random thoughts – Day 1,559 – (Monday) – seeking control

Even after nearly eight years in the house, The BungaLowell continues to surprise. The random odd symphony of noises – creaks, groans, and squeaks – continue to spontaneously erupt from all corners and at all hours. Some have been narrowed down, specifically, the birds that like the open gutters and make all sorts of crazy noises. Most of the noises are still a mystery.

There are temperature variances that are mostly logical. Upstairs is predictably warmer and in the summer it gets hot and stuffy. Even with the central air conditioning running, the bedroom is perpetually several degrees warmer than the rest of the house. The temperature difference can be felt halfway up the stairs but that all seems pretty normal because heat rises.

The weird temperature thing seems to have more to do with the thermostat, which seems to be located in its own little climate hot pocket. In the winter, I can be almost anywhere in the house and feel chilly, but when I stand before the thermostat to check it (and swear at it), it's warmer in that one magical spot in the dining room just outside the kitchen doorway.

In the summer, when the A/C is running I'm often freezing on the couch, in my little home office, or in front of the sink. And that puzzling, magical little pocket in front of the thermostat is the most comfortable spot in the house.

This afternoon it started feeling chilly at my home office desk. Before long, my feet had turned to ice. Shortly after 5:00, I grabbed my book and headed for the warmth of the deck, where is is often hella-hot in the late afternoon full-blown sunshine. It was bright, but also breezy and not quite as warm as I had hoped. 

Found the perfect spot.

It started to feel like some sort of Goldilocks quest for the perfect domestic climate. And there it was, the ideal scenario – the enclosed front porch. Some days it is as hot as a sauna, but today it was great. Not overly bright, not too breezy, neither too warm nor too chilly. It was just right. The glider beckoned. It was a most comfortable pre-supper reading break. 

Now the challenge will be to monkey around with the thermostat settings. The primary objective will be to find the magical winter heating and summer cooling temperature settings where the rest of the house achieves the current optimal temperature of that sliver of space in front of the dining room wall near the kitchen doorway. Maybe it's as simple as finding a way to cool the hot spot so the heat and A/C don't need to be so enthusiastic through the rest of the house. Or maybe move the thermostat.