The cost is affordable mostly because we don't have to pay for it now. We got one year financing so we don't pay for it at all for the next 365 days. We'll get about $7,000 in tax credits and grants in this next year. So if we put that money into a separate account and then just continue to save over the next year, we'll be able to pay the $9,000 before we have to pay any interest on the financing. This is great because otherwise we'd have to buy it now and get the tax credits and grants later as reimbursement.
We looked into getting solar panels for electricity for our whole house but that's just way out of our price range now. Maybe one day if the incentives increase, but for now it just was beyond reach. My entire life I've always wanted to have solar panels. It's the environmentalist's dream. A badge of eco-consciousness. It's walking the walk that I always talk!
But also, it's a guilt reliever. Now I can throw out crumbling toys because I have solar panels! I can have paper plates at my party because I have solar panels! I can turn the heat up to 68 degrees because I have solar panels! (just kidding. but maybe a little bit.)
Best Moment Lately: Shout out to Jenny Harding! She is organizing Jeremiah's Valentine's Weekend Campaign Fundraiser. And she's doing it thoroughly, efficiently, thoughtfully, and responsibly. You can't ask for a better job from a professional- and she's donating her time to his campaign! (Maybe technically she's not a professional event planner by title, but she's really crazy good at it and has experience so she's a professional if you ask me!)
Worst Moment Lately: Ridiculous hassles with the coordination of the internet and phone at work. Everyone "feels so bad for [me]" but I have to do it and I can't find anyone to help. It's so frustrating. Flames. on the side of my head. Everytime that I try to explain the situation to someone, I end up pacing and shouting (including at my 8am work meeting this morning). So let's just leave it at that. I don't want to talk about it.
The silver lining is that it makes me really appreciate how much help Jeremiah gives me at home so that I always have a partner when hassles appear. And I appreciate that we were able to get new family insurance so that I no longer HAVE to work a minimum of 30 hours each week, just to keep my work benefits. Starting January 1st, all these problems go onto someone else's plate and I get to only work 20 hours/week and somehow I luckily get to do only the jobs and responsibilities that I love! Sweet!
Thoughts of the Day: This might be the first year that I took the time to think of all the Veterans that I know and sent them some loving energy of thanks. My life is good and I am blessed. I'm remember to thank my friends and family (though I think you can never do that enough). But to elevate my gratitude for all that I have, I really need to think of the intangible things like freedom, rules, security, opportunities, etc etc.
Lately I've been thinking of how Jeremiah's going to be a public servant (and what I'm seeing more and more every day is that SERVANT really is the best word!) and how hard he's working to earn that honor/chore. It's so thankless. I've heard people say that they hate politicians. They should say that they hate people who are self-serving, or people who are dishonest, or whatever they're really trying to say. Good people who are politicians work really really hard for the benefit of everyone else. And that brought me to thinking about veterans.
Veterans are equated with war and you all know that I am a hair away from a pacifist. But it's true that if you love your freedom, you should thank a vet. And this year, as best as I can, I do.
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