The decisions

March 1st marks the beginning of meteorological spring. Though the air temperature is struggling to reach the melting point, the trees and buildings and other dark surfaces are absorbing the sun's radiation, melting the surrounding snow and ice anyway. This slow-dripping melt is a cushion of time against potential runoff.

Now is also the time for preparation and difficult questions. How much do you spend on supplies that you may not ever use? Last year, we could have used a trash pump to transfer water and small solids from the yard to the river. These pumps were a hot item last spring, selling at inflated emergency prices, and so we made do with simple plastic buckets instead. We could use a gas generator for power emergencies. But again, it might gather dust under a tarp in the garage for years before seeing even one day's use. In the meantime, these machines have to be maintained and stored. Every decision carries a cost.