Sanity in Question

My dad recently told us, "I thank God for showers and hot running water every time I take a shower."

Friends, I encourage you to do the same.

Hot water is a privilege.  I don't know the number but I know there are a lot of people around the world who do not have hot water pouring out of a faucet in their home.  Humans can survive without hot water running water.  I know we have.  I boil water with my electric water boiler for "showers", washing dishes, you name it.  The electric water boiler has been my lifeline to sanity.  I'm having a hard time imagining life without electricity, but, hey, most people don't go 6 months without hot running water either!

Long story short with our hot water heater:

• Rinnai sent a replacement unit to the service company and paid to have it replaced. 
• Tri-tech (service company) replaced the unit but charged extra and then tried to overcharge the extra charge (Tri-Tech had the worse customer service I have ever experienced).
• The new Rinnai unit works great - it's the "best" tankless propane hot water heater out there!
• I didn't want to use it because we want to sell it and, frankly, I had anxiety every time I took a shower (I kept thinking it was going to code again - ok, ok, so maybe I get a small form of PTSD over strange things!).
• We bought a unit much more adequate for our Tiny House (5 Gallon Per Minute- instead of 9 GPM).
• We have listed the Rinnai unit on CL and Ebay.
• My husband is installing the new Bosch tankless propane hot water heater.

I still don't have hot water.  

I actually don't even have running water now.

It is 3 days before Christmas and I don't have running water.

I am beginning to lose my sanity.

As with everything in building our own Tiny House, when my husband is working his day job the work on our house just takes longer to get done.

I really wish I could blame someone else (part of losing my sanity!) but right now I can only blame myself for not doing more research on hot water heaters last year.  But then "you don't know what you don't know" and I didn't know there was more research to be done.  I really don't "blame" myself either.  I didn't know what I didn't know and now I know more.  I know a 9 GPM tankless hot water heater would be "great" for a house with 3-4 bathrooms (very different from our house...just clarifying...).

I now know and have experienced first hand: "the best out there" doesn't mean it's the "best out there" for us.

My loss of sanity now leads me to philosophize about how this applies to Christmas.  There is so much "best" around us!  Everywhere surrounding us is stuff, stuff, stuff and more stuff - the "best" stuff money (or our credit) can buy!  I might notice the stuff more now but I'm sure I'm not the only one to be overwhelmed by the vast amount of "best" stuff!  I have felt myself slipping down the slippery slope of stockpiling stuff.  There are so many good deals on the "best" stuff!

It might be "best" for someone but "the best out there" doesn't mean it's the "best out there" for me - or you!  

Hang in there friend and "just say no" to stuff, even if it's the "best"!!

Then....I encourage you...go take a nice, long, hot shower/bath and be thankful, not just for family, friends and food, but for hot running water.

I must say though, I AM very thankful for family who we can stay with over Christmas.  We are leaving in less than two days and can't wait because I love my in-laws!  They are fun, loving, giving, accepting, compassionate, gracious, hilarious, hopeful, joyous and they have hot running water!!!!!!!