing is concerned, it really only takes layering. Today, I’m wearing a black blouse. Over that I slipped on a lavender quilted vest. Then I tied a scarf around my neck to ward off drafts. Over the vest, I pulled on a black hoodie. Then I topped off my upper torso with a sweater. So, let’s see: shirt, vest, hoodie, sweater. . . that’s four. Four layers should keep me pretty warm, but bending my arms is a little difficult, I admit. Below my waist, I have on leg warmers, gauchos and 2 pairs of socks. I am definitely puffy.

So now it’s November 5th—a few days ago, we could have legally turned on the heat. We could warm the place up in a couple of hours if we wanted to. But we have radiators, warmed using propane gas, which is more than just a tad expensive. What if we could go without heat until December, rather than November? Wow! That’s a challenge. Now that would be something to talk about! We could do it. We could! Wait, I’m having a little trouble typing. Hold on a minute while I slip on my fingerless gloves.

Posted on November 6, 2010

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