Beginning automation

I have mixed feelings about home automation.  Part of me wants to automate *all the things!!* but the other part of me wants privacy and doesn't necessarily trust all of these companies who want me to install an app to use their individual automation items.

I do trust Alexa and Amazon's security, as long as I am not a dumbass.  I am also limited by 30 amps, and while modern automation technology doesn't use a ton of power when compared to the AC or a heater, it does add up.

I have had an Alexa since the first pre-sale, and I love it.  Yes it listens, yes by activating different 'skills' I am enabling whoever wrote those skills access.  I do limit what skills I use and currently it is only automation it is hooked up to is the Roomba (because how cool is that??) and the door lock.

I started with August's third generation lock.  When considering automated locks I very much wanted to make sure that a key would work in case everything dies.  A friend told me the horror stories about how someone couldn't leave their house because the firmware was updating.  True or not, it makes a good point.  My lock does not replace the deadbolt, it just turns it.  It works with Bluetooth and Wifi and it physically turns the deadbolt.  I also have a keypad so I can give someone one time access, or for the same friend mentioned above, this way he doesn't have to download an app. So far I'm happy with it. 

Back in SD I was automating all the things, here I'm going to take a bit more time and be a bit more discerning when adding things.  I haven't done lights yet, I keep going back and forth on Philips.  I don't think motion detectors are going to be useful since my neighbors and wildlife is so close.  I don't have central heating or AC so that isn't possible to automate. I may consider blinds depending on price and amount of power used.

The one thing I do want to get is humidity sensors, even if they don't integrate with Alexa.  I want to put sensors all over the hull with a way for them to report to me the humidity levels down there.  That isn't automation as much as early warning on possible damage.  I also need to put timers on big appliances, though I go back and forth on if those should be good old fashioned timers or something fancy.  Either way many less automation opportunities and I'm surprisingly ok with that.