The readiness stack
The standing checklist:
- Heat resilience — wood heat or backup power sized for reality; the outage question answered before the outage.
- Generator discipline — tested under load in fall, fuel fresh, hookup known.
- Water protection — exposed runs insulated, shutoffs located, cold-snap habits learned.
- Access strategy — driveway drainage attended, appropriate tires, storm-day margins.
- Provision depth — pantry and fuel for stretches when town waits.
- The neighbor grid — numbers traded, generators shared, checks made; the covenant works both ways.
The other side of the ledger
What readiness purchases: high-water drama watched warm from the window, woodsmoke evenings of genuine quality, and the specific satisfaction of a household that handles weather rather than fearing it. Valley winters convert many skeptics into their defenders.
Buyers, note the readiness audit doubles as diligence — touring in weather shows a property’s winter truth, which is why I love January showings unironically.
Local rule of thumb: Test the generator in October; December is an exam, not a rehearsal.