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.

Goodbye Summer -- here comes the long dark

It's raining, and the forecast says it may do this all week.  You'd think the whole 'living in Seattle' thing would not make this a sad thing, but it is.  It is a mixed feeling this year however, so that is an improvement.  Summer is over and now we have the slow decent into cold, dark, and dreary.

I spent most of my adult life in San Diego, and it just doesn't rain much down there.  I was concerned moving up to Seattle that the long dark winters would be detrimental to my mental well being.  I've made it through three of them so far, and while they're not easy I can deal.  I do mourn a bit in September every year.

See there is nothing more amazing than Summer in Washington.  It doesn't get too hot (though hotter than it used to, I insist on AC), the days are gloriously long, maybe 8 hours of darkness, it is amazing.  The summers are why I've decided to buy in WA.  But something that amazing must be paid for, and oh do we.

Our winters are relatively mild, snow is rare (first winter I was here didn't didn't even snow once), while it gets cold it doesn't get *cold*.  I went to college in Utah and grew up in New England, I know cold,  it doesn't get that cold here.  But we are lucky to get 8 hours of daylight, it's overcast for a good majority of the time and it is just depressing.

So I sit here on my houseboat listening to the rain.  I think this winter will be at least a little bit different.  Being on the water will make storms much more exciting, and it will probably be a bit colder, but the sound of rain on the boat is very soothing.  Sitting on my couch with my dog listening to the rain is something that I have found I enjoy. 

I need an oil heater, I'll dig out my winter clothes and the fuzzy socks will get used.  Heating the boat will be interesting but I think I can deal.  Getting things from the car to the boat might be a challenge, but I have a cart and I'm already getting groceries from Instacart so I think I'll be ok.  I am going to need to decide what to do with the plants (and make sure that any I bring inside are not harboring spiders) and bring in the ones that won't make it through the winter along with securing the ones that can't come inside, Mr Japanese Maple I am looking at you.

So I will begin my winterization of the houseboat, try to finish unpacking and getting everything ready for the long dark.  But tonight I will listen to the rain on the roof and mourn the long warm days of summer.