Revenge Has Never Felt So Good

I am going to write a check today for $6,000 to cover an expense I was not anticipating, and I got to tell you I don’t feel overly bad.

I am buying a new furnace. Now, to be honest, I would rather be spending the money on a baseball signed by the 1961 New York Yankees, a Diebenkorn drawing, or even donating the money.

But the furnace which came with the house—and has been nothing but trouble from day one—is shot. It gets colds in New England in the winter and so the new furnace comes today.

So why I am not furious?

Two reasons.

1. I am finally old enough not to get cranky about things beyond my control. And having a furnace die on me is indeed beyond my control.

2. This furnace will be at least 15% more efficient that my last one. That means I will use about 150 less gallons of oil this winter.

Now, that’s not a huge savings. To put it in perspective, it will take the furnace 10 years to pay for itself.

But more important it allows me to do a tiny bit for energy independence.

I am sick of paying $4 a gallon for gas—and heating oil.

Instead of complaining I am doing something, even if it is a small thing, it makes me feel pretty good.