It started in the late 1970's when there was the gas rationing. They
said I had to curtail driving and insulate my house. I had the whole
house insulated, caulked and weather stripped. I also added a wood
stove. For the next few years they said we must save more energy, so
I added more insulation, replaced the doors, and put vents in the
attic. At the same time I quit driving except when I had to, and took
one short vacation each year. Then things seemed to calm down in the
later 80's and into the 90's. I started driving more, took more
vacations and did nothing more to the house.

Around the turn of the century we again began to hear about conserving
energy. Everytime I turned on the tv they said we must reduce our
energy, insulate, and drive less. Once again I insulated, putting
another 8 inches over the inner walls. I reduced my heat from 72 to
68 in the winter, and I quit driving except when I had to. Every year
they repeated this same message, and I found myself insulating again,
and again. I replaced all the windows with double layer energy ones,
and cut my thermostat to 65, then 62, and then to 58. I shut off my
air conditioner completely, and stopped all vacations, and any other
use of the car except for emergencies.

In the last few years they again said we must cut back our
thermostats, so I reduced mine to 50. I once again added one foot of
insulation on the inside of the walls, and insulated over the windows.
I also parked my car for good when the gas hit $3 a gallon, and
lowered my winter heat to 48, then 45, and down to 42.

It's now 2007 and the gas prices have gone thru the roof. Once again
they said on tv that we must lower our thermostats and insulate. I
just shut off the furnace entirely, and added another 3 feet of
insulation on the inside of the house. This time I also covered the
doors, so in order to get in an out, I have to remove all the duct
tape holding the insulation in place. My car no longer starts from
sitting too long. They also said to caulk, so this time I covered the
whole house with caulk on the outside. I also shut off the water
heater and removed all sinks and the tub. Only the toilet remains,
and I only flush it once every month. I removed all but one light
bulb in the house and threw out the refrigerator.

Well, last week they announced that we must cut back more on our
energy use. I could not turn down the heat anymore, could not drive
less, could not shut off any more lights, and all I could do was add
more insulation. But now I have a problem. All this insulation has
reduced my 1600 sq. ft. house to a 160 Sq. Feet. The insulation has
used up all the space, and I had to toss most of the furniture. There
is no more room in this house. If they tell me to insulate one more
time, and I know they will, I'll have a house that is completely
filled with insulation, leaving me no room to get around But, I'm
sure they will tell us to insulate again, so I am preparing. I set up
a tent in my yard right next to my car. so I can use the car as a
kitchen and sleep in the tent. The only problem is that the senior
program that used to deliver food every week to us elderly people had
to stop delivering because of the gas prices, and since I dont have a
running car, I guess I wont need a kitchen. So, I may as well just
stay in the tent, and forget the car. At least I still have my
flashlight for light, and the little heat it puts out....... until
the batteries go dead anyhow.....

Well, I better go. I am having the electricity turned off today, so
this computer won't work anymore.....

Joe