Get a repellent that uses picaridan, more effective than DEET against ticks.

> bugs that can kill you,

No, but we have ticks. Lyme usually won't kill you, but a bad case can really fuck you up. Take precautions.

Sandy, Snowtober, Irene. Total of something like 23 days without power in 14 months. Got lucky this week.

But bang is usually a giant fuse blowing when a line gets shorted out. There's one near our house that's gone a few times and you about need to get fresh underwear.

If you drain the water, be sure to turn the hot water heater off first. Make sure it's full and you have water coming from the hot water taps before you turn it back on.

Given the forecast, I'd go closer to 60 on the thermostat to give you a little more time before things freeze up. Also, leave the doors open to any cupboards on outside walls that have plumbing in them (typically kitchen or bathroom sinks).

If you do have a freeze, you'll want to be very careful about turning the water back on. Wait until the house has been warm for a while, then turn the water on just a little until the pipes refill, then gradually open it the rest of the way. This way if you have a leak, you have a chance to identify it before you have a geyser. Homes aren't always plumbed with drainage for freezing weather in mind and there may be pockets of water that don't drain.

Anywhere on the outer Cape from Nauset Beach to Provincetown.

In the current labor market they may be more willing to train. Certainly no harm in finding out

I'll bet op is an awesome person year round

The Hickories in Ridgefield sells "Chunky weight" wool from their flock. Their shopping page shows "low stock", so you may not have much choice. They will ship.

Skip Barber has a school at Lime Rock, CT. A friend taken it and recommended it.

Prior poster didn't really mean conspicuous consumption, but there is an effect that if you don't pay for something, you will consume it without regard. "Might as well turn my heat up to 83, my taxes already paid for it". It would be a disaster. You could make a better argument for universal basic income (I'm not convinced, but it's saner than free utilities).

Lol. "Need"

I agree, if your next couple semesters are consistently good, this one won't be held against you by most people. College is also about learning how to navigate adulting, this was part of that process for you.

'63 Cadillac had "pretty good".

Best to split when the tree is dropped -- full rounds won't really dry; they'll rot eventually. Stack off the ground, and cover, but try to allow air circulation -- don't swaddle it tight. I sometimes fold my cover up in the summer for better air circulation, but leave the sides loosely covered in the winter to keep snow out. 1-2 years to fully dry depending on the condition of the tree and time of year when it was felled. If it's split smaller, it'll dry faster.

Wood that's been around too long will feel soft -- you'll come to recognize is pretty quickly. If it's not too far gone, I will mix a little in to an established fire, but if it makes a lot of smoke, you don't want to do that unless you're burning in a fire pit outdoors.