While we're all over the snow here in New Jersey, well maybe more so the deep freeze were in, we know that falling precipitation is good for the ground, the waters, people, animals and fishes. To be honest I'm so dam cold these days it's hard to think about anything other then staying warm.
With temps around zero to 20 degrees the snow that hit the ground remains frozen in place so we haven't seen any benefit as of yet. One day, within the year, the temps will rise above freezing and the snow will melt into the earth. But in the mean time New Jersey remains in a moderate to severe drought.
One thing I found interesting is the general formula regarding snowfall and the ratio to rainfall. The NJ DEP says the ratio is 10:1, with 10 inches of snow equaling 1 inch of rain. Others sources have it as high as 17:1. What we need is a nice and steady melt of the snow to gently raise the aquifers and waters. What we don't need is a rapid defrosting mixed with torrential spring rains which just blows everything out.
They are saying this winter is the coldest we've seen in the last twenty years, but there has been far colder. Above is a map showing the coldest temps by state. New Jersey's River Vale came in at - 34 in 2004. It looks like this coming week we will have temps in the high 30's and next weekend into the forties.
I can attest what this winter haas brought to our house. Thousands in oil bills to keep the house around 58 degrees, sometimes cooler and sometimes above 60. We've had a pipe burst in the basement that I luckily caught early. I suspect many others will have the same situation as the pipes thaw and then blow out due to being frozen for some time. Some good things are almost all of doors now close due to contraction caused by the cold. On the other hand the hard wood floors have also contracted, but at least I can now vacuum in the gaps.
I took a peek to see how the weather is looking down in Bluffton, South Carolina. They will defrost this week with temps in the 60's and low 70's. Needless to say this winter has
definitely pushed us to make the move sooner then later. We have doing solid work in editing through our stuff and downsizing but I fear we're not doing enough. The homes we are looking
at are around 1,500 square feet and the kitchens have some cabinets for daily use kitchenware, not for the collection of stuff we have, and never use. So no matter how much I like it, it has to go. There's no Butler Pantry's, attics, or basements, so having the ability to store them isn't an option. People who downsize or move say, "If you have to store it you don't need it", and I'm starting to realize that.
Kids today don't want anything, and I mean anything, and maybe they have it right. People down in Sun City say you're not buying a house, but a lifestyle. Getting rid of all this "stuff" is like taking off a weighted jacket, but I'm always struggling with the question, "What if we have have a lot of guests over?". The truth is we never do, so four glasses will serve us well, the other eight we have will do someone else just as well.